What if Batista Did Not Win the Royal Rumble? – WrestleMania 30
In 2013, through his years of hard work, Daniel Bryan managed to rise to the top of the card, moving upwards ever since forming Team Hell No. At SummerSlam 2013, ‘The Goat’ won his first WWE title before immediately dropping it to Randy Orton, being a victim of an authority power trying to keep him down. WWE made the mistake of presuming WWE fans would just get over Bryan’s descension after a brief rise – but how wrong they were!
After nearly 4 years away from WWE and a successful stint in Hollywood, Batista returned at the Royal Rumble and won – as another part-timer became the centre of attention over the workhorse roster. Adding further fuel to the fire, Bryan was completely omitted from the Rumble, with number 30 entrants Mysterio receiving a shower of boos. With Batista being met with mass boos, it soon became evident that ‘Blue’tista was not getting over and the fans only had 1 choice for their champion – Daniel Bryan.
Backed by the overwhelming force of the WWE universe, Bryan was thrust into the main event – winning in a true, feel-good story. Whilst Bryan’s subsequent reign was short-lived, there is no doubting the popularity of the master technician whose affection led him to the main event of WrestleMania.
Whilst WWE now claim it was part of a long-term booking plan, it is clear they lucked their way into the greatest storyline of the year. Why would they have brought back a name as huge as Batista to just make him lose? Had ‘The Animal’ not returned and won, would there have been such vicious backlash by fans to such an extent that it propelled a new star?