My 1-2-3 Cents : Royal Rumble

It's a new concept for the podcast and one I hope to do each year. Welcome to the Royal Rumble Roulette. Royal Rumble Superfan Luke Lay is the guest. We break down the 1994 Royal Rumble, coming up with the talking points via a random roll of the Rumble Tumbler.

Luke and his wife Amy host a Rumble party each year. I've been the last two years and won big. Thank you Braun Strowman and Andrade for doing so well and making it to the final four.

You can listen to the show here. Also don't forget, Stride Pro Wrestling is in West Frankfort (Central Junior High) this Saturday night and back at the Stride building in Carterville on Saturday, Feb. 9. See you there.

Saturday, January 19, 2019

Who will win the Ultimate Royal Rumble?

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Since 1988 25 men have won the Royal Rumble. There have been a handful of two time winners, including Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Batista, John Cena and Randy Orton. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin has won the event three times and Braun Strowman is the winner of the first Greatest Royal Rumble. I did include him in this post.

But of the 25 winners who would win the Ultimate Royal Rumble?

Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Chris Benoit, Steve Austin, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Vince McMahon (yes, I know) all proved they can go the distance, choosing single digital numbers and winning. Yokozuna had the massive size. Braun Strowman, Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, Batista, Sheamus, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar Lex Luger and John Cena are among the most powerful.

I loved Flair's performance in the 1992 Royal Rumble. He's on my shortlist of men to win this time around too. The raw power and dominance that Strowman has shown for the past year or so has made him unstoppable. But I'm picking the guy who has won the most Rumbles, even though he kinda cheated in 1997, and that's Austin.

Who is your choice?

1988: Hacksaw Jim Duggan (entrant No.13)
1989: Big John Studd (No. 27)
1990: Hulk Hogan (No. 25)
1991: Hulk Hogan (No. 24)
1992: Ric Flair (No. 3)
1993: Yokozuna (No. 27)
1994: Bret Hart (No. 27) and Lex Luger (No. 23), co-winners
1995: Shawn Michaels (No. 1)
1996: Shawn Michaels (No. 18)
1997: Steve Austin (No. 5)
1998: Steve Austin (No. 24)
1999: Vince McMahon (No. 2)
2000: The Rock (No. 24)
2001: Steve Austin (No. 27)
2002: Triple H (No. 22)
2003: Brock Lesnar (No. 29)
2004: Chris Benoit (No. 1)
2005: Batista (No. 28)
2006: Rey Mysterio (No. 2)
2007: The Undertaker (No. 30)
2008: John Cena (No. 30)
2009: Randy Orton (No. 8)
2010: Edge (No. 29)
2011: Alberto Del Rio (No. 38)
2012: Sheamus (No. 22)
2013: John Cena (No. 19)
2014: Batista (No. 28)
2015: Roman Reigns (No. 19)
2016: Triple H (No. 30)
2017: Randy Orton (No. 23)
2018: Shinsuke Nakamura (No. 14)
2018: Braun Strowman (No. 41 in Greatest Royal Rumble)

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Thursday, December 27, 2018

3 Things I want for Royal Rumble 2019

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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The Royal Rumble is still weeks away and I know odds on favorite are already pointing at Seth Rollins. However, I'm going to use this post to do a little fantasy booking. I know what I'm wishing for are most likely not going to happen and probably won't even get the thumbs up from most fans, but here goes.

Courtesy: WWE

1. Becky Lynch wins the Women's Royal Rumble. This has to be a no-brainer right? I think most fans are hoping for a Ronda Rousey-Becky Lynch battle at WrestleMania. I maintain this could be the main event of the 35th installment of the show. Rousey and Lynch have had a great 2018 on their respective shows. The canceled Survivor Series matchup between the two disappointed many, myself included. However, this fresh contest can be revived and built up with Becky winning the Rumble.

Courtesy: WWE

2. Matt Riddle wins the Men's Royal Rumble. I know, I must be high bro, right? No, no. Hear me out. Riddle or someone else unexpected would certainly shake things up. Given Riddle's MMA background, I'd love to see him in a match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35. Not only that, I'd like to see Brock drop the belt. I don't dislike Lesnar. However, I've grown bored of him being on top. New blood will probably not fix the rating problems but I really don't see it hurting anything.

3. No Legends required. I love when the Legends make an appearance from time to time. However, with the talent pool being so deep these days, I'm not sure there should be three or four Legends taking a spot in this match.

What are your wishes for the 2019 Royal Rumble? Am I crazy with my thoughts? Comment here or on the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page.

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

It's a wrestle-riffic weekend

Chad and the Horsemen

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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There is no shortage of wrestling action on this Royal Rumble weekend. Whether you're into WWE or the independent scene, there are several shows happening. Since I'm in southern Illinois, I'll stick to the local shows first.

Saturday night Cape Championship Wrestling in Cape Girardeau, Missouri presents Cages Chaos 2. Each match on the show will be contested inside a steel cage. The main event features CCW Champion "Best of the Best" Austin Lane defending against Justin "The Juice" Smart. The man who trained Lane, Jerry Lynn, will be the special guest referee for the match. Several Stride Pro Wrestling guys will also be on the show tonight, including Roger Matheus, Ace Hawkins and Brandon Espinosa. You can see the full card here.

Also tonight, IWA Productions will invade the Fairfield (Illinois) Elks Lodge. IWA Cruiserweight Champion Heath Hatton will be among the Stride guys appearing. Chris Hargas, Dexter Roswell and Jose Magnifico are also scheduled to wrestle tonight.

Stride Pro Wrestling returns to action a week from tonight. On Saturday, Feb. 3 Jay Spade will defend the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title against Bull Bronson. The Stride Cup Tournament continues and Hatton will be the guest on 'Striking Your Fancy' with J. Wellington Beauregard. No Love Lost 2 will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion.

Bull James vs. Eddie Kingston

If you follow the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page you've seen that Chad is in Philly this weekend for the Royal Rumble. He attended the House of Hardcore 37 show at the ECW Arena Friday night. Earlier today he met the Four Horsemen and he's headed to Sunday's Chikara show and the Rumble Sunday night. We'll talk more about his experiences there in Monday's My 1-2-3 Cents podcast.

Watch the video below to learn how you can win a Shockmaster Elite action figure.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

2018 Royal Rumble contest

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

The Royal Rumble is just a few days away and the guys at My 1-2-3 Cents are celebrating with another Rumble contest. Chad will actually be in Philly for the event this year, so for the first time, I'm going to be setting things up on my own and contacting the winners. Since there are two Rumble matches this year, we'll have two contests going and you can enter both.

So, answer these questions in a private message to the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page by Sunday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. CST and you'll be entered. Winners will be determined by the most correct answers.

MEN'S RUMBLE:

Who will enter the Royal Rumble #1?

Who will enter the Royal Rumble #30?

What entrant number will win the Royal Rumble?

Who will have the most eliminations?

Who will be the 'iron man' of the Royal Rumble?

Tiebreaker: How many eliminations will be the most this year?

WOMEN'S RUMBLE:
Who will enter the Royal Rumble #1?

Who will enter the Royal Rumble #30?

What entrant number will win the Royal Rumble?

Who will have the most eliminations?

Who will be the 'iron woman' of the Royal Rumble?

Tiebreaker: How many eliminations will be the most this year?

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Royal Rumble dream

Spoiler alert: This is about Daniel Bryan
Courtesy: WWE

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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As wrestling fans, we always think we know what's best when it comes to storylines and matches. However, I trust (mostly) in the men and women behind the scenes. There is sometimes a method to the madness. But there are also times when logic gets thrown out the window. I hope with the 2018 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 34 that is not the case.

Nakamura vs. Cena
Courtesy: WWE

I've been asked several times who I think is going to win this year's Royal Rumble. Rumors persist that it's going to be Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. So Roman is definitely in the conversation for winning. Others have argued, including my buddy Chad, that since Elimination Chamber is a Raw pay per view, that a SmackDown Live Superstar will win the Rumble and Nakamura vs. AJ Styles seems to be what a lot of fans fancy now.

I'd be all for that. Admittedly I haven't watched a lot of wrestling in recent weeks due to other obligations but I have kept up with things via social media and the interwebs. I still don't feel like WWE has done enough to make me care about Nakamura. So putting him in one of the main events of the biggest show of the year may be premature. However, there's still time to make this happen.

Just a few minutes ago Chad threw an idea out to me via text. I don't know how serious he is about it or if he even wants me sharing, but it is certainly thought-provoking. What if Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn beat AJ at the Rumble and win the WWE Championship. Then Daniel Bryan enters the Rumble match and wins it. I told him the internet would explode.

Yes!
Courtesy: WWE

Of all current possibilities, I like this one the most. But as far as we know Bryan still hasn't been cleared to wrestle by WWE physicians. That being said, this would be the ultimate surprise entrant into the match. I'm still holding out hope that IF he's medically cleared by doctors that he will one day wrestle again. His style would have to change, but I'd love for him to have an opportunity to return to the top of the mountain like he was in 2014 at WrestleMania XXX. But his health has to come first, over my fandom and that of millions of others.

Now on Sunday, I'll be watching the Royal Rumble and patiently waiting for Bryan's music to hit and for him to run to the ring with thousands of "YES!" chants filling the arena. Chad will be there by the way and the current plan is to do a podcast after the event ends. So Monday's My 1-2-3 Cents podcast will drop a little later than usual.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Royal Rumble winners

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's hard to believe the Royal Rumble has been around 30 years. So ahead of next week's show, I came up with some fun facts, mostly about the winners, but I had to stretch on some of them. Most of these I knew, but full disclosure, I had to look some info up.

1988 - Jim Duggan: First Royal Rumble winner

1989 - "Big" John Studd - Went on to WrestleMania 5 to be a special guest referee and not wrestle.

1990 - Hulk Hogan: First time a WWF Champion won the Rumble.

1991 - Hulk Hogan: First Superstar to win back to back Royal Rumbles

1992 - Ric Flair: The first heel to win the Royal Rumble and for the first time the WWE Championship was awarded to the winner.

1993 - Yokozuna: First Superstar to win the match under the stipulation that the winner gets a championship match at WrestleMania.

1994 - Bret Hart & Lex Luger: First (and only) co-winners of the Royal Rumble.

1995 - Shawn Michaels: First Superstar to draw number one and win the Rumble.

1996 - Shawn Michaels: Won the match a second time and had the same number of eliminations both years (8).

1997 - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: First time a Superstar was eliminated from the match and came back to win the Rumble.

1998 - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: Went toe to toe the night after winning the Rumble with Mike Tyson on Monday Night Raw.

1999 - Vince McMahon - First non-Superstar to win the Rumble.

2000 - The Rock: First time a Royal Rumble winner went on to WrestleMania to face three other competitors for the Championship.

2001 - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin: First three-time winner of the Rumble.

2002 - Triple H: First time the winner challenged for the "Undisputed WWE Championship".

2003 - Brock Lesnar: First winner of the Royal Rumble under a brand split.

2004 - Chris Benoit: Won the Rumble as a SmackDown! Superstart but switched brands to challenge the Raw Champion (Triple H).

2005 - Batista: Won the Rumble and for the first time, the second runner-up challenged the opposing show's champion (John Cena challenged JBL).

2006 - Rey Mysterio: First Superstar under 200 pounds to win the Rumble.

2007 - Undertaker: First Superstar to draw number 30 and win the Rumble.

2008 - John Cena: First time a Superstar no one could see won the Royal Rumble.

2009 - Randy Orton: First time the final two men in the Rumble went on to face each other WrestleMania. Triple H won the WWE Championship the next month at No Way Out in the Elimination Chamber.

2010 - Edge: Up to that time the Superstar who spent the least amount of time in the match to win the Rumble (7:19).

2011 - Alberto Del Rio: First Superstar to outlast 39 other Superstars.

2012 - Sheamus: Yes, Sheamus won. But this marked the first time all three members of the commentary team also competed in the Royal Rumble (Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole and Booker T).

2013 - John Cena: First year an NXT Superstar competed in the Rumble (Bo Dallas).

2014 - Batista: Eliminated Roman Reigns moments after the "Big Dog" set a new record for most eliminations in a single Rumble match (12).

2015 - Roman Reigns: First time a Royal Rumble winner was pinned in the Championship match by a Money in the Bank winner cashing in (Seth Rollins).

2016 - Triple H: First time the WWE Championship was defended in the match. Reigns came in as champ and lost the title that night, only to go on and regain it from Triple H at WrestleMania 32.

2017 - Randy Orton: Announced he was giving up his Championship match after Bray Wyatt won the gold at No Way Out, but it turned out to be a swerve by Orton.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Positive rumblings

It's Samoa Joe!
Courtesy: WWE

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

A lot of wrestling fans, myself included, have done some complaining on social media about the outcome of the WWE Royal Rumble. Last year I vowed to be more positive in my postings, but there are times I don't necessarily like the outcomes of events and a snarky or negative post gets made. Episode 115 of the podcast this week, Chad and I voice our concerns with the current landscape leading up to WrestleMania. But that's the past and now a few positive notes from the Rumble and the Raw after.

Neville
Courtesy: WWE

1. Neville is the new Cruiserweight Champion. For weeks Neville has been the self-anointed "King of the Cruiserweights" and that destiny was fulfilled Sunday night. Neville beat Rich Swann in a great match. I have been a fan of "the King" since before he signed with WWE, so naturally, his title win is awesome. My hope is his involvement in the division will draw more interest to the 205 contenders.

Owens flyin' high
Courtesy: WWE

2. Roman Reigns didn't win the Universal Championship. I understand this is negative, and maybe I should say Kevin Owens retained the title. I don't dislike Reigns, but I don't think he's ready to be at the top of the hill again. I want to see the Owens-Chris Jericho angle play out.

Rollins gets mugged
Courtesy: WWE

3. Samoa Joe appears to be on the main roster. I popped as I scrolled through my social media feed Tuesday morning (I go to bed before Raw ends) and saw pics of Joe destroying Seth Rollins. Throw in the "Holy shit!" chant from the fans and my day was made. It's not that I dislike Rollins, I'm just glad to see Joe on the main roster. And yes, I'm the guy 10 years ago who referred to Joe as "Rikishi 2.0". I'm an ass, I know.

There are plenty of things to complain about in wrestling (and in life), but taking a look at the glass being half full is what's best for my business.

Monday, January 30, 2017

Shouldering the title

Jericho & KO "shouldering" their belts
Courtesy: WWE

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Spoiler alert: I'm going to sound like an old man wanting to get the kids off his lawn... But as an old school fan, I wanted to speak on this issue and see what other fans think.

Courtesy: WWE

During the Royal Rumble preshow (I think, it was a long night after all) Renee Young made a remark about a championship belt going on someone's shoulder. I really don't remember who she was referencing, but the point of the story is the belt going over the champion's shoulder. I'll be honest, I don't like it. I'm not picking on any particular Superstar because I know this has been a trend in wrestling for years.

Umaga
Courtesy: WWE

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock and pretty much everyone in the modern era puts the belt on their shoulder or "drags" it to the ring. Umaga carried the Intercontinental belt in his mouth, which fit his character. Undertaker wore the belt around his neck. And of course Yokozuna was too big for the title to go around his waist, so he shouldered it.

Hulkster
Courtesy: WWE

Ric Flair
Courtesy: WWE

But I do miss the days when a champion wore the belt around his or her waist. There's something more professional looking about this. I get that "belts are props", but the presentation of those titles still matters to me. I know there are cases when old school guys shouldered their belts too. This is something minute in the grand scheme of things, but it wasn't until Renee's comment during the Rumble that made me wonder if WWE is programming us to get used to this trend...

Closest I'll come to being a champ

I'll never be a champion, but if I were to win the gold, you'd see me wearing it to the ring like the photo above. Thanks for listening.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Rumble Ramblings: #1 Warrior gets royally screwed

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter