Opinion

News From Cook’s Corner 7.20.20: They Will Come Back

With some interesting topics and free agent signings, Cook’s got a bunch of news this week! What stood out to you this week?

Published

5 years ago

July 20, 2020

Steve Cook

Hi, hello & welcome to News From Cook’s Corner! Last night saw a Horror Show at Extreme Rules. I didn’t watch it because I got home late from work and had to try and write this. I also didn’t watch it because I just didn’t care. Let’s be honest. I’m sure some of you probably cared and would love to hear my take on whatever Rey Mysterio was holding up near his eyeball. I got nothing.

I got plenty of other things to talk about though! So sit back, relax & enjoy the ride.

It’s been over 90 days since WWE fired a ton of people.

Right!!!! https://t.co/CN4kPFXE8G

— Miro (@ToBeMiro) July 19, 2020

You know what that means…people are popping up in other places now. Impact Wrestling had been hyping some new/old names appearing at Slammiversary. We had heard that Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson would be among them, and just after midnight on Saturday morning, the Good Brothers made the official announcement. Also released a podcast, which we may discuss something from a bit later. I think Gallows & Anderson are a better fit in Impact than AEW, mostly because AEW has like 25 tag teams already. It’s closer to Anderson’s home too as long as they’re running in Nashville.

Heath Slater made an appearance on Slammiversary as the hottest free agent in wrestling. Storywise, he remains a free agent, as Scott D’Amore told him to leave after catching up with his buddy Rhino. He’ll be back on Tuesday though. Heath seems like a guy that could really benefit from the change in scenery. He was stuck at a certain level at WWE, and no matter what he did there he was going to stay in that spot. No such restrictions in Impact. Can he take advantage?

Eric Young re-emerged as part of what ended up being a five-way main event for the Impact World Championship. He’s being billed as the World Class Maniac, and showed a dark side during & after his time in the match. Young found a lot of success during his first stint with Impact, and showed potential of doing the same in WWE during the early days of the Sanity group. Honestly, Eric Young & TNA/Impact Wrestling go together like peanut butter & jelly. I don’t blame him at all for trying something else for awhile, but now he’s home.

Slammiversary ended with the revelation that trouble is coming back to Impact Wrestling in the form of EC3. EC3’s second WWE stint, which came after his first Impact stint, was somehow worse than his first WWE stint. It remains to be seen whether the pattern will continue and EC3’s second Impact stint will be better than his first. Did I say that right? I don’t know, I’m writing this way too late at night.

Slammiversary also saw the return of other folks that had been absent from Impact for some time. Rich Swann was also part of the main event, and his previously injured knee was targeted by Eric Young. We’ll see if that leads to anything. In news that I wasn’t expecting but am pretty hyped about, the Motor City Machine Guns returned and are already set up for a title match this Tuesday. Chris Sabin had been out since January with a torn ACL, but is back & ready to go. Alex Shelley would never miss a chance to reunite with an old tag team partner, so that’s that.

Mike Bennett & Maria Kanellis appeared on the ROH Strong podcast over the weekend. This doesn’t mean they’re signed, but a return to the company would certainly make sense. From a storyline perspective, Matt Taven could use some help against VINCENT and his new group of misfits. They only got cheered in Japan before, now they could get cheered here too.

There are still plenty of names out there, and there are still wrestling shows taking place this week. Stay tuned!

Naomi Does Deserve Better

Wow! I know y’all got me you always have! I appreciate you all so so much! Thanks for the continuous support and believing in me 😘 #bestfans #glowmob #naomob #wweuninverse pic.twitter.com/nhMjD89XsM

— Trinity Fatu (@NaomiWWE) July 18, 2020

SmackDown was on Friday night, as it typically is these days. The main thing that garnered attention on the show was a match between Lacey Evans & Naomi.

Now, Lacey is somebody that WWE obviously cares about and wants to be a star. They haven’t figured it out with her yet. She’s been a heel that didn’t mind showing a little skin to try & get Seth Rollins away from Becky Lynch, even though she was supposedly the classiest woman in WWE. Then she was a babyface mom that we were supposed to get behind & support because the mean girls made fun of her. Now, she’s a mean girl that’s annoying everybody again. There hasn’t been any consistency to her character, which is one of the main reasons she hasn’t gotten over.

Naomi, on the other hand, has been a consistent character for most of the time since her arrival in 2012. With the exception of her run with Team B.A.D. during the early stages of the Women’s Revolution, Naomi’s been a honest, well-meaning character that likes to dance. People like her. Even when she disappears in catering for months because WWE doesn’t have any ideas for her, people are always happy when Naomi comes back for a brief period of time. She does a feud, gets good reactions, then goes away. I think this pattern has happened enough times that fans are no longer willing to give it a chance and assume that it’ll lead to bigger things to Naomi.

So, when Lacey got the win on SmackDown by playing with Naomi’s hair, fans finally had enough. The subject was trending on Twitter through Saturday, with many chiming in that indeed, Naomi deserves better. She absolutely does, there’s no questioning that unless you’re Vince McMahon apparently. I wouldn’t expect this online backlash to lead to anything substantial, heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if WWE brass took it to mean that Lacey’s really getting over as a heel.

There are certain people WWE just isn’t interested in pushing. Apparently Naomi is one of them. I can’t tell you why. I can make wild ass guesses, but all I can say for sure is that WWE has under-utilized Naomi for approximately eight of her nine years on the main roster.

Paul E is not a Good Brother

You would be correct in that assumption. https://t.co/AMLaxpyHQb

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) July 18, 2020

As I mentioned earlier, Good Brothers Gallows & Anderson released a podcast shortly after their non-compete expired. One of the topics of discussion was an issue that came up some weeks ago, the speculation over Paul Heyman being behind Gallows & Anderson’s release, which led to heat between Heyman & AJ Styles. According to the men themselves, it’s all true. Some have brought up the obvious question: how could Paul Heyman be behind people getting released when he got demoted not long afterwards? It’s a fair question. I’m not going to act like I’d be surprised if Heyman was offered up as the scapegoat by Vince McMahon to AJ, because that sort of thing happens all the time in WWE.

I got a question for all these folks falling all over themselves to defend Paul E & brand Gallows & Anderson as not being the sharpest tools in the shed: Would you be saying the same thing if the name in the story was “Bruce Prichard” instead of “Paul Heyman”? Something tells me a lot of y’all wouldn’t be. Paul’s very popular with the Internet and we don’t like the idea that he might have gotten people fired. If it was Bruce, it’d be a different story.

Listen, I don’t know what went on leading to any of these firings. I only know what people tell me, and at this point in my life I know better than to cut free passes just because somebody’s entertaining on television.

Just because you spoke out doesn’t mean they’ll go away

3 minutes into joey ryan 58 minutes YouTube video pic.twitter.com/dEI7KBiHLI

— FAMOUS ARTIST 👨🏽‍🎨👨🏽‍🎨🎨🎨 (@ilyassWillDraw) July 20, 2020

It was only a matter of time.

I don’t think anybody really expected all of the folks outed by the Speaking Out movement to slink off into the darkness forever. They were going to bide their time, wait for the moment when it felt like the heat was off them a little bit, then make their case. Two of the more high profile folks that were accused by multiple individuals began their attempts to reclaim their former status in the past couple of days.

Mike Quackenbush did via the newspaper. Very on brand for him & Randy Orton to take it to the papers. The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story on CHIKARA shutting down this past Saturday, with quotes from Quackenbush that indicate he’s going to try to run again as soon as possible. He took on that familiar talking point about how anybody speaking against oppression must be a mob, and how the group is not clearly good, not clearly bad. This is how people are trying to discredit Black Lives Matter, and this is how people will try to discredit Speaking Out.

Joey Ryan’s doing the same thing. He released a nearly hour-long video that was intended to discredit anybody that dared accuse him of sexual misconduct. I didn’t watch it because I have never had the urge to click on an hour-long video of Joey Ryan talking. From what the people that have watched it say, he pretty much ran down every single accuser and tried to paint everything in a positive light regarding his actions over the years.

This is an important thing to remember while taking stock of Quackenbush & Ryan’s recent actions and their respective attempts to clear their names: They don’t believe they did anything wrong.

Quackenbush released a heartfelt apology video where he was on the verge of tears on a couple of occasions, but after taking some time to think about it, he’s realized that he did nothing wrong. He may have created an environment that fostered bad behavior, but that wasn’t his fault. I call it the Rick Pitino Defense. Pitino created a culture in the Louisville men’s basketball program that led to bad behavior on multiple fronts. According to him, none of it was his fault and he shouldn’t have been punished for it. Same deal with Quack & CHIKARA. Maybe some bad things happened, but, in his eyes, the past is the past and he should be allowed to continue doing what he does.

Ryan’s case is more of a typical male thing. A lot of men have the ability to frame every interaction they have with the opposite sex in a way that makes them look like nice guys. From what I surmise, Joey has put a lot of thought into each of these situations. He has managed to spin each one into a way where he thinks he comes off as the good guy. Even if he doesn’t come off as a good guy to anybody that’s listening, in his mind, he’s a decent fella.

I think most men have this problem. I know I have in the past. It was only later on after some reflection where I’d realize “ok, that’s why she probably thinks I’m a creep.” Humans make mistakes. Some of us learn from them. Some of us never even realize we make them.

Another important thing to remember: Quackenbush is 44 years old. Ryan is 40.

These guys have spent their entire adult lives in the pro wrestling business. Quackenbush was able to make his own playground. Ryan was able to make his own schedule. They made themselves successful without having to work for WWE, which up until the past year or two wasn’t an easy thing to do during the twenty-first century. Very few people were able to accomplish what these men did. In a previous time, we would have admired them for it. Now that we know some of the people they stepped on along the way, it’s not as admirable.

Here’s the thing: These two men have dedicated their lives to pro wrestling. They haven’t pursued any other means of making a living in a very long time. I imagine if somebody was doing what they loved and it was taken away from them, they’d feel pretty desperate to get it back. Especially, as we established earlier, if they believe they did nothing wrong. Sure, people will tell you that 40 is the new 30, but surely Quackenbush & Ryan see the sand flowing through the hour glass.

You can understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. Also, you can probably see the next step coming. As long as Quack & Ryan aren’t in jail or otherwise occupied, they’re going to continue to pursue a career in wrestling. They may run shows. Somebody might book them to wrestle. Some indy promoter will see some money in that.

When that happens, it’s up to the fans to decide how to take it. It’s capitalism at it’s finest. We can’t stop Mike Quackenbush from running a show if he can get talent and a venue. We also don’t have to support it. The same goes for Joey Ryan. And if promoters want to book them, that doesn’t mean we have to watch their shows.

These guys aren’t going away. And I’d wager that some of those other names that got outed will be popping up on the scene once things get more active. If you really want to support the people that spoke out, you’ll not support the people they accused. It’s really that simple.

Change really happens when the money stops coming in. If you’ve been paying attention to sports news lately, or just the news in general, you know that’s true.

That’s all I got for this week! Thanks for reading, and keep your stick on the ice.

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Opinion

Greg DeMarco’s 2025 WWE Royal Rumble Results, Review & Reaction

We are firmly on the Road to WrestleMania, starting with the Royal Rumble! Greg has his initial thoughts and reactions for everyone’s favorite event!

Published

3 weeks ago

February 2, 2025

Greg DeMarco

We are firmly on the Road to WrestleMania, starting with the Royal Rumble! Greg has his initial thoughts and reactions for everyone’s favorite event!

It’s the first Royal Rumble in an NFL stadium (thanks to the WWE calendar change), and both Rumble matches feature a star-studded line-up that makes it much harder than you’d think to pick a winner. I was lucky enough to attend one Royal Rumble live, 2019, and it’s always the best way to set the stage for WrestleMania.

If @whoislaniee‘s rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is any indication, we are in for one hell of a night with one hell of a crowd!

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 1, 2025

Always great to see Stephanie McMahon kicking off a show–the more Stephanie, the better. Apparently we’ve managed to pack 70,000 fans into Lucas Oil Stadium, and if you didn’t know, Pat McAfee loves him some Indianapolis.

With each match you’ll see my picks, in my traditional “Who Should Win?/Will Will Win?” format. I made them in this week’s solo edition of The Greg DeMarco Show, which you can listen to here:

Women’s WWE Royal Rumble Match

Greg’s predictions from earlier in the week:

Who Should Win: Bianca Belair
Who Will Win: Bianca Belair

Last year’s winner was Bayley, entering at #3, and she went on to defeat Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Iyo Sky enters #1, and I do love the elevated platform–it’s not really a stage, but it does enhance the overall feel of the show. Old school fans will remember the entrance from Montreal watching Prime Time Wrestling.
I feel like Liv Morgan always enters these matches early. I also didn’t realize she’s been in all 8 Women’s Royal Rumble matches.
I do love the “ticker” across the bottom of the screen with stats and info during the entrances. Very ESPN, very “Wrestling As A Sport” to me.
Gotta say I was hoping for the black canvas (I’m biased), but I’ll always take grey over light blue.

Roxanne Perez has “Iron Woman” written all over her entering at #3. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 1, 2025

We even get “Active” and “Eliminated” in the ticket? I am REALLY digging this.
Lyra Valkyria enters to very little reaction–she’s a fantastic talent but has not connected on the main roster.
Lyra with the early wardrobe malfunction and we are already slightly derailed, kudos to everyone for getting it together.
Interesting to have the secondary champions enter back-to-back, and Indianapolis doesn’t seem to care much about her, either. Maybe I was wrong about this crowd, and maybe my criticism of Lyra was premature.
Chelsea thinking she’s dumped everyone and pointing to the sign is a great piece of business.
B-Fab enters at #6, and I would assume she has the lowest chance of winning of anyone in the field.
Man, B-Fab is still very NOT good.
Ivy Nile enters #7, the 5th straight entrant who has zero chance of winning this thing.
Also, we are still without an elimination, but probably 10 “hanging on the rope” spots already.
Ivy Nile is already more over in Indy than the Intercontinental and United States Champions.
Zoey Stark, complete with Barry Windham’s “Stalker” facepaint, enters eighth to continue our run of women with zero chance of winning.
Lash Legend enters at #9, and I have a feeling she’s about to win this crowd over.
LASH POINTED TO THE SIGN.
“Get her on the Fever” – Pat McAfee.
Chelsea Green gives us our first elimination, of B-Fab.
Bianca Belair enters at #10, really hurting my chances of being right.

And here’s my pick to win the Women’s #RoyalRumble, Bianca Belair. At #10? Doesn’t look good for me!

(Seth Rollins won his from #10, I believe.)

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 1, 2025

The crowd definitely picked up with Bianca being in the match.
BIANCA IS A MACHINE.
Shayna Baszler enters #11, reminding me she works for WWE. Which is sad, I really thought she’d have a hell of a run in WWE.
Bayley is #12, and we still have quite the group in this match. Personally I don’t see Bayley being a back-to-back winner.
Sonya Deville is in at #13 to complete the PFC trio in this match. I’m sure that’ll work out well for them!
Iyo Sky is so good, she saved Sonya’s knee spot and I am sure no one noticed.
Maxxine Dupri in at #14, another non-winner, but to her credit she only keeps getting better.
With 12 women thill in this match, I have a feeling we’re getting Nia Jax or Charlotte Flair soon to give us a bunch of eliminations.
Ivy Nile out, followed by Maxxine Dupri, and the countdown is on!
Naomi brings the halfway point with her, entering at #15.

Naomi is a former women’s champion and had an amazing WrestleMania moment back in Orlando–why does Michael Cole keep saying 2024 was her breakout year? #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 1, 2025

All of PFC is gone, and nothing of value is lost (from this match–they are valuable as people).
Jaida Parker, entering at #16, comes in to a better reaction than half of the field. Miss Parker has a hell of a WWE career ahead of her.
Chelsea Green is so damn good at what she does.
And here comes Piper Niven at #17.
Will Piper somehow eliminate Piper?
Yes – the answer to that question is yes.
Naalya enters at #18, her eighth Royal Rumble. She’s a little over 20 minutes away from 3 cumulative hours in Rumble matches.

If anyone “deserves” a Royal Rumble win, it’s Natalya. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 1, 2025

FANTASTIC reaction for Jordynne Grace–that has to raise some eyebrows among leadership.
JORDYNNE GRACE IS A STAR.
Michin in at #20, as we are up to 10 eliminations.

BUT THE INTERNET TOLD ME ALEXA BLISS WASN’T GONNA COME BACK DUE TO A CONTRACT DISPUTE. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 1, 2025

Wade Barrett, Michael Cole, and Pat McAfee crapping all over the wrestling newz sites is amazing.
And you can tell Alexa Bliss is THRILLED to be back.
Zelina Vega in at #22 to not win the Royal Rumble.
HUGE SPOT for Zelina Vega and Jordynne Grace.
If you happen to rewatch this match, watch Bayley very closely. It’s a look inside the business–she’s basically an agent in the ring.
Candice LeRae enters at #23, and I am reminded that she’s the WWE Women’s Speed Champion. I also wonder if they’ve started piping in crowd noise for these entrances.
Of note, we haven’t closed a Royal Rumble PLE with the Women’s Royal Rumble Match since the first one in 2018.
Of the 10 women eliminated so far, 6 of them entered #4-5-6-7-8-9.

Great reaction for Stephanie Vaquer–Indianapolis seems to be an NXT crowd. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

LET STEPHANIE VAQUER HER WIN YOU COWARDS. (Personal opinion, she’s the best women’s wrestler in the world.)
#25 already–we are trying to make up some time.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand it’s Trish Stratus.

Honestly, did we need Trish Stratus? #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

Kinda wanted Jordynne Grace to toss Trish Stratus right there.
Piper Niven just kncoked the SH*T outta Trish!
Raquel Rodriguez in at #26, and we have 4 more entrants left.
Nia, Charlotte, and…..Becky? Nikki? (Bella, that is.)
The crowd is NOT HAPPY about Alexa Bliss’ elimination.
#1-3 all still in the match.
Charlotte Flair and her new face at in at #27.

Listen, I’m going to hell, but Charlotte Flair’s entrance reminds me of when JR returned from his stroke. Lay off the plastic surgery. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

Love Wade Barrett pointing out that Charlotte got pyro. I hope Roman gets his, too.
Took Charlotte forever to get her robe off, apparently.
Like I’m supposed to believe Jordynne Grace can’t suplex Charlotte Flair?
Charlotte definitely brought some fire to this match.
Giulia getting almost no reaction is surprising given the reaction of some other NXT talents.
Iyo and Liv approaching an hour in the match, along with Roxanne Perez.

Giulia eliminated Jordynne Grace, which makes me think Jordynne might be spending some time in NXT. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

Nia Jax enters at #29, leaving a surprise for #30? Becky Lynch?
Good for Nikki Bella! And she gave someone in the crowd one hall of a souvenir.
And now it’s time for the “World vs Nia” spot.
Forget Superkick It’s an APRON PARTY.
Roxanne Perez just snuck back in without being eliminated.
Given who is left, it does seem like this is Charlotte’s match to win.
ROXANNE PEREZ IN THE FINAL THREE?

This company obviously believes in Roxanne Perez. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

LOLCHARLOTTEWINS

Winner of the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble Match: Charlotte Flair

I don’t love the decision to have Charlotte Flair win the Women’s Royal Rumble Match after being gone for over a year, but she IS Charlotte Flair. This should shock nobody. I know Charlotte Flair is a dream match opponent for Tiffany Stratton in the eyes of many, and if she were to put Tiffany Stratton over at WrestleMania, then I will eat my words and say it was worth it.

Hell of a performance for Roxanne Perez, I haven’t seen the tally yet but I do wonder if she broke the record for longest time in one Rumble.

I could go for a Slim Jim meat stick right about now.

Why was Mickie James in the crowd, and not IN THE MATCH??? #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

2 Out of 3 Falls Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships
The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano, champions)

Greg’s predictions from earlier in the week:

Who Should Win: DIY (but it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things)
Who Will Win: DIY (but it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things)

(I won’t be live tweeting or doing a bulleted list for these two matches, likely just the two Rumbles.)

Had to laugh seeing the drone in front of Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin during their entrance.

DIY wins 2 falls to 1, making my prediction accurate. That is small change, though. I liked the match for what it was, but it’s a reminder of Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey from WrestleMania 38–great match, wrong setting. This was an arena match, not a football stadium match. Yes, that DOES matter. Setting is a huge part of pro wrestling.

NXT Black and Gold will always hold a place in my heart, but part of what made that what it was was the crowd. This wasn’t the crowd for this match. Plus it got around 15 minutes, which is about right for a 1-fall match featuring these four. On TV, counting commercial breaks, these guys get 25-30 minutes.

The Street Profits got involved, eventually attacking everyone. I fully expect a WWE Tag Team Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania, with DIY, MCMG, the Street Profits, and possibly Pretty Deadly and Angel/Humberto. This was really just the beginning–it was just misplaced on this card.

Winners AND STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: DIY

Michael Cole did also inform us that Roxanne Perez is the new record-holder for longest Royal Rumble performance. Score one for the good guy (me, from my tweet above).

Ladder Match for the WWE Championship
Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes (champion)

Greg’s predictions from earlier in the week:

Who Should Win: Kevin Owens
Who Will Win: Cody Rhodes

Love that Kevin Owens took down the Winged Eagle Championship during SmackDown last night, and entered with it. Granted, Cody Rhodes has his, too. But KO has a certain edge to him when carrying that title.

That little ladder is HILARIOUS. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

This match was brutal, and whatever they are paying Kevin Owens isn’t enough. Cody Rhodes was beating on KO as a heel would, but he’s a babyface? I know everyone wants “Homelander” Cody, but really he might be more like “Patrick Bateman” Cody. Either way, as great as Cody is (and he is great), there is one missing element. At this point, it’s obvious to me that Cody is the worst babyface in the company. Look at him: THE MAN IS A HEEL.

While I’m glad Cody is fully out of The Bloodline’s shadow, he just needs to beat John Cena at WrestleMania, turn heel, and truly hit his stride. And I want true heel Cody. Chicken sh*t, goons, the whole thing.

Winner, AND STILL WWE Champion: Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes is gonna buy Kevin Owens a lot of cigars, booze, or meat. Whatever that man wants. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

You gotta think Sami Zayn not stopping Cody Rhodes from winning will be a major sticking point for Kevin Owens. Seems like we’ll get Sami vs Kevin at WM41.

Men’s WWE Royal Rumble Match

Greg’s predictions from earlier in the week:

Who Should Win: Jey Uso
Who Will Win: John Cena

Last year’s winner was Cody Rhodes, entering at #15, and he went on to defeat Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 40.

Rey Mysterio (Jr) enters at #2, and it’s obvious that gone are the days where randoms would enter at #1 and #2.
I believe I said on my podcast (if not, I meant to) that Penta would need to enter #1 or #2 so he can have his pyro.

I am so happy for Penta in the WWE. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

I really hope we get a Lucha Underground reference on commentary.
LET PENTA WIN YOU COWARDS! (I know, it didn’t work for Stephanie Vaquer.)
PENTA IS A STAR.
I do appreciate how they didn’t fight on the apron, instead just got right back into the ring.
Chad Gable in at #3, and all we need is for Dominik Mysterio to be #4.
That spot looked NASTY, I hope Chad Gable’s knee is okay.
Carmelo Hayes in at #4, and I am reminded that we likely get Trick in this match.

Trick Williams’ #RoyalRumble entrance is gonna be ICONIC.

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

I know they have a temporary alliance at the moment, but Chad Gable vs. Carmelo Hayes would be an absolute BANGER.
KING CUERNO vs PENTAGON JR! #IYKYK
That spot was far too similar to what we saw in the Women’s Rumble.
Otis in and had some fun.
BRON BREAKKER IS A MACHINE.
The crowd reaction to Bron Breakker tells me the WWE might make even MORE money in the future.
What if Breakker won this match? He won’t, but What If?
If not for WWE, I wouldn’t know who IShowSpeed was.
Honestly, nothing wrong with what they did with IShowSpeed there.
Sheamus enters at #9, and I assume we will see some Beats Of The Bowery.

Gotta play the hits, pal. (Sheamus.) #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

This is the most normal Sheamus’ hair has ever looked.
Crazy that this is only Jimmy Uso’s 3rd Royal Rumble.
Big Jim definitely got a bulk discount on his new gear. I wonder how many color combos he got???
Andrade in at #11, and Wade Barrett points out what I’ve been thinking–why run to the ring?
Jacob Fatu enters at #12 and gets his pyro. The rocket ship has been strapped, pal.
Ludwig Kaiser enters at #13 and no one not named (Greg DeMarco Show co-host) Patrick O’Dowd cares.
Kaiser immediately dumped by Penta, and he’ll probably lose to him on Monday’s Raw, too.

Here comes the most underappreciated wrestler in WWE history, @mikethemiz. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

We lost Michael for a minute there.

The fact that Joe Hendry’s fact on the ticket is “Say His Name And He Appears” is amazing.

Great pop for him, too.

And Michael Cole references Nic Nemeth! #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

I’d actually forgotten that we’d likely get a Joe Hendry appearance, so they got a little pop out of me.
I acknowledge you, my Tribal Chief.

☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️ #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk would be one hell of a match at WrestleMania, just sayin’.
Showdowns like Roman Reigns and Bron Breakker is what the Royal Rumble is all about.
SPEAR TO ROMAN.
That might have been the greatest spear ever.
After Joe Gendry and Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre gets very little reaction entering at #17.
Drew McIntyre with the very silky smooth hair tonight.
Finn Balor in at #18 and we have our second drone sighting of the night.
Something is wrong with Pat McAfee’s headset. Hell of a showing by Penta, by the way.
Jey Uso in at #20 to a HUGE pop.
LET JE YWIN YOU COWARDS.
Poison Rana by Jey???
Let’s hope AJ Styles can stick around for a bit this time. (Not necessarily in the Rumble, but in general.)

All these megastars, and Jacob Fatu might be the most over guy in the match right now. #ROYALRUMBLE

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

I’d be okay if Braun shaved his head again.
Jacob Fatu can literally do ANYTHING and it makes sense.

JOHN CENA’S SOCKS!
JOHN CENA’S SOCKS!
JOHN CENA’S SOCKS!#RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

CM Punk, John Cena, and Roman Reigns all in the ring all at the same time? YES PLEASE.
Now add in Seth Rollins? This is the greatest Royal Rumble of all time.
The current field: Seth Rollins, CM Punk, John Cena, AJ Styles, Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre, and Roman Reigns. That is ABSURD.
The only man who can follow all that talent is indeed Dominik Mysterio. This is about to be amazing.
Imagine if Dom wins. I mean, just imagine it.
With the addition of Sami Zayn, the storylines in this Rumble right now are insane.
Damian Priest, who is probably challenging Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania, enters at #28.
Two more to go. Any surprises?
LA Knight, who I forgot was in this match, enters next.
I kinda expect him to move to Raw in this transfer window.
Ah yes, Logan Paul. I also forgot he was on this.
We’ve had a Nic Nemeth and now a Ricochet reference tonight. I love when you’re WWE, and you are comfortable talking about (almost) ANYBODY.

If I’m WWE, I have Logan Paul wait until the final two before jumping back into the ring. #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

He didn’t, by the way. Opportunity missed.
Final 6: Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, John Cena, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Logan Paul… STAR. STUDDED.
Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins – the WrestleMania Main Event we never got.
YESSS!
Brilliant spot to have Logan Paul eliminate CM Punk.
Final 3: John Cena, Jey Uso, and Logan Paul. Two of my picks are left.
The action on the outside between Rollins, Roman, and Punk drives home how important the Rumble is to the competitors.
And then there were 2: my Who Should Win vs. my Who Will Win.
Please God let Jey Uso win this thing.
(And that’s not a slight against John Cena.)
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

IT’S JUST YOU, UCE! #RoyalRumble

— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) February 2, 2025

Winner of the 2025 Men’s WWE Royal Rumble Match: Jey Uso

Just like the sign said: EAT. SLEEP. YEET. MANIA. I am so damn happy for Jey Uso. You can tell John Cena was as well, along with Michael Cole. And probably everyone in the entire company. Jey Uso is the success story.

As for the match? Well obviously this is a knee jerk reaction, but eff it–this is the best Royal Rumble Match they have ever put on. The early action was fun and exciting. But from the time Joe Hendry’s music hit to the moment Jey Uso pushed John Cena off of the apron, this match was insane. I think Roman Reigns coming in at 16 was a huge part of that. Once Roman is in the match, you are watching to see a) what he does, and b) if he’ll get eliminated. CM Punk eliminating Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns was beautiful, and then Logan Paul tossing CM Punk was even better. If that leads to Rollins vs. Reigns and Logan vs. Punk at WrestleMania, you can take my money.

My money is a Peacock membership, which is automatically charged. But still. Take it.

If John Cena wins it’s still probably the best Royal Rumble Match of all time. But Jey Uso winning makes that an undisputable fact.

Overall Thoughts on the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble

The Women’s Royal Rumble was decent to good. Loved Roxanne getting the Iron Woman treatment, but in the end it’s another chapter of LOL Charlotte Wins.
I need to rewatch DIY vs MCMG because I was on the phone when my son called. Maybe I will enjoy it more on a second viewing.
The ladder match was brutal but the end result was expected. Cody is still missing something, and I think that something will continue to be missing until he turns heel. He’s just overshadowed by too many of the other babyfaces.
The Men’s Royal Rumble Match was the best Royal Rumble match they have ever put on. Great action in the early half, and from 15 (Joe Hendry) on, it was amazing. The storyline movement with CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins was (here’s that word) cinema, and having the most over wrestler in the company not named Roman Reigns win, and doing so by eliminating the odds-on favorite, was perfect. I’m biased because Jey Uso was my pick, but it was the perfect ending to what was probably as close to perfect as a Rumble match has been since 1992.

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TheChairshot.com PRESENTS: WWE Crown Jewel Immediate Reactions

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Published

4 months ago

November 2, 2024

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Join DJ and Tunney for their immediate reactions to WWE Crown Jewel. For the latest, greatest and up to datest, ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit THECHAIRSHOT.COM