[Showonlastguy]

Fans were so crazy for Bryan that they would have shitted on any other szenario than Bryan winning basically both Rumbles back to back.

In 2014 they made a stupid mistake by letting Batista's return happen a week before the Rumble. Everybody knew he was going to win, and his comeback was one of the most meaningless i ever saw for such a big name like he used to be and still.

In 2015 they had no choice. The thought was that Bryan getting eliminated soon in the match would cool done the situation of Roman winning later but it obviously didn't work out. I will never forget the picture of Bryan sitting on the ground and behind him the Shattered Dreams image is on the Scream and Goldust comes out, they really dissed the fans there, i don't think this was not planned.

But the Starpower in the 2015 Rumble Match was a freaking joke. The dudley Boys were the only attraction in the whole Match.

 

[Freelancer]

Nobody cared to see Batista in 2014. I think he came back just to help promote Guardians of the Galaxy. That was Bryan's year.

As for 2015, people booed the goldenboy because it was clear as day that he was gonna be shoved in our faces just like Cena was for the 10 years before that. Even cousin Dwayne wasn't getting that clown over then.

 

[Black Metal]

As for 2015, people booed the goldenboy because it was clear as day that he was gonna be shoved in our faces just like Cena was for the 10 years before that. Even cousin Dwayne wasn't getting that clown over then.

 

[ByOrderOfThePB]

No to the first and probably yes to the second

In 2014 smarks were making it a point to spite WWE, a shock and a quick win would get a pop, but once it sinks in they'll feel bitter, remorseful, and will start booing the next night on Raw; however, he's be perfectly safe at the rumble especially if he was #30 and won in a quick fashion.

As for the Reigns situation, had they given Bryan the standard babyface booking a year prior (winning the Rumble then WM, which would be very unrewarding in pay-off) they'd be less bitter and more calm probably. It might've braced the impact more, but they'll still boo any guy who WWE sees as a main event prospect, especially a well-built guy who has no indy-flippy background, didn't wrestle for the 23 people who watched ROH, and didn't have a submission hold for a finisher. And while Reigns has his flaws undeniably, He has that main event look which apparently is problematic for the smarts in the audience, who believe a 170lb guys look believable in main eventing WM with Brock Lesnar. It was obvious as day that WWE was pushing Reigns to the moon unorganically and without him proving himself to the crowd before his rise like his predecessors did (Austin, Rock, Cena, Orton, Batista, etc..). That wouldn't have flown with the smarks regardless of what happened with Bryan, since the main reason they cheered Bryan - and this is just my opinion - is that they want to challenge the WWE formula, as evident as how Bryan's reactions cooled down once they finally gave him his big moment at WM30.

 

[VamosRamos]

Neckbeards crying because of Bryan not winning was too beautiful

 

[thatonewwefanguy]

Yes, he would have still been booed, because that's not what the fans wanted, they wanted daniel bryan

 

[thorn123]

IIRC When it came down to reigns and batista, the crowd, by default, were rooting for reigns. That’s how much they didn’t want batista to win. I thought they may have called an audible and changed the winner.

Then they over corrected (predictably) when they gave reigns the win the following year.

 

[#BadNewsSanta]

Reigns’ reactions were already weakening before RR 2015. The horrendous promo he did when he returned the weeks/month before didn’t help things. As a singles talent he was the drizzling shits in all regards at the time, only getting over in the first place due to The Shield hiding his limitations (similar to now with the Bloodline, although now Reigns has some level of talent even if not up to the level of his push).

But Roman was always going to get booed at the Rumble/whenever they really started booking him towards the main event. Bryan had 0 to do with that. Now Bryan’s elimination did have a negative effect on that match as a whole, and it wasn’t until red-hot Mizdow came out and gave something for people to cheer did the match sort of get back on track. Roman though wasn’t ready for the spot, and it made him a complete failure in the long run and he was forced to turn heel to get some goodwill from the fans (something Vince never did with Cena). But even if Bryan won in 2014, Reigns would’ve been booed out of the building in 2015.

With regards to 2014, I do think Batista’s return being a surprise may have helped tame the negative reaction, but ultimately I think it would’ve ended up being more mixed than anything.

 

[Strike Force]

The 2015 Royal Rumble was one of the biggest f*** you's to the fans by any promotion in the history of professional wrestling. We needn't relitigate the whole thing, but the spiteful early elimination of Bryan, the shattered dreams nonsense, and Big Show and Kane eliminating all the fan favorites in embarrassing fashion remains a black mark on WWE.

 

[Asuka842]

In regards to 2015, I disagree somewhat that the fans would not have accepted anyone but Bryan. Yes he was the favorite, but there were still other over guys in that match that fans probably could have lived with winning.

WWE did everything to turn fans off by not only unceremoniously eliminating Bryan. But then they had old men Kane and Big Show literally dump all of the other favorite (Ambrose, Ziggler, Bray, etc) out like garbage.

It was blatant that they were trying to FORCE fans to cheer Roman as the only face left. And fans saw right through it and were having none of it.

 

[gillbergisback]

That's a good question because people are suckers for surprises. Even Cena got a great pop for his return from injury in 2008. It certainly wouldn't last though.

 

[Honey Bucket]

The 2015 Royal Rumble was one of the biggest f*** you's to the fans by any promotion in the history of professional wrestling. We needn't relitigate the whole thing, but the spiteful early elimination of Bryan, the shattered dreams nonsense, and Big Show and Kane eliminating all the fan favorites in embarrassing fashion remains a black mark on WWE.

Yep, this is when the rot truly started to set in. They were seeing a slight rejuvenation in 2014 with new talent etc. then towards the end of 2014 a few elements occurred which didn’t make sense. Authority was on the war path burying everybody (even their own members). The Rumble match 2015 was the gigantic turd on the icing on the cake.

I love watching old Rumbles to pass the time but this is one of the very very few I will probably never watch again.

 

[toon126]

They missed a trick. The heat Seth would’ve got for cashing in on Bryan/Brock would’ve been nuclear. Especially if you position the match so that Bryan got his ass whooped and was on the verge of a comeback before Seth arrived.

But had to get “suffering succotash” golden boy in there.

 

[Adapting]

Nobody cared to see Batista in 2014

I cared.

 

[FrankieDs316]

I cared.

So did I as did many fans. A majority if anything. But we wanted to see Batista as a heel or face Brock Lesnar.

 

[The Boy Wonder]

But Roman was always going to get booed at the Rumble/whenever they really started booking him towards the main event. Bryan had 0 to do with that. Now Bryan’s elimination did have a negative effect on that match as a whole, and it wasn’t until red-hot Mizdow came out and gave something for people to cheer did the match sort of get back on track. Roman though wasn’t ready for the spot, and it made him a complete failure in the long run and he was forced to turn heel to get some goodwill from the fans (something Vince never did with Cena). But even if Bryan won in 2014, Reigns would’ve been booed out of the building in 2015.

What if Bryan held the World Title from WM 30 to Summerslam, and taken the convincing loss to Brock that Cena ended up taking? How would've the fans perceived him after a loss like that? Do you think fans would've been as hostile to Reigns at the 2015 Royal Rumble? Part of the reason fans booed him was because they felt Bryan should've been the one to beat Brock. That idea would've been crushed if Bryan got destroyed at Summerslam 2014.

They missed a trick. The heat Seth would’ve got for cashing in on Bryan/Brock would’ve been nuclear. Especially if you position the match so that Bryan got his ass whooped and was on the verge of a comeback before Seth arrived.

But had to get “suffering succotash” golden boy in there.

Seth arrived because both guys were worn out from beating he hell out of each other. You needed both guys laid out to make the cash in believable. How would you have booked this ending sequence with Bryan? I guess he hits a desperation running knee and the ref starts the count with both guys laid out?

 

[#BadNewsSanta]

What if Bryan held the World Title from WM 30 to Summerslam, and taken the convincing loss to Brock that Cena ended up taking? How would've the fans perceived him after a loss like that? Do you think fans would've been as hostile to Reigns at the 2015 Royal Rumble? Part of the reason fans booed him was because they felt Bryan should've been the one to beat Brock. That idea would've been crushed if Bryan got destroyed at Summerslam 2014.

Nah Roman getting booed had very little to do with Bryan. However Bryan would’ve lost the title would’ve made little difference.

 

[The Boy Wonder]

Nah Roman getting booed had very little to do with Bryan. However Bryan would’ve lost the title would’ve made little difference.

Really? So Bryan gets destroyed by Brock at Summerslam 2014 and the fans still boo the hell out of Reigns at the 2015 Royal Rumble? You honestly think fans would've still been behind Bryan after a a loss like that?

 

[#BadNewsSanta]

Really? So Bryan gets destroyed by Brock at Summerslam 2014 and the fans still boo the hell out of Reigns at the 2015 Royal Rumble? You honestly think fans would've still been behind Bryan after a a loss like that?

Its not about being behind Bryan.