WWE Royal Rumble 2012: 5 Reasons Why It's as Important as WrestleMania

The Royal Rumble is just as important as WrestleMania.

It is classified as the second-biggest pay-per-view of the year by many, but I believe it is just as big, if not bigger.

This is mainly down to the unpredictability of the Royal Rumble event and the well-thought-out matches that whet our appetites, for it only adds to the excitement and drama.

I have listed five reasons why the Royal Rumble is as important as the Granddaddy of them all. Enjoy!

It Starts the Road to WrestleMania

The 12 weeks that precede WrestleMania are usually action-packed with people clambering for title shots and a decent place on the WrestleMania card.

The Royal Rumble marks the start of this road and it forces superstars in certain directions, starting feuds and furthering them, either through the Royal Rumble match itself, or the title matches that come before it.  

This is extremely important, as WrestleMania needs a good build-up to ensure that it does not become just another pay-per-view.

In a twisted sense, the Royal Rumble can be said to be indirectly responsible for the success of WrestleMania.

It Determines the Main Event of WrestleMania (More or Less)

As mentioned in the previous slide, the Royal Rumble can be said to be indirectly responsible for the success of WrestleMania.

The winner of the Royal Rumble match automatically gets a shot at either title at WrestleMania. Therefore, one contender has already been chosen for the main event.

However, as titles rarely change hands on the way to the biggest pay-per-view of the year, the title match is pretty much decided by the end of the Royal Rumble.  

This makes the event extremely important as we find out what we are going to see at WrestleMania and it allows the WWE to listen to fan reaction and change things accordingly leading up to WrestleMania.

The Undercard Superstars Get a Chance to Shine

Let’s be honest, we moan that we never see lower-card superstars on television, but at the Royal Rumble, we finally get our wish and the lower-card superstars get the biggest pops of their lives as they run down to the ring to participate in the 30-man event.

They get a chance to shine without necessarily being squashed and it can alert the top brass that they actually have something more to give.

Zack Ryder got a huge pop at the 2011 Royal Rumble. A year later, he is the US champion.

I am in no way saying it was because of this, but that pop alone showed people who don’t watch the minor shows how popular Ryder actually was.

No One Ever Forgets a Royal Rumble Winner

I’m fairly sure I could name every single Royal Rumble winner by heart without Googling it, as I’m sure most of you could.

Whether it is for a bad reason (Hacksaw Jim Duggan) or a good reason (Shawn Michaels), you don’t forget Royal Rumble winners in a hurry.

WrestleMania events are a different matter, though. There are many forgettable winners from that event. Who will be the memorable superstar this year?

I’m rooting for Sheamus, fellas!

It Can Make or Break a Superstar

The Royal Rumble can make or break a superstar.

Many have fallen because of the match and many have climbed to great heights because of it.

Alberto Del Rio is an example of the failure of this, as a collective groan came from the WWE Universe when he won last year.

A year later, he is nowhere near any form of title shot.

An example of a successful Rumble win would be “Stone Cold” Steve Austin winning in 1998.

He went on to win the WWF title at WrestleMania XIV and ushered in a new era with the win!.

Also Read: WWE Royal Rumble 2012: 15 Greatest Moments in Royal Rumble Match History