You Want Some Actual Proof That Fans Don't Want Reigns At Wrestlemania?

[Jack-Hammer]

After what many people are saying is Vince making the exact same mistake this year as he did last year, last night's decision looks to have cost WWE a good chunk of change. It's being reported that the WWE Network Cancelation page was crashed last night as so many people were cancelling their network subscription. It's also being reported that #CancelWWENetwork was trending worldwide on Twitter last night.

Here's the thing: whether you like Daniel Bryan or you don't, it's time for any lingering doubts to be erased that Bryan simply isn't an indie or internet darling. He's not someone that only internet smarks support and, despite what some members of WWE management are allegedly claiming, it's just not a case of the Yes chat being over with Bryan being along for the ride. In order to save the WrestleMania main event, again, there's going to have to be some degree of damage control done so that Bryan gets shoehorned into the main event. It seems that each month, evidence continues to amass supporting the notion that Vince McMahon is falling victim to the same problems as his contemporaries during the 1980s: being out of touch with modern day fan appeal and perception.

 

[Wald]

It's not Vince being like something from the 1980s that needs to be referenced, just go back to his appeal to WWF fans at the kick off of the Attitude Era.

[YOUTUBE]HznErMk97B4[/YOUTUBE]

It was a desperate enough move from a guy who finally realised that he was completely out of touch with what modern wrestling fans wanted and was pretty much an apology to those of who kept the faith with the company during that time.

It's getting to the stage where Vince's position is becoming untenable and we might need Triple H doing a similar video where he announces they'll stop trying to force feed us stuff we don't want. 2014 was an absolute disaster for WWE, not just for disgruntled fans but also for the company. The Network has fallen very short of expectations and their profits have been hit. 2015 has started very poorly and another avoidable PR disaster has kickstarted the road to Wrestlemania. Investors will start asking questions of the chairman of the board if they keep ignoring their fanbase.

 

[Navi]

It was pretty clear last night that the fans wanted only a couple of people to win the Rumble. If anyone other than Dean Ambrose (my pick), Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler or Bray Wyatt has won, are we really surprised at the reaction of the fans.

The network cancellation page did crash right after the Rumble, and the dirt sheets are reporting that fans tried to block the wrestlers cars from leaving the arena. A bit much, but pissed off fans are just that pissed off fans.

While I like Reigns, he's not ready to main event Mania, he's not ready to meet someone like Lesnar and he's definitely not ready for the response that he got last night. It's been said here on the forum for the past couple of weeks now that the backlash could ruin him. You could see last night he was either confused or pissed off. Even the Rock couldn't save his cousin from the wrath coming his way, and it will remain that way.

I don't know if this is fixable, but if they don't do something I worry for Reigns career as a whole. People say give the guy a chance, but there is no way in hell he is ready to carry the WWE the way Cena has for the last 10 years.

 

[Kidpolean]

This isnt really a Daniel Bryan issue. Why do people keep making this about him? Ziggler and Ambrose could have won and gotten huge pops. It wasn't like last year where everyone besides DB was going to get booed out of the building.

 

[hatehabsforever]

See, I think it's making erroneous assumptions to suggest that all of this negativity was simply because Roman Reigns emerged victorious in the Royal Rumble match last night. I think it was a combination of many things. A terrible card, over and above the title match and the Rumble match itself. An early and inexplicably easy elimination of Daniel Bryan midway through the match, after only being in there for about 10 minutes. Seeing Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler, and Dean Ambrose last until late in the match, only to be thrown out like rag dolls by the old guard, Big Show and Kane. An unnecessary appearance by the Rock to put a positive spin on Roman Reigns. An an obvious absence of some guys that the fans would have liked to see in the Rumble match itself: Randy Orton, Sheamus, Jericho, Sting, Triple H, Undertaker, Mysterio, Cena, or Rollins. I don't believe for a second that people are canceling their subscriptions (if indeed they actually do, as opposed to a knee jerk reaction out of frustration that they can easily not follow through on, or simply re-subscribe once cooler heads prevail) because Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble.

Look, I'm as big a fan of Daniel Bryan as anyone. Love the guy actually, and have since he debuted a few years back. But he would have been a poor choice to win the Rumble last night. The guy is just returning from a significant absence, following injuries that many people were posting on here as recently as a few weeks ago were supposedly career ending. Do you really want to subject his body to the rigors of the road to Wrestlemania, culminating in a match with the beast incarnate? And would anyone buy him as a plausible opponent to Lesnar at this stage of the game? Because I sure as hell don't. I'm having difficulty buying him defeating Brock if he is 100% healthy, never mind in his current state.

I think people are frustrated because they have expectations of the way they want things to go and when they don't go as they desire, they throw a tantrum like a petulant child. Some of this is valid and warranted, mind you, as WWE has been insulting our intelligence for months now in a number of manners. But let's be fair to Reigns. Little of this frustration should be directed at Reigns. It's been obvious for ages now that WWE was heading in this direction with him. Was anyone surprised that he won? Because I sure as hell wasn't, especially once Bryan went out. Why don't people show a little patience and let things play out a little? The Road to Wrestlemania is only about 12 hours old. Let's not doom it to failure before it even starts.

Unless, of course, Bully Ray doesn't show up on RAW tonight with Velvet Sky on his arm. Because if that doesn't happen, bye bye Network

 

[Wald]

I think people are frustrated because they have expectations of the way they want things to go and when they don't go as they desire, they throw a tantrum like a petulant child.

I agree with a lot of what you say but I honestly hate it when people say things like this. We're paying customers so we're allowed cancel our subscriptions in protest, allowed bitch and moan on social media or forums and we're allowed boo whoever we want whenever we want. It's not being petulant, it's just being disappointed in the product being presented to you.

It doesn't just happen in wrestling either. Imagine going to a Foo Fighters concert and they flat out refused to play anything beyond their last album? Not only that but they teased that they'd be playing loads of their hits on this tour and then just flat out refused. The crowd would turn on them and boo them out of the building. I've been at gigs that have turned sour, been at cinemas where half the people walk out during a movie, been at soccer matches where fans of a team boo their own players off the pitch. People react negatively when take their cash and feed them horseshit with it. It's a perfectly natural way of responding.

 

[kumarjtk]

those who unsubscribe the network are fools. U waste ur money. We already known roman is winning rumble match and beat lesnar at mania. Wwe easily take ur money by include bryan in rumble match. Even though they may easily gets those idiotic fans money by put bryan in title match at fast lane ppv. only reason u guys hate roman bcoz he is wwe pick. Roman is better than bryan for face of wwe.

 

[closet_fan]

The only thing I didn't like last night was once it was Big Show, Kane and Reigns (with Rusev hiding), where was the surprise? It's pretty bad when the crowd wants Rusev to win. But once those 3 guys were in the ring, did anyone really think Kane or BS would win?

You want Reigns to win, fine. But keep a couple guys in there who WE THINK might have a chance.

I was shocked Bryan was eliminated so fast. Not sure whose call that was.

 

[FreezeIzGAWD]

See here is where I differ with all you guys. I think you are all right. The ones who were disappointed last night and cancelled your subscription....

GREAT.

PLEASE STAY GONE!

You hate the product, booking, whatever.

FINE!!!!

You got chested 2 years in a ROW!

That sucks!

SO STAY THE FUCK GONE!

Quit coming around blowing our high.

Please don't wreck my vibe. I and a lot of fans enjoyed the RR last night. For the ones who are so fed up and disgusted stay gone.

You say you have seen people walk out of movies before in protest.....

Well did try got back and buy a ticket and scream about how badly the movie still sucked!!!!

You guys are gone.....

STAY GONE.

Watch ROH.... Watch TNA....

Watch the indie circuit that makes you guys feel COOL.

WHO CARES?

I just don't understand why you keep SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY TO BE DISSATISFIED.

That's like eating at the same restaurant that serves food you hate each week and leaving a 15 dollar tip!!!!

WHY DO IT?

Got it. You hate the product, booking, yada yada, Vince is out if touch all that.

Well could U GROWN ASS MEN QUIT RUINING THE SHOWS FOR THE CHILDREN THAT IT IS MADE FOR!!!!

You Are GONE NOW.....

Support Punk in the UFC!!!

Help ROH get ratings.....

Do what U want.

WHY COMEBACK?

PLEASE ON THE BEHALF OF FANS WHO LIKE THE PRODUCT STAY GONE!!!!

 

[Wald]

I was shocked Bryan was eliminated so fast. Not sure whose call that was.

My guess is they were worried if he were eliminated near the end that fans were really revolt against Reigns. That whole match was structured to try to lessen the backlash against Roman, everything from Bryan going out early and Reigns taking out Kane & Big Show after they eliminated Ambrose & Ziggler with ease to the bit at the end with Rusev (no way did Vince ever think the fans would back Rusev over Reigns), the Rock endorsing Reigns and the Authority looking pissed off that Reigns had won.

It obviously didn't work and probably actually intensified the hate

 

[a member of wwe universe]

The only thing I didn't like last night was once it was Big Show, Kane and Reigns (with Rusev hiding), where was the surprise? It's pretty bad when the crowd wants Rusev to win. But once those 3 guys were in the ring, did anyone really think Kane or BS would win?

You want Reigns to win, fine. But keep a couple guys in there who WE THINK might have a chance.

I was shocked Bryan was eliminated so fast. Not sure whose call that was.

Watched last nights post show featuring russo, manzo and those guys. They said they had bryan eliminated early in hopes of the crowd would accept reigns. Obviously that backfire and **** wwe in the rear end. Problem is bryan is the favorite going into the rumble, nobody is just gonna forget about him just cause hes eliminated early.

 

[A11oftheLights]

This isnt really a Daniel Bryan issue. Why do people keep making this about him? Ziggler and Ambrose could have won and gotten huge pops. It wasn't like last year where everyone besides DB was going to get booed out of the building.

Had reigns last year won the pop was going to be huge, which is why we're in this mess because that night solidified, to the wwe at least, that the fans want Reigns.

I agree with a lot of what you say but I honestly hate it when people say things like this. We're paying customers so we're allowed cancel our subscriptions in protest, allowed bitch and moan on social media or forums and we're allowed boo whoever we want whenever we want. It's not being petulant, it's just being disappointed in the product being presented to you.

DONT FUCKING WATCH IF YOUR SICK OF BEING DISAPPOINTED. I'm sorry to direct that at you but seriously this viewpoint is starting to piss me off. If I dont like a tv show(which at the end of the day is what wwe is) I dont watch it. SIMPLE AS THAT.

When all this happened last year i laughed because crowds hadnt been like that in ages. Then it has just kept going on and on and it has completely ruined the product. I would have enjoyed Reigns winning regardless but when Bryan was eliminated I thought that the crowd would ruin it but you know what it has actually made me enjoy it more just because it pisses people off.

 

[bioshock]

So many different ways the mess could of been avoided all of which had nothing to do with DB. But WWE screwed up every possible chance during the whole thing.

Here is a big deal though. Sure fans will cancel, many fans already did cancel after Summerslam, remember when some 200k dropped the WWE Network? So yeah people do drop the Network, not everyone is fully behind what WWE does, and many only watch the Network for the PPV's . Not all some 700k or what ever on the Network watch just because of the old content.

But again the big deal: the WWE shareholders don't think for a minute they wont get a little worried over people cancelling at the supposed hottest time of the year for WWE, not to mention all the new content coming to the Network, and instead of gaining they are losing customers, cancel the network isn't good to have as a top trend for WWE and it cant be something the shareholders like to see.

WWE will have some major damage control to fix with the fans, and with the shareholders IMO.

Last but not least, even the great John Cena lost a few of his Rumbles, and had a good long run as US champion before finally getting his big push, Cena didn't even win the Rumble before WM21 where he won the WWE Title, and fans actually wanted Cena to win that Rumble, but instead Batista won, another guy fans were totally behind in winning the Rumble.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

The biggest kicker is that fans are now reporting they can't cancel their subscription anymore. WWE has apparently shut down the cancellation option in order to keep some people on board. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's pretty messed up. Isn't one of the large cable networks in USA getting sued by millions for jerking customers around and not letting them cancel? This is bad.

I really doubt all of this is ALL because of Daniel Bryan. It's probably a mix of disappointment with the entire event and the rest is people jumping on the bandwagon of that hashtag. If the #CancelWWENetwork wasn't trending I'm sure the damage would be far less. But of course it happened so the thought of fighting the power in that way entered lots of people's minds and I say good.

THIS is the type of action we need to take. Not bitching here, straight up canceling, not watching. I bet you WWE will scramble to make it up to the fans now. It just sucks that it has to get to this for them to give us some entertainment. Stupid company.

 

[closet_fan]

The biggest kicker is that fans are now reporting they can't cancel their subscription anymore. WWE has apparently shut down the cancellation option in order to keep some people on board. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's pretty messed up. Isn't one of the large cable networks in USA getting sued by millions for jerking customers around and not letting them cancel? This is bad.

I really doubt all of this is ALL because of Daniel Bryan. It's probably a mix of disappointment with the entire event and the rest is people jumping on the bandwagon of that hashtag. If the #CancelWWENetwork wasn't trending I'm sure the damage would be far less. But of course it happened so the thought of fighting the power in that way entered lots of people's minds and I say good.

THIS is the type of action we need to take. Not bitching here, straight up canceling, not watching. I bet you WWE will scramble to make it up to the fans now. It just sucks that it has to get to this for them to give us some entertainment. Stupid company.

That is an easy fix. Cancel the credit or debit card you used to pay for it. They won't be able to charge a card that's cancelled. If you are already passed the 6 month, which most of us who got it when it came out are, they can't do anything about it.

As for the cancellation spree, who even knows how many actually did it and who said they would do it, but didn't just to be the in crowd.

If they lost at least 100,000 that's cause for concern. But remember they just launched in other countries, so they could make that number up ten fold.

 

[ShatteredDreamsProduction]

If nobody thinks that at the next ppv. There's not gonna be some form of "competition" such as king of the ring to get another wrestler into the main event then they are a bit stupid really. I mean come on. The authority isn't gonna take it like that. They'll try set up a way of getting another authority guy to get into the match anD it'll end up being ziggler, Ambrose or Bryan.

The ppv was obviously called fast lane for a reason, as in you're in the fast Kane to main event mania.

Well I hope that's what happens anyways.
No double duty from Bryan this time.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

My question to you is - who is doubting that Daniel Bryan is a big star? Who's doubting that Daniel Bryan is popular among the IWC and the casuals? Why does it matter? If we're going on that perspective, John Cena should main event it EVERY FUCKING YEAR.

My girlfriend, who knows absolute shit about wrestling, knows who the fuck John Cena is and has no clue who Rey Mysterio or Randy fucking Orton is, let alone Daniel Bryan. It's just WWE giving the rub to a guy that needs IT! Does Daniel Bryan need the main event of WrestleMania 31? NO! NO! NO! Even him knows it. He'll be in the title picture by SummerSlam again, he's INTERESTED in having a new guy to fight, a new guy such as Roman Reigns, who'll make a possible match seem that bigger.

This is annoying. Roman Reigns Vs. Lesnar could be a good match. Daniel Bryan vs. Another Fucking Mop could be a good match TOO! See? Two good matches! Now Daniel Bryan vs. Lesnar could be a good match! Roman Reigns vs. Another Fucking Mop? Well, who the fuck knows? I feel like I am losing if I go for the second one. I already saw Bryan getting the title 3 times, he'll get it a lot more! So, why not, just sit back and watch the Backlash of what's happening right now? I like to see people cancelling the Network, I do. It's giving a whole new view for Vince and company I am sure, and it's gonna make an awesome and different Road to WrestleMania. People aren't going to boo Brock Lesnar, they'll be cheering for him, so that's a whole new dynamic.

People that cancelled the Network, will, I guarantee will sign it back, only if it to see Reigns losing what isn't "HIS". I got a lot more hype for WWE after last night. If Bryan had won, people wouldn't be talking about it and wouldn't have to discuss all of this awesome dynamics. So, the best scenario actually won, at least for me, as a fan.

 

[laodaron]

I blame shitty smark Philly fans more than WWE booking. It's the WWE's product, not the fans. Be a fan if you like the product, leave if you don't.

 

[Mac]

The WWE should let things happen organically. When Cena got the belt the first time the fans WANTED him to be on top. With Reigns this is just a force. Right now you have a ready made star in Bryan who the fans want to see on top. Why ignore that? If the argument is about making new main event stars then Dolph Ziggler is a logical option. He gets huge pops that rivals Bryan. The bottom line is that any one of the two guys (Bryan, Ziggler) would've been better choices simply because they're over enough and the fans want to see them in the top spot. There will be more Mania's down the road, plenty of time to truly build up Reigns and get him to a point to where he is ready to main event a WM.

 

[stonecoldstunner]

I watched the Rumble with about 10 people. When the last 3 are jobber Kane, Big Slow, and Reigns...there were 10 very disappointed fans that could care less at that point...I mean WHAT A FREAKING LET DOWN...AGAIN

 

[Rosco999]

Well to be honest i feel a little bad for Reigns after watching the Royal Rumble last night,
Before you dismiss the comment let me put across where i see WWE at the moment.

Firstly when CM Punk left WWE after last year's disaster all of Punk's fans jumped behind Bryan as he is similar to Punk in the aspect of being a great technical wrestler who the modern fan connects with. Fast forward to WM30 and DB has his moment and then has a horrible injury which rules him out for what turned out to be the rest of the year i will come back here in a moment.

So WWE now lose the biggest pops they have at the same time The Shield and The Wyatts are the next most popular guys on the roster. Splitting both factions for me was a mistake The Wyatts had so much more time in them but i agree with splitting The Shield with 3 great singles wrestlers to be created out of that trio.

Now Seth Rollins turning to the Authority has worked well, Dean Ambrose has looked great but been let down by creative and Roman Reigns the next big powerhouse wrestler had the monentum after the Batista/Rumble debacle from last year.

Then Reigns has his injury along with Bryan but the difference being Bryan maintained his support and monentum Reigns did not.

The option WWE had when both men returned were which one do we push for WM31.
Clearly now after RR Bryan was the answer and perhaps giving Reigns a slow burn towards next year would have been better like feuds with Rusev,Bray Wyatt, and Rollins.

So here we are Reigns wins the RR and through no fault of his own faces the backlash of Bryan going out of the picture for WM. My only criticism is why involve The Rock if you want a quick build for Reigns have him Brutalise Show Kane and Rusev the way Lesnar does to show he's an equal to Brock.

Also feel for Wyatt,Ziggler and Ambrose they are not being used in a way which would you could have another three Main Event options.

In summary Creative need to start engaging with what the fans want and gauging who is getting the pops and who is not, instead here have him like him cheer him because no one enjoys being forced to do anything.

So please cut Reigns a little slack here WWE is in desperate need of new faces for Main Events whether its Reigns Wyatt Ambrose Rollins Bryan Ziggler Cesaro Rusev or Ryback these guys need a chance to prove they can cut it but they need the chance to prove it first.

 

[Wrestlingaholic]

The issues weren't down to the result directly, the issues were with the booking. On tv building up to the event, only two people were realistically booked as potential winners. One of those was eliminated before #19 even came out, that's incredibly early. What that did, as well as take the biggest fan favourite out of the reckoning for a world title shot soon, is it took away from the drama of the Royal Rumble match. The second Daniel Bryan's feet touched the floor, the crowd, indeed the entire WWE Universe, knew Roman Reigms was going to win.

WWE has a good track record of making obvious results seem more dramatic, so fans are invested despite the likelihood of a particular wrestler winning. That's how the Streak became a thing, even though we all knew, from Wrestlemania X-Seven onwards, that Undertaket would win every year, we were still hooked on the match (and explains why the Superdome fell temporarily silent when Lesnar pinned him last year); that was completely absent from the Rumble, due to the unsuccesful build. Had WWE put a couple of reasonable alternatives into the mix BEFORE last night, then the likelihood is the fans wouldn't have shit on the second half of the match. Bray Wyatt was booked to look particularly strong, and hand-picked to be the one to eliminate Bryan in order to maintain his big push towards a potential match v 'Taker at Wrestlemania. That's all well and good, but he should have been booked as a potential Rumble winner BEFORE the ppv rather than continuing his lop-sided feud with Dean Ambrose. Ambrose too, the second most popular wrestler on the roster after Bryan (and marginally ahead of Ziggler, but only just) made little or no suggestion he was going to win the Rumble in the build up (and before anyone says, it takes more than simply talking about winning it to look like a potential winner, they need to be booked like potential winners on tv). Ziggler - a man who the commentators have been putting over as tenacious and with never give up stamina and attitude, SHOULD by virtue of his storyline have come out early and lasted until near the end. He SHOULD have been booked as a potential winner, especially given he was directly responsible for 4 of the 5 members of Team Authority being eliminated at Survivor Series. Yet not only did the commentators inexplicay make no mention of his stamina at the Rumble (they couldn't shut up about it at SS or TLC!), but he was #30 and gone within about 2 minutes.

Ultimately WWE's poor booking, both of the match itself but mainly of the build up, is what caused the backlash last night, not Reigns winning (or Bryan not winning) specifically. Had they booked more drama - maybe a final six of Reigns, Bryan, Ziggler, Rusev, Kane and Big Show - then I think the majority of the fans would have been absolutely fine with Reigns winning. The farcical thing though is that they KNEW what the reaction would be, hence they brought in the Rock! So in effect they are acknowledging how awful the booking was for this, probably the worst booked Rumble since 1995.

 

[Rykerzane]

Serious question...

No one" meaning many, don't like Cena because he's been the face of the company for a long time now (though so was the Rock but no one complained back then) so what would you do with him? Turn him heel? If not completely heel, into a cocky jerk charcter that makes the crowd love to hate him more? Have him retire (which is his call not theirs)?

In reality, I feel bad for the guy. Yes I know he makes a crap ton of money, is the face and blah blah blah, but he also works extremely hard, is doing tons of press and publicity, and has put in a lot of time and effort. What would it take for fans to appreciate him again?

 

[sMark]

I hope Reigns will be smart enough to not open his mouth again about who can judge him and who not, because at this moment in time this kind of interview can give him X-pac heat.
Breaking kayfabe for a moment and say something "hey, it wasn't me who made **** out of this match, i only did what i was told to"

 

[Logisticalbooker86]

The following is my response in another thread, but I want as many eyeballs to see it as possible.

WWE put Bryan over at WMXXX kicking and screaming their way to the bank. If you really thought they would WILLINGLY do it for a second year in a row, the joke is on you. I love Daniel Bryan as much as his biggest fans, but he will never get a lengthy run as the #1 guy.

Unless that is, perceptions in Stanford change with the times. The majority of the audience in 2015 loves guys who can go in the ring and hold their own on the microphone.

WWE pulled the trigger on Roman Reigns at least six months too soon. It will be fun to see if they can stand the recoil.

My gut says that WWE sticks to their guns this time around. WM31 will be headlined by Reigns and Lesnar one-on-one for the title come hell or high water.