WWE Royal Rumble 2017: 5 moments they need to avoid

There have been some bad moments in recent Royal Rumble matches, so here’s what WWE needs to avoid doing this time around.

The Royal Rumble is arguably the most anticipated match of WWE’s year. It takes place in January and sets up a world title match at WrestleMania for the victor. Recent winners have included John Cena, Batista, Roman Reigns and Triple H, all of whom are big names. So, on January 29, someone else will join these top-tier Superstars of the past and present.

However, in all of these Rumble matches, there have been moments that made fans scratch their heads or boo mercifully. This includes the ending to 2014 and all throughout the 2015 bout due to the winner and how he was booked.

What will WWE need to avoid doing this time around?

5. Anything involving James Ellsworth

Throughout the fall and into the WWE TLC pay-per-view, James Ellsworth may have been one of the most over Superstars on the roster. He predictably cost Dean Ambrose the WWE Championship at TLC, and proceeded to fade away within the next three weeks. It now has him involved with Carmella in a managerial or lackey role.

If this was maybe two months ago, putting Ellsworth into the Royal Rumble match would have provided an entertaining moment. Now that we’re well past the Ellsworth-Ambrose-AJ Styles content, it would be wise for WWE to keep the Chinless Wonder far away from one of their biggest bouts of the year.

Even if he would provide comedic effect, there’s no need for someone else’s spot to be taken that would provide a slightly bigger threat of winning in the fans’ eyes. Even a legend being part of the match would be more interesting than Ellsworth, who lost any steam he had.

Putting Ellsworth into the Royal Rumble seems like a Vince McMahon special. He would enter the match, take one step in, and get eliminated within 1-3 seconds. There’s no need for this to happen.