Road Warrior Animal’s Son Responds to The Ascension’s Promo

Road Warrior Animal’s son, James Laurinaitis, noted in a recent interview with Primetime that he hasn’t watched much pro wrestling since his father left the business and that he didn’t know who won the Royal Rumble. He had heard about The Ascension’s promo ripping the Road Warriors, which he called “laughable.”

He said that if Hawk was still alive, Animal would probably go back to WWE to work a program with The Ascension.

Curtis Axel Responds to Triple H Promo, Big Matches Set for WWE MSG

- Below is the updated card for WWE’s February 27th live event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Bad News Barrett, The New Day, Goldust, Stardust, The Bella Twins, Paige and others will also be appearing.

* Hulk Hogan Appreciation Night
* The Highlight Reel with Chris Jericho
* Cesaro vs. Dean Ambrose
* Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt
* Rusev vs. John Cena
* Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan vs. Kane and Seth Rollins

- WWE’s website has video of Tom Phillips talking about Curtis Axel and the Royal Rumble on the WWE App at this link. The video aired during Thursday’s SmackDown after Triple H’s promo on the Royal Rumble controversy. Axel continues to tweet about being screwed at the Rumble and deserving a title shot at WrestleMania 31:
So @TripleH says there was a "controversy" at the #RoyalRumble? Damn right there was! I won and I want my #WrestleMania match! @WWE

The Rock Scheduled To Be In The Royal Rumble ?

WWE has confirmed that The Rock is backstage at the Royal Rumble PPV. According to MetsFan4Ever, a former WWE employee who has his sources within the WWE and has revealed many inside stories, revealed that WWE officials have had a serious discussion regarding The Rock entering the Rumble match and winning it, which will lead to Rock vs. Brock at WrestleMania, which Vince McMahon wants to see for a few years now.
He also told that if the officials do not book this, then The Rock might appear in a backstage segment to put over Roman Reigns.
He also says that WWE officials have considered having Bray Wyatt win the Royal Rumble Match. Many people in WWE have high hopes for Wyatt and “feel the sky is the limit for him.”
As of now, Sheamus is not scheduled to return tonight, but Randy Orton is backstage at the event, however it is not confirmed if WWE will be using him or not, as he was backstage at the TLC PPV as well.

List Of All The Rumored Surprise Entrants in the Royal Rumble Match

The speciality of the Royal Rumble match is that we get to see surprise entrants, which includes Legends as well as Superstars who return after a hiatus.

Here's a list of this year's rumored surprise entrants in the Rumble match:

Rob Van Dam - RVD is rumored to be a surprise entrant in the match, but it is still unknown whether it's just a 1 appearance deal, or a part time deal for a few months (possibly till WrestleMania).

Dudley Boyz - The Dudley Boyz, who have never participated in a Royal Rumble match, have been in talks with WWE officials for a while now about returning to their programming, and they are rumored to be the surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble match at the moment (not confirmed).  There were reports last year that one of the two could end up in NXT as a trainer but we haven’t heard anything else about that.

Diamond Dallas Page - Another surprise entrant that the WWE officials want is a multiple time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Diamond Dallas Page. Officials have wanted to do a program with DDP for a long time now, and it looks like they are finally going for it. If they go with this plan, then lets hope we get to see a confrontation between him & Randy Orton, who is expected to be back for the 30-man Royal Rumble match. It would be great to see the “Diamond Cutter vs. RKO” & interesting to found out if DDP can take some revenge on Orton for stealing his move!

Bo Dallas - It is expected that Bo Dallas will make a return to WWE TV at this event. He has been out of action since last November due to an injury.

Randy Orton - Orton has been advertised for several WWE events (including the Royal Rumble PPV) for quite sometime now, and has not yet made his return to WWE TV. This has lead to much speculation that he will be returning in the Royal Rumble match (given the fact that his surgery was planned in time so that he could return in time for the Rumble match).

* According to reports, 2 spots have been locked for entrants from NXT. There is a possibility that we might see Baron Corbin in the Rumble match.

Backstage Update on Plans for WWE Title Match, TLC Main Event

We’ve noted how there was talk of having #1 contender John Cena get his title shot against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar at this month’s TLC pay-per-view.

Vince McMahon continues to go back and forth on the match happening at TLC. There are just two RAW episodes left until TLC and with no mention of the title or Cena being #1 contender on RAW this past week, there’s a feeling that the match won’t take place at TLC.

Original plans had Cena getting the title shot at the Royal Rumble, which could be the direction they’re going in. As noted, there has also been talk of having Cena face Seth Rollins and Randy Orton at TLC but we should have a better idea of TLC plans after this week’s RAW.