Is it just me or has the entire John Cena vs. Randy Orton rivalry been ruined? Now let’s forget for a minute that is the fourth, count it FOURTH time in about a three month span that these two men are fighting each other one on one in a pay per view setting. This rivalry was ruined before it began. John Cena came back triumphantly at the 2008 Royal Rumble in one of the best moments in recent memory and was in line to fight for the title at WrestleMania. This is where the problem begins.
 Everything was set up fine, we were in the middle of the Age of Orton as they were calling it and he was dominating the Raw brand steamrolling into WrestleMania on a collision course with Cena. Then the WWE did something mind numbing beyond their usual slip ups. They took, the one main event that we HADN’T seen, between two of the youngest, athletic and most POPULAR stars in the business who had never faced one another on a pay per view setting one on one and gave it away! They didn’t just rush a ppv or throw it together at the last minute (which they did) they took what could have become the greatest rivalry this decade and wasted it on a pay per view that wasn’t WrestleMania.
I’m not sure I can even explain as a wrestling fan, despite how watered down my interest might be now (and you wonder why) how frustrating it is to see things like this happen. You have a once in a generation rivalry brewing, something to look forward to with stars who people have a clear opinion about in a setting to help gain some interest among wrestling fans and attract the casual fan alike and you completely drop the ball. Dustin was right the only thing the WWE has left is potential and you hope they capitalize more often than not because with economic times as they are and competition like MMA it’s vital for the WWE to capitalize on these situations for their survival. And the fact they took their gold mine and put it on a ppv that has about a third of the buyrate as WrestleMania, is as bad for business as it is the product.
 Back to the situation itself there is always one thing seemingly around Royal Rumble time that isn’t quite right. Something that seems to throw the entire feel of the ppv off. A few years back it was Edge hanging on to his MITB contract way too long and it altered the entire months leading up to WrestleMania. The year in question here it was Jeff Hardy. The creative team wasn’t quite sure what to do with him and there was a lot of thought of him winning the title at the rumble itself which created some uncertainty this time of year. There is always one star in limbo who is on a push of one type or another and doesn’t quite fit in to the main event matches and throws the rest of the show off. The WWE may very well need to plan better when a star gets an unexpected surge in popularity.
 Regardless of Jeff Hardys push at the time the real issue was probably fitting Triple H into the title picture. It would be a shame if he weren’t in the main event EVERY year. Basically in order to fit him into the title match they had Cena the Royal Rumble winner, who since about what is it 1991 92 was guaranteed A MAIN EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA. I’m gonna forgo the issue I have of a title match being called the main event when it doesn’t go on last (there is only one main event at WM WWE) They took this match and put it ON A WHOLE NOTHER PAY PER VIEW. This is ridiculous, not only did this effectively ruin potentially the best rivalry in recent history but it completely devalued the entire concept of the Royal Rumble, the best pay-per-view the WWE has.
