On the latest episode of the “The Wrestling Show” on RussosBrand.com, co-host Billi Bhatti discussed how his reports on Daniel Bryan being the winner of the 2021 edition of the Royal Rumble ended up changing, though multiple sources including Dave Meltzer and Raj Giri reported that Edge was planned all day to win the Royal Rumble match, running completely contrary to what Bhatti says here. Bhatti also discussed the possibility of Seth Rollins winning the event, which was at one time discussed by Vince McMahon and creative. Wrestling-Edge transcribed Bhatti’s comments below. Vince McMahon ‘changed’ the winner of the Royal Rumble
Bhatti: “They wanted to go the long story with Daniel Bryan and not overload Edge’s appearances. So this gets changed back to Daniel Bryan winning when Edge speaks to them about it and says that he feels ‘absolutely fine’ and can ‘one-hundred percent go’. This is when they come up with they journey thing instead, getting him over by putting him in for a really long time.
Originally that was going to be from number two but it was changed to number one on the day of the show. I have no idea why that was but originally he was going to be number two because they didn’t want any more winners at number one because it’s too cliche and it’s been done so many times.” Vince McMahon told this former WWE champion to lose weight recently.
Bhatti continued: “So Edge was originally winning at number two as of that Saturday. However, Edge said to them that he felt fine and at some time during the day there was a flip-flop of the odds. On Sunday, Vince McMahon decides out of the blue that he is going to go with Rollins. He comes up with this story that how parenthood has changed him and he feels like they can turn him face with the whole dad thing.”
Vince McMahon was replaced by Shane McMahon and Triple H at the Royal Rumble. Billi Bhatti concluded by saying: “So this is what I’m told why he’s the favorite when I try to get the explanation and they say that they are going to do the dad thing. So, I’m watching the Rumble and he doesn’t come out to the babyface music. Seth comes out to the Messiah music and I’m worried about it – then obviously, he goes out. His elimination looked weird anyway.”
Bhatti said a Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins WrestleMania match was an idea at one point, but was canceled.
