Royal Ramble 2015

Has it really been a decade since this show took place?

Has it really been that long since we last touched this pile of shit?

So… today, we revisit the 2015 Royal Rumble show. The show that pretty much kicked off what was, at the time, the shove of Roman Reigns down the collective throats of the WWE Universe whether they liked it or not. The show that pretty much cemented that relationship for the next five years. The show that, in the long run, served as the beginning of this whole Bloodline thing that’s going on today.

I haven’t touched this show in a decade and yeah, it’s a bit interesting to go back to this one after all this time. Perhaps one of the most infamous shows in all of WWE history, but one that plays a pivotal roll in what would become the single most dominant saga for the next decade – that of Roman Reigns. All those years of the company pushing him as the next big star, only to get rejected by an audience who preferred one or others in that spot, their many attempts to garner sympathy for Roman and ultimately backfiring, all those supposed ascensions to the throne that would later be reversed and THIS TIME FOR SURE… and yet all it took was a sabbatical from the company for Roman to rethink his entire perspective and come back in late-2020 to begin a dominant run that would last damn near four years.

And yes, Roman’s run as the Tribal Chief – regardless of its actual content – is one for the ages. One of the most important and significant tales ever depicted on WWE television and perhaps the best work of Reigns’ career, as a result… and yet Roman’s story really began here. On this fateful night. Where he was to make his first step towards superstardom…

And also, there was a lot of other show here, too…

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A Broken Diamond

The recent news of longtime comics distributor Diamond Comics Distribution going into bankruptcy has obviously sent some shockwaves throughout the comics industry, with the obvious question being how this will invariably affect comic book shops. Naturally, you’re concerned for all those folks who could potentially lose their jobs as a result of this and you want to hope for the best.

I know people who go to shops. My brother regularly goes to the comic shop in town and is good friends with the owners, who have been around for a very long time now. I wonder how they’re going to cope with this news. I hope that this doesn’t affect them too much and they’re able to continue onwards. I want to believe that, but Diamond was such a major part of this comic book machine that there could be further damage done to the industry as a result of this, whether it affects the people who sell the comics or the small-time publishers who rely on Diamond to get their stuff out.

This is going to be the true test for the comic book industry, an industry that has thrived for almost a century and has provided us with countless volumes worth of entertainment. Regardless of your thoughts on their output these days, you want to believe that the people involved will come out of this stronger than ever. You want this industry to thrive and survive because otherwise… well, I’d really hate to contemplate.