Grilling JR - Royal Rumble 2002 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Jim, this week here on Grilling JR we’re going to go back 20 years to Royal Rumble 2002. What a time this is in the industry as we’re going to be discussing the groundwork of the brand split, the nWo coming in, the XWF plus Ric Flair getting back into the ring.

We start off coming off Vengeance which we covered last month in the archives which you should check out if you haven’t already.

As we close 2001 there’s some professional wrestling companies coming together - mainly World Wrestling All-Stars and Xtreme Wrestling Federation. The WWA are running a European tour which consists of people like Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett, Road Dogg and Konnan among others. The XWF consists of Jimmy Hart putting together a promotion with “help” from Hulk Hogan who wrestles once for them but really just consists of the likes of the Nasty Boys and Curt Hennig. The talk has always been when Vince McMahon hears of competition being formed against him he goes out of his way to “steal” talent or sign talent and kill a promotion before it gets going. Are you given any sort of directive or anything like that when these promotions are putting together their plans or start running shows?

At the time obviously the WWF is the last major promotion standing in America. You also have the deepest and fullest talent roster probably ever at that point. Are you just going after talent to “horde” them or does it come into play like building a football team, this piece might be better than another one? Does the role of talent relations really put you in the driver seat of replacing Wrestler A with Wrestler B in some circumstances?

The working plan for the brand split at the time is Vince McMahon has a show and Ric Flair has a show and it’s possible it would begin in January at Madison Square Garden. How many times do you remember having that date pushed back?

Is it tough to form the brand split around a babyface vs. heel feud? The reason I ask is you want fans to support both at the end of the day. Is there something to be said in putting a big heel as the face of the brand in what is perceived as a competition?

The creative at the end of the year is…well how you say rough. The Hardys split isn’t working, you have to get Chris Jericho over as a top guy heel, you have characters having to be re-introduced as fighting for a job because the Invasion is over. Where was the issue in the creative process at this point in your mind?

I bring this up not because you’re on the show but it’s one of the most memorable moments in WWF history. Steve Austin & Booker T brawl in a grocery store on Smackdown. Was Steve excited to give some rub to Booker and help elevate him and why do you think it wasn’t as successful at this time?

The attempt is to run Vince and Steve back again but that’s kind of hindered by Ric Flair being involved is it not?

I want to bring something up that got some play back in the day. Billy Silverman, a WCW referee who was brought over during the Invasion, did a New York radio interview about what led him to quit the WWF. From the Observer: “Basically the story about being ribbed really hard because he upgraded a ticket on a flight to first class, which went against WWF protocol, although he wasn't aware of it since he came from WCW where upgrading a ticket, if you want to pay for it, wasn't considered a cardinal sin. As his punishment, the WWF wrestlers told him he had to buy a bunch of liquor and go through customs to Canada, and as a result, he was held up in customs all day. All that childish stuff. He ripped on Bradshaw, who he called the instigator of it, and Earl Hebner, who he called "probably one of the biggest back stabbers, one of the biggest trouble makers in the business I've ever met." After doing it, Silverman walked out on the WWF, without telling anyone, which isn't professional either, even if hazed by wrestlers. He said that when he went to Dennis Brent (who works under Jim Ross in talent relations), he was told to just go along with it. He blamed WWF wrestlers for Bagwell being let go (Bagwell brought a lot of that on himself with his attitude and not just because he had one bad television match) and mentioned that Charles Robinson was stripped half naked, taped and bound and brought out in a production cart as a rib for everyone to laugh at.”

Jim walk me through all this. The protocol - the first class ticket - etc. It’s not like that’s in the HR handbook of when you get hired by the World Wrestling Federation. Is this just what wrestling was 20 years ago?

What say you regarding him going to Dennis Brent - what did you know of this situation and what did Dennis tell you?

Ribs are a way of life in professional wrestling but at the end of the day that has largely been eliminated. Obviously it’s for the better is it not Jim?

On a sad note Russ Haas passes away on December 15th. We recently had Charlie Haas on the Kurt Angle Show and he discussed this a lot. What a sudden shock as the company was fully invested in making sure Russ recovered from a previous heart attack. What do you remember of this and how you were told about it and handled?

How tough is it to have the conversation with Charlie about him needing to take all the time he could?

From the Observer: “If there is any doubt that HHH hasn't mastered playing "the game," he managed to keep himself off TV until 1/7, is getting a three-week build-up for his return (Rock got four days, I think Austin got one week), but more importantly, they'll be coming off low rated shows from 12/17 to 12/31 theoretically (nobody is expecting a strong rating on Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve with a "best of" taped show is an interesting experiment but what can you expect on that night?). If nothing else, 1/7 should provide the usual bounce-back after the end of the Monday Night Football season which is usually worth .2 to .3 all by itself. It's going to be very difficult for him not to come out smelling like a rose.”

Is this setup by Hunter in your mind to do this or is this Meltzer just assuming?

It’s reported in the Observer that you & Vince sit down with Shawn Michaels on December 14th before Shawn taped an episode of Excess. What do you remember of this meeting and Shawn’s mindset at this time?

Raw on December 17th features Chris Jericho and Rob Van Dam in the main event for the WWF Title but with Ric Flair as the ref and Vince McMahon at ringside. The show ends with RVD and Flair putting Jericho and Vince in figure fours. Is there already talk at this point of putting Ric back in the ring as a wrestler?

Was that the deal you made with Ric that there would be occasional times he would be a wrestler?

Was Ric ready to be in the ring again in your mind?

Was it Vince pushing to get Ric in the ring?

On SmackDown Austin and Booker T face off in the main event in a first blood match which Austin loses when Big Bossman makes his return to help make Austin bleed from a chair shot. Big Ray Traylor returns here in a top spot but he just didn’t fit into this role at this time does he?

In back to back TV shows the Undertaker squashes both Matt and then Jeff Hardy and we find out after the fact that it’s because the Hardys are being taken off the road. From the Observer: “There have been problems with Jeff of late, which came to a head when he missed San Jose on 12/8 (which explains Matt having to work total babyface against Test right after his his heel turn). He's also been late for a few shows, his performance hasn't been at nearly the level it used to be (that was bound to happen given all the crazy bumps from high heights he's taken over the years--those do shorten careers and it's unavoidable). Then the Matt vs. Jeff match at the PPV was a flop in the eyes of most, and after the Raw handicap match, Vince decided to kill the feud and Vince sat down with all three to explain the situation. Vince explained he was taking them off TV to give them a chance to breathe.”

Was this the first sign of what would eventually be 20 years of issues with Jeff going on outside the ring? Was it the high flying style as Meltzer speculates that leads to this type of thing?

Were Matt and Lita caught in the crossfire?

Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo are paired up as an ambiguous tag team as best as it could be described. These two probably got the most out of this spot but at the time was this just a pairing of a veteran and a young guy to get them established?

Stephanie McMahon returns as a TV character on Christmas Eve on Raw by trying to give a Christmas gift to her father. It was just inevitable that she was going to return was it not?

John Tenta is given a dark match at the Smackdown tapings…who’s idea was it for Tenta to be looked at? Is this just the timing of the year knowing you like a few surprises to be at the Rumble?

As the year closes out there’s talk in the Observer that you’ve had preliminary talks with Rey Misterio Jr. Was this just a check in on the status of his Time Warner contract?

And then as 2002 opens up it’s said that the WWF is close to a deal with Kevin Nash to make his return. Jim, are you doing these negotiations or is Vince?

Did Kevin put over bringing in Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan or was it just a one-on-one negotiation at the time?

From the Observer: “First off, Nash is right at the top of the list of the best manipulators among wrestlers in the country, with Hulk Hogan and HHH. In some ways, Nash is better, because he's never been the draw the other two were and isn't in their league when it comes to charisma or mainstream name identity. Clearly, whatever money there would be in him would be to start him at the top with major names in fresh match-ups, as the traditional slow build-up and the new guy putting the stars over right away that every WCW name coming in has done would likely render his drawing power useless very quickly. Without his drawing power, which at best is unproven without Hall and Hogan, you are inviting problems without even having the justification that the business is worth the risk.”

Strong words from Meltzer. Is that sentiment shared at the time in the office?

This is from the Observer as well regarding business: “The New York Times ran a story about the WWF ratings declines claiming a loss of 12% of total viewers and 30% of teens. Actually the losses of adult viewers has been far more significant than teens as Smackdown at last check was down 30% in 18-49s but only 10% in teens from last year. Anyway, Julie Hoffman, chief of marketing said WWF commissioned its own research, and blamed it on, 9/11. For the record, the Raw rating on 9/17 was a 4.80. TV, which is free, isn't going to be affected one iota, in fact it should theoretically increase viewership, during bad economic times. If 9/11 affected Raw, its greatest affect would be the first week or two and the effect would slowly lessen. Raw's ratings were dropping before 9/11 from the levels picked up by the initial invasion increase and Rock return increase and dropping when the invasion was botched, and continued to drop, bottoming out after No Mercy and now being up-and-down probably due to initial interest in what happens with changes and may initial curiosity about Flair. To blame it on anything other than the storylines is an excuse. I could see an argument that house show attendance in October could have been affected by the shock of 9/11 because it sent the economy into a temporary tailspin. No question it would have been an acceptable theory in October. But that would have been answered by the November numbers. There should have been an increase as things got back to normal. November averaged 6,543 per show, down from 6,630 in October. It's the product.”

We’ve always heard that house shows were the barometer. But obviously after 9/11 people going out and spending money with the economy being in the shape it was would be understandable. But when viewers - who it costs nothing for them to watch cable besides their monthly bill - are tuning out…it’s the product is it not?

You’re voted to be the best television announcer for the 4th year in a row by the Wrestling Observer readers. Is this something that lands on your radar back in 2002?

The epic return of Triple H happens at Madison Square Garden on January 7th and it’s legitimately one of the biggest pops I know I’ve ever heard on WWF TV.

Triple H returns from injury - Raw, Jan. 7, 2002

You’re quiet for 55 seconds until you talk about how this crowd is one of the loudest Madison Square Garden has ever heard. How important is it to lay out in these types of moments as a broadcaster?

This is one of these moments where you don’t need video right? You & King here are great and the crowd is electric and it’s just…perfect is it not?

Triple H had to return as a babyface after all the music videos showing his injury and rehab and everything right?

HHH and Angle brawl to end the night after HHH announces he’ll be in the Rumble and it feels like the whole babyface side of things has shifted down for everyone else. The Rock and Austin are no longer the top babyface but Hunter is. Is that fair to say?

The show opens though with Vince & Flair. Vince is sporting a black eye and imitates Flair before Flair comes out and gets busted open for returning to the Garden since 1991. And he bleeds like a stuck pig. Was this the Flair of old?

Mr. McMahon imitates and beats up Ric Flair!

From the Observer regarding Smackdown taped the next night from MSG as well: “They do a vignette where Rikishi is taking a dump while Booker is in the bathroom. Booker sprayed deodorant on him to set up a match. Rock & RVD beat Jericho & Test when Rock used the sharpshooter on Jericho to set up their title match. Then, if that wasn't enough toilet humor for one show, Rikishi gave Booker the stinkface. Booker vomited on cue, all over Cole. Like I said, when you sign on to be a WWF announcer, you check your dignity at the door. Cole then vomited as well and left the announcing position. Ross replaced Cole as an announcer.”

Audience of one right Jim?

On this SmackDown it’s announced that Val Venis & the Godfather would be making their returns at the Royal Rumble to hopefully make everyone forget the Right to Censor gimmick.

Also announced is Goldust making his first of many annual returns at the Royal Rumble and also Mr. Perfect. First off Goldust being announced for this show 20 years ago when he wasn’t under contract while he’s taking canadian destroyers into tables now from Sammy Guerreva is just amazing is it not?

Now onto Mr. Perfect…from the Observer: “XWF is trying to present an upbeat picture publicly of Hennig, who most figure would be the logical choice to be XWF champion but isn't under contact (and we believe almost nobody, if there is in fact anyone, actually is), doing the Royal Rumble, that it only makes them look good when their star is part of the Rumble getting his name mentioned on WWF TV. Hennig is scheduled, the day after the Rumble, to go to NATPE in Las Vegas for XWF. WWF went through XWF to make the deal. Hennig is only supposed to be a one-shot deal.”

Is this how you remember this all going down?

It’s reported in the Observer one week before the Rumble that barring an unforeseen change, Hulk Hogan & Scott Hall would be joining Kevin Nash. Once again Jim…was this Vince or you doing the negotiating?

Were you in favor or against?

From the Observer: “Morale in Texas was said to have hit rock bottom, both from the wrestlers who were in WCW and were never elevated until leaving, and the rest, who had heard all the horror stories about what it was like there. Some felt it was a slap in the face at them, who had worked hard to establish a certain level of performance, to have guys who can't perform at that level being brought in with far better deals and being promoted ahead of them. However, the decision by McMahon not to do so last summer is what caused the original Invasion angle to fail and caused everyone's pay to drop anyway.”

Jim - name me one talent or front office member that came up to you questioning this decision?

Jim, you even defended it in public at the time. You did an interview with Slam! Wrestling and had this to say,

“"I think in WCW there was very little leadership and very little structure and they were surrounded by a lot of inexperienced talent that felt insecure as it relates to the main event guys in the WCW locker room," said Ross. "I think our locker room is an entirely different atmosphere. We have strong leaders in our locker room. I think Undertaker and Austin and Triple H and Kurt and Rock and among others...It's not a competition. If you're a leader today you should be a leader tomorrow no matter who comes in.

He added, "I don't think anybody should be forced to be judged by their decorum or lack thereof in another environment. I don't know that anybody had great attitudes in WCW the last couple of years. Hall and Nash just happen to be two names on a long list from where I sit. We would like to believe with strong management and direction they could fit into a more structured system with some already strong leaders in place. Hopefully everybody we bring in will have a positive team-first and company-first attitude. If they don't, no matter who it is, we'll try to solve the problem."

Was this your public spin on the matter or did you actually believe that?

Did you know it was going to be the nWo - or they would be separately packaged - or back as their old WWF gimmicks?

On the Smackdown go-home for the Royal Rumble…the main event … which is not promoted on Raw on Monday mind you… is Steve Austin & Triple H against Kurt Angle & Booker T. Jim…HHH’s first match back is on that Smackdown with no promotion! Meltzer has an interesting analysis of this in the Observer: “The fact he wrestled for free on Smackdown is nothing short of mind boggling. Actually, if you look at the economics, they are becoming ratings marks. In 2000, when Austin returned after neck surgery for his first appearances, his first angle, advertised in advance, on PPV, drew about 630,000 buys. WWF was doing about 420,000 on average for non-major PPV events without something major like an Austin return, so his return was worth $2.64 million in added revenue as WWF's share. His first match was saved for the next month on PPV, and it did 550,000 buys at another "B" level PPV, or another $1.56 million. So WWF derived an added $4.20 million from Austin's return. HHH's first appearance, put on TV with in some ways even more hype, let's say boosted the rating from 4.0 to 4.93, which for WWF is worth about $105,000 in additional advertising revenue. If we are nice and say that his first match boosts Smackdown from a 4.3 from its 3.9 average (and based on the Raw number, that is being extremely generous in a projection), that's worth about $57,000. So HHH's return on TV, at least first appearance and first match together generated an additional $162,000 to WWFE. Granted, HHH today is nowhere close to the star of Austin 16 months ago, but I think the point is made. From a business standpoint, putting HHH's first match on TV for free just days before the Rumble to me was so elementary as a business decision that I'm actually more worried about the future for that, not that it in itself is that big of a deal but the thought process to make such a decision is, than the decision making to bring in Hogan and the guys.”

What say you Jim? Is this a valid and fair criticism?

We’re in Atlanta Jim for this show and I’m actually at this show!

The 15th annual Royal Rumble draws a sell out of 12,915 paying $859,690 plus another $142,615 in merchandise. So you’re over a $1,000,000 altogether so that has to make you happy right?

The Observer readers gave it a 94% thumbs up which makes it an almost perfect show.

We open with the tag title match between the Dudleys and Tazz & Spike who are the champions. “1. Tazz & Spike Dudley retained the WWF tag titles over the Dudleys in 5:06. Nothing particularly wrong with this match other than it came off like a Smackdown match because of the time frame. Finish saw Stacey Keibler distract Tazz but Tazz responded by choking her. D-Von made the save by attacking Tazz, which saw Keibler take a bump to the floor. Spike, in attempting his Dudley dog, was thrown over the top rope by Bubba. While this was going on, Tazz got the Tazzmission clean in the middle for the tap out. I think most people were likely expecting a title change here. *½”

What did you think of the pairing of Stacy with the Dudleys?

Was Tazz & Spike together just a pairing of two guys no one knew what to do with at the time?

“2. William Regal pinned Edge in 9:45 to win the IC title. Regal used his Regal stretch for a rope break spot, and Edge came back with the same move and a rope break spot. After a flying spin kick off the top rope by Edge, Regal pulled out a second set of Knux for the finish. **¼”

Nick Patrick makes his return to the WWF with this match and he’s not exactly portrayed as the WCW heel he was but he is the referee for this match. William Regal was recently let go by WWE. Can you explain the significance for that?

How good was Regal in the ring back then?

“3. Trish Stratus retained the womens title over Jazz with Jackie as ref in 3:43. Seriously way better than you'd ever imagine. Did some wrestling, some moves, some near falls, before Stratus got the pin after a facebuster. *½”

Being in the ring with someone like Jazz has to give Trish the motivation to become a better wrestler and it’s shown here. Was this the next step to Trish’s game at this point?

“4. Ric Flair defeated Vince McMahon in 14:55 in a street fight. They really pushed Flair's daughter Megan and son Reid (who is now almost as tall as Ric) at ringside although no angle took place. To answer the big question, yes, Flair wrestled in his trunks. Vince looked, at least his arms, delts and back, like he was a few weeks from ready to compete in an age group bodybuilding contest. Match was way better than it had the right to be with two guys over 50, one of whom is really just a pumped up backyard wrestler. Of course the heat and juice and gimmicks helped, but it wasn't like it was bad at any point either. Flair sold the first 11:00, including doing his face first bump and flip into the turnbuckles. Actually, Vince never took a flat back bump. Flair juiced early. Vince destroyed him and even got him in the figure four until Flair made a comeback. Flair used a low blow right before Vince went to hit him with a pipe. They brawled outside and Vince took a spill over the Spanish announcers table. Flair clocked him with a TV monitor and Vince juiced. Flair ordered his daughter to shoot a photo of a bloody Vince. Earlier Vince had grabbed Megan's camera to shoot a photo of Ric all bloody. He threw the camera back to her after and she nearly dropped it. Flair got the pipe, clocked Vince in the head, and put him in the figure four. Vince sold it great before tapping to a pretty huge pop. **¾”

I wonder if Megan still has that camera and picture?

These two going against each other is always entertaining but as Meltzer says I mean Vince … although I wouldn’t call him a backyard wrestler … isn’t an actual wrestler. But Ric can carry a broom stick to ** ¾ right?

Was the plan for Ric to always win or was the shift to Ric going over because Vince was going to be debuting the nWo and you needed a reason?

“5. Chris Jericho retained the WWF title beating Rock in 18:48. Somebody needs to make note of the fact that nobody, and the Rock means NOBODY, in this business as over as Rock as a babyface in history, has ever done as many jobs as the Rock. Their usual excellent match. Jericho set up a people's elbow, but Rock nipped up and tossed him over the top rope. Jericho dropped Rock on the Spanish table. Jericho went to Rock bottom him through the table, but Rock blocked it, and reversed it rock bottoming Jericho through the American table. In the ring, Jericho blocked a rock bottom into the walls, but Rock made the ropes. Rock got an inside cradle for a near fall. Rock went for a flying forearm, but knocked out Earl Hebner. Jericho did a belt shot and Nick Patrick ran in to count the fall, but, like Rock always does, he kicked out of that spot as well. Rock hit a DDT but Patrick refused to count. Rock gave Patrick a rock bottom. He gave Jericho a spinebuster and people's elbow, but now both refs were out. Jericho hit a low blow, rammed Rock into an unprotected turnbuckle (Jericho had undone the padding a long time earlier but it never came into play until this point), and put his feet on the ropes while Hebner groggily counted the fall. ****¼”

These two are just electric in the ring together at this time. In two straight months now Jericho has defeated Rocky, Austin, Austin again on TV, Rocky again here. But he just doesn’t feel like THE guy. What was missing?

Do you think Meltzer’s point about the Rock being one of the most over babyfaces but also being super unselfish about winning or losing holds water? I mean Flair did god knows how many jobs as a heel but as a babyface can anyone compare to Rock?

There’s a big difference at this time between Steve Austin who was very selective compared to the Rock who I feel like would have no issue losing to anyone. What was the difference between the two?

“6. HHH won the annual 30-man Rumble in 69:22. It was no surprise HHH won the Rumble, which in lasting 69:22, made it most likely the longest match in the history of WWF. The previous record was the Royal Rumble on January 24, 1993 in Sacramento, won by Yokozuna, that went 66:35. This year, with the exception of Undertaker, all of the major stars were saved for the second half, coming in bunches. Steve Austin was the first, and lasted about 27 minutes before being dumped by Kurt Angle. While some of the bigger names like Kane, Rob Van Dam and Booker T were saved for the big climax, they were all surprisingly quickly eliminated. It was clear the focal point was on the final four, HHH, Angle, Austin and the returning Mr. Perfect.

The return of Perfect, being put over like a major player, seems to signify more clearly what privately most in wrestling have talked about over the past two weeks. Now that other companies are making noise, it is clear part of the reason for these acquisitions is to nip anyone from getting off the ground.”

Was this the plan with Curt to make him a big player in this Rumble which does have a lot of stars and have him be a big focal point?

I want to discuss the Undertaker’s section of the Rumble from Meltzer. He comes in and throws out Goldust, Rikishi, Al Snow, Billy Gunn, and then the Hardys are next in their return. From the Observer: “Matt Hardy was in next. Lita gave Undertaker a low blow and they got a short advantage until Undertaker got up and was annihilating poor Matt while I was thinking, Isn't this the spot where the babyface makes the comeback? Jeff Hardy was next in. He came in late because they were late in setting up the spot where Matt was about to die. So now that it's three-on-one, Undertaker basically beat them all up. And they wonder why the Hardys aren't over like they once were. Somewhere in there, Matt and Jeff hugged, signifying the end of their angle. With the odds against him, the valiant heel veteran that he is, Undertaker, took not only the twist of fate, but the swanton bomb as well, and then when they did the poetry in motion, he caught Jeff and threw him over the top at 18:23. Then he dumped Matt in 18:54. Maven was in for the big spot of the match, and even before the spot, actually got one of the biggest pops of the entire show up to this point. Imagine if they had done something with him when he was hot? The Hardys attacked Undertaker, even though eliminated, and got booed in the process. Haven't they figured out when the babyfaces have no credibility to the fans against the heel, and the odds (like three-on-one) are in their favor and they still fail, the crowd is going to save their support for people who they have confidence in won't let them down in the end. Anyway, while Lita distracted Undertaker, who cleaned house on them like a fourth time, Maven dropkicked Undertaker out at 20:19. This was actually the biggest pop of the show. Undertaker then destroyed Maven with a hard chair shot to the head and dragged his lifeless carcass to the popcorn stand. Holy Tommy Rich, a young babyface getting over by carving up his forehead to garner sympathy. Undertaker took turns pounding a bloody Maven to death and eating popcorn. I was actually thinking that some people would actually think Undertaker was putting Maven over because he went over the top ropes before destroying him.”

So much to unpack there. The Hardys returning and getting eaten alive by Taker only to setup Maven coming in to eliminate Taker and then get the shit beat out of him as well. Do you agree with the narrative that Taker doesn’t really put him over here? Was the hard chair shot necessary?

Another memorable spot in this Rumble is Hurricane coming in acting like he was going to choke slam both Austin & HHH before being thrown out. That’s good shit don’t you think?

From the Observer: “At 64:14, Angle tossed out Austin, all by his lonesome. Austin made him pay, treating him like he was Maven with a chair to the head. He also gave one to HHH, to make him pay for winning, and one to Hennig, just to show Curt he was one of the boys again. All three guys were dead. Hennig used his perfect plex and neck snapper move on Angle just so everyone can remember his old spots. HHH threw out Hennig in 67:08. HHH and Angle brawled for a few including the old HHH being thrown over the top but his feet not quite touching the floor spot, until HHH clotheslined him over the top in 69:22. Probably the best Rumble in years. ***½”

Do you agree with Dave here that it’s the best Rumble in years?

So going into Mania season it’s obvious that Jericho and HHH are on a crash course for each other. But so much is still undecided is it not? Austin doesn’t really have a program. Rock doesn’t either. Big focal points of the show - the nWo - haven’t even debuted yet. Is this one of those years where the card all comes together at the last minute?

Do you think it helps or hurts going into the Rumble to know where you’re going at Mania?