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2013
Who won: John Cena
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Who should have won: Ryback
Top WWE star punished? More details HERE
It now sounds ludicrous, but Ryback was the hottest act in WWE as 2012 came to a close and 2013 began. John Cena's victory that year was one that few welcomed and the rematch with The Rock would be a disappointing affair. "Once in a Lifetime" was enough. Meanwhile, a Ryback Royal Rumble win followed by a victory over The Rock would have cemented him as a huge star.
The whole episode was an extension of earlier trends that would grow more prominent in the next few years - WWE refusing to pull the trigger on hot new talent while relying more and more on nostalgia acts. Their refusal to elevate acts that have gotten over organically into superstardom is one of the reasons their TV audience has declined 20% since 2015.
