It's always a big build like that (Or at least it has been since they ditched New Year's Revolution).
They do Armageddon/TLC, then the last couple weeks of the year are kinda throwaway, and then the Raw closest to New Year's REALLY begins the Rumble build.
I mean, look at Raw this week. Pretty much zero build for anything unless you count Cena/Kane. It was really just a TLC epilogue.
Plus they're smart enough to position the Rumble on that one January weekend where there's no NFL Playoff game. Maximum viewers!
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero.
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