We are only days away from what us wrestling fans may call our own Christmas. The Royal Rumble. It is a guaranteed good time, even a bad Rumble can be a fun Rumble. Ahead of the event set to take place at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiana, I thought I would run down the card and hype the show a little bit. Let’s start with some tag team wrestling.
#DIY (c) vs Motor City Machine Guns, WWE Tag Team Championships
We are getting a 2 out of 3 falls match here and I am incredibly hyped for this one. We have had 3 very good matches between these 2 teams on TV. With this being on PPV, I expect them to get ample time to deliver a clinic in tag team wrestling.
I wasn’t sure how #DIY would perform as heels on the main roster, but both Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa have been doing great character work. They’re finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin made a statement in their WWE debut. They won the Tag Titles almost immediately and have earned their claim at being one of the best tag teams of all time. They have been chasing after DIY for some time now, trying to reclaim the gold they were screwed out of.
This feels like a stipulation worthy of ending the feud. If it is the end of the feud, I see MCMGs coming out on top and winning their second championships in WWE. If they plan to run this feud out until Wrestlemania, which I wouldn’t mind at all, then I think DIY will find a way to keep a hold of their championships.
Gargano and Ciampa have plenty of nefarious schemes under their sleeves. What I am certain, is that this will be a banger.
Cody Rhodes (c) vs Kevin Owens, Ladder match for Undisputed WWE Championship
After weeks of violence, Smackdown General manager reluctantly agreed to this ladder match at the Royal Rumble to settle the score. Both the Undisputed WWE championship and the Winged Eagle will be hanging above the ring for one of these men to retrieve.
I expect this to be a very violent but story driven match. I think this is perhaps the biggest threat to Cody’s title reign yet. No one saw Owens as the one to take the title away from Cody back in August, but how the story has unfurled since then, I do see him as a reasonable option for the next WWE champion.
Do I think that will happen? No. I love Owens’ current heel run, but I doubt that plans for him heading into Wrestlemania involve the WWE championship. An interesting side story that has developed for the past couple of weeks is Sami Zayn.
He has accidentally been attacking babyfaces thanks to Drew McIntyre, one of them being Cody Rhodes. Kevin Owens also teased them facing off at Wrestlemania over the WWE title. He told Sami he would have his back, because he knows Sami has his. Will Zayn help his best friend? If he doesn’t how will Owens react? We will see how that develops.
I predict a Cody Rhodes retention here. He has a dozen of potential challengers for his championship heading into Wrestlemania. I think Owens is either set for a match with Sami Zayn or possibly a certain returning legend he has unresolved issues with.
Women’s Royal Rumble
The 8th women’s rumble has 10 women announced so far. Those women are; Nia Jax, Bayley, Naomi, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Lyra Valkyria, Ivy Nile, Iyo Sky and the returning Charlotte Flair. Out of those names, the clear favourite is the Queen.
Charlotte Flair has been absent since December 2023 after suffering a severe knee injury. There has been a lot of contempt for Flair by the wrestling community for many years. She has been booked far too strong in the past. However, her absence has been long enough that a win for her should be accepted. Flair vs Tiffany Stratton is a dream match the fans would want to see.
Nia Jax, Liv Morgan and Iyo Sky are outside contenders, but I do not see them winning. Nia Jax vs Tiffany Stratton is a match I want to see, but is it a Wrestlemania match? The story is there certainly. I don’t want to see Liv Morgan in the title picture again already.
I do want to see Iyo Sky in the championship scene. Iyo Sky vs Tiffany Stratton, a battle of the moonsault? I like the sound of that. However, there are 20 other women still to be announced for the match. Who else could turn up?
Women’s Rumble Surprises and Returns
The most obvious return is Jade Cargill. She was attacked months ago and we still do not know who did it. Her allies Naomi and Bianca Belair are seen as the major suspects, but maybe it was someone else? I expect to see Jade return at the Rumble and reunite with her girl friends, even if for a short while.
Another big surprise return I expect to see is ‘The Man’ Becky Lynch. Becky has been off TV for a few months. It was rumoured she would return at the Raw Netflix premiere, but that did not happen. I think she will return at the Rumble and have a good showing. I do not see her as the winner though.
Alexa Bliss returning is a possibility. Her contract status and lack of creative plans have been in the news recently. Her WWE status is up in the air. I don’t think she will appear, but never say never. A name always rumoured to return but maybe more likely now than ever before, is AJ Lee.
Now that CM Punk has returned, it feels right that AJ makes her anticipated return to a WWE ring, even if it is for one night only. She won’t win the match, but she would certainly be a great surprise. Other legends we can expect to see are Michelle McCool and Niki Bella. Both women have expressed the desire to return and have one last run in WWE.
I predict we will see NXT stars appear too. Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade and NXT women’s champion Giulia I expect to appear and mix it up with the main roster.
Final Prediction
Ultimately, I think we are going to see a first ever 2-time winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble. Charlotte Flair. I think Flair is going to make a statement in her return match, winning the Rumble and going on to face Tiffany Stratton at Wrestlemania. Stratton vs Jax will happen at Elimination Chamber to culminate that rivalry.
I honestly see Flair using her experience to get the win over Stratton, which I don’t think people will like. However, this booking allows Stratton to give chase and redeem herself by winning the Royal Rumble and getting herself a title rematch with Charlotte at Wrestlemania 42. Flair can have a year long title reign and have marquee matches with Jade Cargill, Jordynne Grace and whoever else steps up to the Queen.
Men’s Royal Rumble
Exactly half of the competitors for the match have already been announced. I think the winner is going to be amongst them. We have so many possible contenders. This is the most unpredictable Royal Rumble in years. Will John Cena kick off his retirement tour winning his 3rd Royal Rumble and try to win his monumental 17th WWE world championship?
Could CM Punk finally get his opportunity to main event Wrestlemania? What if the OTC continues his path of redemption and sets up Roman vs Rhodes III? Can Jey Uso overcome the odds and get another chance to achieve his dream to be world champion? The possibilities seem endless.
Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins are also strong contenders. They’ve built strong storylines with so many members of the roster, I can see them main eventing Wrestlemania against Cody Rhodes or Gunther. I also see a world where Logan Paul even walks out as the winner of the match. I cannot deny his ability as a wrestler and a performer, plus they have already teased a match against Gunther.
Men’s Rumble Surprises and Returns
There are two possible surprises that could be a shock winner. One more likely than the other. First, Goldberg. It is very unlikely he would win, but they have teased a match between him and Gunther already and this is how it would be set up. One problem, the wrestling fans would HATE this. Goldberg has enough drawing power to have a special marquee match, but too much “go away” heat to win the Rumble match.
The other possible return winner, is of course The Rock. There is a rumour about him returning as entrant no. 31. I love it. Do I think it should happen? Not at all. The money match is The Rock vs Roman Reigns and that is what they need to build. I don’t really have an interest in seeing Rhodes vs Rock anymore, especially after The Rock seemingly ended his animosity towards Rhodes on the Raw Netflix Premiere.
I don’t think we will see many legends appear at the Rumble. I’d like to see a few NXT stars get an opportunity. Oba Femi would be a great choice. Put Femi in there with Braun Strowman or Jacob Fatu. Hell, bring back Omos for a big Nigerian slobberknocker! I’d also like to see Lexis King (Brian Pillman Jr) make a surprise appearance. It would be a nice moment for him.
Final Prediction
I genuinely do not know who will win, but I think I am going to put my money on CM Punk. Mainly because he is my favourite wrestler. I think Punk is on a clock in wrestling and the amount of injuries he has had. John Cena doesn’t need another main event. CM Punk deserves one. Punk vs Rhodes has been teased and I think it would be an amazing main event match to book for Wrestlemania.
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