Royal Rumble Betting Odds And What They Mean

While betting odds have become more prevalent in pro wrestling recently, especially for WWE‘s Big Four PPVs, one of the best times to think about putting some money on the odds is when the calendar strikes January and the Royal Rumble serves to kick off the Road to WrestleMania build.

When it comes to the rumble, there are often several names who have reasonable and realistic shots to win the tournament, on both the men and women’s sides. And when it comes to the odds, it’s worth following as over the past few years, Vegas has a pretty good track record of getting it right with the winner. But fans should also know that odds are not the end all be all when it comes to picking the winner, as there have been plenty of times where betting odds can mean absolutely nothing and an out of nowhere winner emerges.

Here’s a look at the latest betting odds for this year’s Royal Rumble.

Please note, these betting odds are as of Jan. 22nd per Oddschecker.

Men’s Royal Rumble Betting Odds Top Five:

1. Roman Reigns

It may finally be time for “The Big Dog” to be crowned once again. Roman Reigns has remained far away from the WWE Championship and Universal Championship since returning from his recovery from leukemia a year ago. That Universal Championship is one that he never lost, but also one he has not gotten a chance to regain. He currently sits as the prohibitive favorite among all of the sportsbooks (with his odds continuing to shorten at most as well) to win the 2020 Men’s Royal Rumble. If true, that will mean he’ll do so after pulling double duty as he has a falls count anywhere match with King Corbin earlier in the night.

The question has to be if he were to win, will the reaction of the fans ruin his moment once again? Roman Reigns has shown the world that he can deliver inside the ring and is by far a more rounded performer who fans have begun to like more than in 2015 when he won his first career Royal Rumble match. If odds are to be believed, a second could be on his way this Sunday.

2. Drew McIntyre

After Monday Night Raw this past week, it seems as though fans have bought in on the idea that Drew McIntyre can walk out Sunday as the Men’s Royal Rumble winner. After Prior to Raw, McIntyre sat in third, but after Monday night, his odds jumped up to second where he currently sits. McIntyre has quietly become a fan-favorite on Monday nights by playing to the crowd, including his new countdown before hitting the Claymore on his opponents. And on Monday after being the recipient of an RKO, he said that Sunday would be the day that Drew McIntyre finally gets to the spot he deserves on the card at WrestleMania, the main event.

It is about time that McIntyre sees the spotlight in WWE. It’s been a long time since he was seen as “The Chosen One.” All he wants to be seen as is “The WWE Champion.”

3. CM Punk

Oh, how fun odds can be. There have not been legitimate rumors that CM Punk will be returning to the wrestling ring on Sunday, but that is not going to stop the sportsbooks from leaving Punk as the third-highest odds for the men’s Royal Rumble match. Punk has never won a Royal Rumble but does have memorable appearances in his career. Whether it was his Straight Edge Society days where he got on the microphone after every elimination to tell the world he could save them or the final match he ever wrestled in 2014 where he started at number one and made it to the end before being pulled out by Kane. The Royal Rumble brings out the best hopes and dreams of fans, which leads to betting odds only helping those dreams.

4. Cain Velasquez

Ever since the moment Cain Velasquez revealed last week in an interview that he would be in the Royal Rumble, his odds have spiked dramatically. Believing he could win or at the very least eliminate Brock Lesnar is not something to think of as crazy. Velasquez’ only match on TV in the WWE was the championship match he had with Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel. The history remains there, but thinking he may win the Royal Rumble may be a bit extreme. Odds are odds. It is what it is.

5. Brock Lesnar

The WWE Champion sits at number five in the betting odds. Not really shocking considering just last year his odds were nowhere near the top of him winning the Money in the Bank ladder match but then he walked out the winner. Brock Lesnar is a beast and is looking to make history himself. What we do not know is that if Lesnar wins the Rumble, does he pick his opponent for WrestleMania? Or does he challenge for the Universal Champion? Maybe even worse. He can sit at home and do nothing at WrestleMania. Who knows? Pointing out that Brock being fifth isn’t ridiculous was the main objective. Anything can happen. Lesnar is the main man to be the history-maker in this company.

Women’s Royal Rumble Betting Odds Top Five:

1. Shayna Baszler

Interesting. The best odds to win the third-ever women’s Royal Rumble belongs to two-time NXT Women’s Champion, Shayna Baszler. Baszler would have an easy target if she were to walk out Sunday as the winner. Let us turn the page back to Survivor Series, where she, then NXT Women’s Champion, managed to beat Becky Lynch and Bayley to win the triple threat main event. What’s even more important is that after the match, Becky Lynch attacked Baszler and left her laying as she walked away on top despite losing. “The Submission Magician” wants payback. If NXT the past two weeks is to be believed, she doesn’t let things go. With 25 spots left unfilled in the women’s Rumble, it seems likely NXT will be involved.

The story that Baszler can tell is that she is not only trying to get payback for herself, but for her Four Horsewomen sister, Ronda Rousey. Rousey is the one who participated in a blood-type feud with Lynch going into WrestleMania a year ago. While Rousey may not be back, “Shayna 2-Time” would have no problem doing the dirty work. Odds are interesting, especially when the top option currently does not compete on the main roster.

2. Ronda Rousey

Will the “Rowdy” one come home? Ever since WrestleMania ended last year we have not seen Ronda Rousey in the WWE. It’s a shame really, considering the fact that Rousey was figuring her character out to perfection. She realized she is the killer. She is the one that can kill anyone if she is driven enough. Rousey was also figuring out how to do it inside the squared circle. Trying to imagine the WWE doesn’t want her back is impossible because you know they do. The biggest mainstream star they have had in years can be back if she wants, it’s a matter of if she is ready.

The odds suggest maybe this is the perfect time. Come back, win the Royal Rumble two years after she debuted, and go to WrestleMania to try and get back the Raw Women’s Championship against the woman that pinned her in the main event last year. Sounds like a perfect scenario. Now it’s a matter of her agreeing to come back and make a statement all over again. It could be a Horsewomen kind of night in the sportsbooks’ eyes.

3. Sasha Banks

Finally, a main roster star that the sportsbooks see as a viable candidate to win the women’s Rumble match. Sasha Banks has played second fiddle to Bayley for the first time really ever and has seemed to be okay with that. Does a Royal Rumble win change that? Banks holds the women’s record for time in a Royal Rumble match, as she entered first in the inaugural match and lasted over 50 minutes. Banks has it in her to hang. The only problem seems to be that the WWE struggles to take the shackles off of her and fully let her shine. If “The Boss” was to win the match as CM Punk predicted on “WWE Backstage”, does she pick Becky Lynch or her best friend, Bayley? A fun possibility to think about if it happens.

4. Charlotte Flair

Imaging Charlotte Flair out of any top five when it comes to odds is tough. If she is able to compete in the match, she is going to be one of the more favored choices. Flair has done everything a women’s wrestler could ask to accomplish. What she has not done is win the women’s Royal Rumble match. You know that eats her alive. She was the first woman to declare herself as a participant this year which makes the world know she means business. One year ago, Flair was one elimination away from winning it all and you know she will be there at the end when the time comes.

Her long history with Becky Lynch could be revisited if she were to win. But the thought of her and Asuka having a rematch from WrestleMania two years ago but in opposite positions is also incredibly appealing. Either way, these odds make sense as “The Queen” will be there in the end.

5. Rhea Ripley

Now, this is an interesting name to be floating around. Rhea Ripley has been so incredibly locked in since the end of 2019 where she won the NXT Women’s Championship that this isn’t even crazy to imagine. She is another name that is not confirmed or even on the main roster. But she does have Royal Rumble experience, as she entered herself last year. And for those wondering, two years ago the NXT Women’s Champion at the time entered herself as Ember Moon participated. Odds are an interesting animal in itself. There is no guarantee she is even in the match, but if she is, a good showing would not be crazy to think. If she won, it’d be tough to name a better six months for women in WWE history. Maybe even anyone in WWE history. Period.