It all begins on Saturday, February 1. The first big PLE on the WWE calendar – Royal Rumble – will be coming to us live from Indianapolis, Indiana. There is no doubt that it will be one of the more memorable shows in recent memory.
Only four matches are filling out the card but all are poised to create some lasting memories. Naturally, the two Royal Rumbles matches will be fantastic but the two championship matches will, without a doubt, be some of the best of the year.
So many questions are flying around about the Royal Rumble but the most important is who is going to win? The victors will be spearheading the company as they head into WrestleMania and they must be the best choices.
Below are predictions for the big night.
DIY vs The Motor City Machine Guns (2-out-of-3 Falls for the WWE Tag Team Championships)
For the first time since Wrestlemania 40, the tag team championships will take center stage on a PLE. It has been far too long but WWE did pick the right time to bring the straps back into the spotlight.
DIY and The Motor City Machine Guns have been great in the lead-up to this match. The four men involved are some of the best wrestlers on the planet and will put on a show for the Indianapolis crowd. It could be a match that harkens back to the days of the Rockers and Orient Express’ tilt at the 1990 Royal Rumble.
For sure, this match will go to a third and deciding fall, but it is up in the air as to who will win. A great case could be made for both teams to emerge victorious but this could be a babyface-filled PLE, so the smart money is to go with DIY to retain their championships through nefarious means.
Winners: DIY
Cody Rhodes vs Kevin Owens (Ladder Match for the WWE Championship)
On a show with two Royal Rumble matches, this could perhaps be the match that is the highlight of the night. The personal feud between the two former allies has boiled down to outright hostility. Kevin Owens has been perfect as the justifiable heel while Cody Rhodes has shown a developing edge that is going to make his run that much better.
All of their matches up until this point have been fantastic. They have been grounded but have still been compelling and must-see events.
Now that two championships are dangling above the ring, Rhodes and Owens have new heights (pun intended) to reach. The action should be fantastic and be a major highlight of Rhodes’ championship run.
It is looking like Cody Rhodes will be one of the major players heading into WrestleMania, so it makes no sense to take the championship off him here. False finishes will abound throughout the match but expect the American Nightmare to be standing on top of the ladder when the match concludes.
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Both Royal Rumble matches are wide open but the unpredictability of the women’s edition puts it just above the men’s in anticipation. The roster slated for the Royal Rumble hasn’t been fully announced but those who have are the heavy hitters of the women’s division.
You have three former winners in Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Bayley. Each could easily be one of the headliners of WrestleMania again. Then there are major names like Nia Jax, Liv Morgan, and IYO SKY, who would be fantastic as first-time winners.
Outside of those major names, we have young hungry lions such as Lyra Valkyria who are long shots but would provide a great pop for the crowd. Also, there are rumors of big surprises for the match, such as Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss, who could easily take home the win in their return match.
It’s hard to pick a winner here but let’s go based on potential WrestleMania matches to flush one out. From what many websites are saying, it looks like Tiffany Straton and Charlotte Flair are going to be going to battle at WrestleMania. As much as some fans might not like it, the Queen is going to be the one winning her second Royal Rumble match.
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
The men’s Royal Rumble match isn’t as unpredictable as the omen’s but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that this is going to be a fantastic match. Also, this is a match that still has its fair share of men who could be walking away victorious.
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, John Cena, and Rey Mysterio headline a group of men who have previously won the match. Outside of Mysterio, there is a fantastic chance these men could easily win the match again.
Cena is looking for one last moment in the run while the other three are looking to get their main event position back. They all know what it takes to win the Royal Rumble.
When we look past the previous winners, there are men such as CM Punk, who are favorites going in. Punk has been very vocal about main-eventing WrestleMania and, after last year’s runner-up showing, he’s even more hungry to reach the apex of WWE.
Plus, he has a favor from Paul Heyman in his back pocket. A favor that could be pulled at the opportune moment.
Popular sentiment seems to be leaning John Cena’s way but he would be more suited to go the Elimination Chamber route. Reigns and McIntyre look to be the odd men out, and Rollins would be a better runner-up for story purposes. This is the year that the Second City Saint finally wins the Royal Rumble and heads to WrestleMania.
Winner: CM Punk
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