WWE officially kicks off the road to WrestleMania with the Royal Rumble. This year’s fan-favorite event takes place on Saturday 28th January at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The Royal Rumble is one of WWE’s most anticipated events. The over-the-top 30-person battle royal matches are the highlight of the show. Over the years the matches have given fans some of the most memorable spots, winners and surprise entrants.
Aside from the Rumble matches, this year there are several intriguing high-stakes bouts taking place. We get the first-ever Mountain Dew Pitch Black match plus the Raw Women’s and Undisputed WWE Universal Championships are on the line.
The full card is as follows:
- Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
- Bianca Belair (c) Alexa Bliss – Raw Women’s Championship
- Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight – Pitch Black Match
- Men’s Royal Rumble Match
- Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Let’s have a look at what we think will go down at this year’s Royal Rumble.
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
The women’s Rumble Match holds an impressive record. Three out of the five previous winners went on to win titles at WrestleMania. No doubt this year’s winner is looking to do the same when the Show of Shows hits Hollywood.
Prediction: The best thing about Royal Rumble matches is the surprise entrants. Here are who we predict could make an appearance.
- Sasha Banks – Mercedes Moné would continue to be the talk of the wrestling town with her first WWE appearance in 8 months.
- Kairi Sane – Ever since the IWGP Women’s Champion returned to the ring in Japan a WWE return has been touted.
- Mandy Rose – The recently released Superstar has appeared in four women’s rumble matches and could make five with an anticipated return to the main roster.
- Naomi – The former SmackDown Women’s Champion is due to make a sensational return and the Rumble
- Chelsea Green – Speculation about her return to WWE has been rife and the Rumble is the perfect time to do it.
Regarding the winner of the match, it is hard not to see Rhea Ripley stand tall having outlasted 29 other Superstars.
Bianca Belair (c) Alexa Bliss – Raw Women’s Championship
Bianca Belair puts her title on the line against Alexa Bliss for the second time this month. But this time Bliss has fully embraced her evil side. Their first meeting resulted in Bliss attacking the referee and Belair, leaving the champion bloodied. The furious assault set off a chain of events that saw Uncle Howdy send Bliss into a deeper state of malevolence giving Belair a tough challenge.
Prediction: As Bliss has unleashed her dark side she makes an unpredictable opponent for Belair. But the EST of WWE will persevere and emerge from the match as the winner and still Raw Women’s Champion.
Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight – Pitch Black match
Just what the hell is a Pitch Black match I hear you ask. Well, much like LA Knight we’re not sure either. All we know is that in the lead-up to the Mountain Dew-sponsored match, Wyatt was attacked by Uncle Howdy and brought back the Fire Fly Funhouse to continue to mess with his opponent.
Prediction: With this being Bray Wyatt’s first match since returning to WWE last year and LA Knight’s first major outing there is a lot riding on this bout. Expect to see a lot of spooky Uncle Howdy shenanigans with the possibility of the Fiend coming back.
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens – Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
At the Royal Rumble, the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns is looking to rid the Bloodline of the Kevin Owens problem once and for all. However, in the lead-up to the match cracks have appeared in his stoic persona. Over the past few weeks, Reigns has ostracised Sami Zayn from the Bloodline due to his relationship with Owens. The rift in the family and Zayn’s place in the faction will undoubtedly come to a head at Royal Rumble.
Prediction: Despite Owens getting under the skin of the champion, Reigns will retain his titles. But this match is the perfect place for the Sami Zayn story arch to reach the next level. Expect to see Zayn get involved and further alienate himself from the Head of the Table.
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Big names such as Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Austin Theory and Cody Rhodes have already declared themselves as participants in the match. Giving this year’s outing some solid contenders. Also expect to see some appearances from NXT talent like Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller and Bron Breakker.
Prediction: Strong rumours surround the men’s Rumble match and who will show up. Here’s who we predict could make a surprise appearance.
- Dwayne Johnson – Roman Reigns vs The Rock is a WrestleMania main event that has been teased for years and the Great One turning up is the perfect place to start.
- Randy Orton – The innovator of the RKO has been absent for months and could make an epic return at the Rumble.
- Logan Paul – The YouTuber hasn’t been seen since the Crown Jewel and his knee injury wasn’t as worse as first feared. So Paul could very well appear in his first Rumble match.
- Matt Riddle – Riddle was riding high before his hiatus and there is no better way to pick up where he left off than in the Rumble match.
- The Undertaker – The American Badass came back to WWE for Raw XXX and got involved with LA Knight and Bray Wyatt. Could this mean a return to the ring is also possible? Never say never.
WWE may have telegraphed the winner of the men’s Royal Rumble match a tad with a 6-week build of promos and vignettes highlighting Cody Rhodes‘ return from injury. There can be little doubt that the American Nightmare will be left pointing at the WrestleMania sign at the end of the show.
The Royal Rumble streams live exclusively on Peacock in the United States and WWE Network everywhere else!