Royal Rumble is one of my favorite PPVs of the year. I went to the 1995 Royal Rumble here in Tampa and will never forget watching my favorite Shawn Michaels win it from number one. I’m pretty excited for this year’s Rumble especially since I’m going to Wrestlemania this year. Here are my predictions for the show.
Raw Tag Team Championship Match Cesaro & Sheamus (c) vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson are long overdue for a tag team championship reign. Their booking has been very inconsistent since they arrived in WWE. One minute they’re an unstoppable team, the next minute their comedic heels getting beat every week. I live the Good Brothers and I think winning the titles can get them on the right track. As great as Cesaro and Sheamus have been as a team I feel like Raw’s main event scene would benefit from having Cesaro and Sheamus in the mix.
Winner: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax
Nia Jax has been getting the best of Sasha Banks the last couple weeks. Sasha needs a big upset win here to get back into title contention.
Winner: Sasha Banks
Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella & Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss, Mickie James and Natalya
It’s great to have Mickie James back in WWE! Her match at Takeover with Asuka was great. After hearing the reaction she got that night, I would have brought in as a babyface. However, the powers at be figured she would be better off as a heel. It looks like they’re setting up Mickie James vs. Becky Lynch for either Wrestlemania or Elimination Chamber.
The rivalry between Nikki Bella and Natalya has been very entertaining. Nattie and Carmella should form a team called the Beat Up Nikki Bella Clique. Whenever these two have their one on one match if think it will be a solid match if they’re given time.
Naomi made her return to Smackdown and looks to be the next challenger for Alexa Bliss. Naomi is another person who is long overdue for a championship reign. To establish Naomi as the number one contender I can easily see her pinning Bliss and getting the win for her team.
Winners: Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella, & Naomi
Cruiserweight Championship Match
Rich Swann (C) vs. Neville
Since returning to TV at Roadblock, Neville has become the star of the cruiserweight division. Everytime Neville is on screen it’s much watching. He’s had great TV matches with Swann, TJP, and Cedric Alexander. Neville has done a stellar job of adjusting his ring style to his new heel persona. I think the right move is to crown the self-proclaimed King of the Cruiserweights and continue to build him as an unstoppable force in the division. They should keep the belt on him until there is a hot babyface who fans want to see take the belt off him.
Winner: Neville
Raw Women’s Championship Match Charlotte (c) vs. Bayley
It’s been said WWE is trying to re-create the Daniel Bryan story with this rivalry. As hard as they try it’s just not going to be the same. I love Bayley, but she’s not Daniel Bryan. Bayley has not been treated the way Bryan was. There is no fan backlash to fuel this feud. I think Wrestlemania would be the right place to give Bayley her first Raw women’s championship and to break Charlotte’s PPV “Streak”.
Winner: Charlotte
Univeral Championship Match
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns
This is the feud that never ends. It goes on and on my friend. I really want this to be the last time Owens and Reigns have a match for a long time, but we all know that’s not going to happen. I’m having a hard time seeing Owens retain. I think it would be great if he did. Unfortunately, I feel we’re going to see ANOTHER coronation of Roman Reigns.
Winner: Roman Reigns
WWE Championship Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena
A lot of fans are concerned that Styles is being “buried” due to his placement on the Royal Rumble poster and Cena getting the upper hand in every confrontation they had. I think WWE is working us hard. I firmly believe Styles is going to beat Cena for the 3rd time in the row. I’m not sure if he’s going to make it to Mania with the belt, but he’s leaving Royal Rumble with the belt.
Winner: AJ Styles
30 Man Royal Rumble Match
This is the first time in a long time that the Royal Rumble winner is unpredictable. Usually, at this time there’s one guy that you can tell is going to win the Rumble. This Rumble is stacked and as of press time, there is still eight spots open. And with the rumored Wrestlemania card going around there are a lot of people who could potentially win and it will not affect the card at all.
Last year I had three potential winners in mind. One of those men did win and that was Triple H. This year I’m pretty sold on one guy and that’s the Undertaker. Samoa Joe is a name that’s being thrown around. IF he’s in I could see him winning, but I’m still leaning towards Undertaker.
Winner: The Undertaker
