The Road to WrestleMania always begins with the WWE’s 2nd most awaited pay-per-view of the year; the Royal Rumble…
Next month will mark the 32nd annual WWE Royal Rumble PPV, which will consist of two Rumble matches for men and women respectively. In this article, we will focus on the potential winners for the men’s Royal Rumble, who could eventually go to WrestleMania and fight for the top prize of their respective brand.
Honourable Mentions (5% chance):
1. Batista
Considering how eager Batista is to come out of semi-retirement and participate at WrestleMania one last time before WWE hopefully inducts him into the Hall of Fame, the company would want to cash in on him – especially after his recent success in Hollywood. However, the last time WWE allowed Batista to win, it backfired for all the right reasons.
Moreover, Batista has clearly stated that his last feud should be against Triple H and no one else, which is why the chances of Batista winning the WWE Royal Rumble seem almost non-existent. In case Triple H does not fully recover from his injury, Batista could be swayed away to face Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman, with both men potentially dream opponents for the former.
2. Roman Reigns
Assuming Roman Reigns makes a surprise entry at the WWE Royal Rumble, he shall be welcomed with a huge ovation. It would be the perfect opportunity for Vince to finally cement Roman Reigns as the face of the company, something he has been trying to do for years. Additionally, this victory would also resume Reign’s career from the exact same position he had left it at. However, it’s very unlikely that Roman Reigns will heal up by the end of January. Hence, the chances of this happening seem very slim.
This could be good or bad news depending on your perception of Roman Reigns. He has already faced Lesnar and Strowman countless times and therefore either match would not generate much interest. But of course, a comeback story for Roman Reigns would be monumental if it ends with him regaining the WWE Universal Title at ‘The Grandest Stage of ‘Em All’.
3. Elias
Royal Rumbles are often used to boost a superstar’s momentum and immediately push them to the top. Careful booking by the WWE often gives out signals regarding the superstar’s prospects. In the past, we’ve seen Rumble victories which came entirely out of the blue: Alberto Del Rio in 2011, Sheamus in 2012 and even Chris Benoit in 2004 (despite the unfortunate events that followed) are prime examples of wins which were meant to immediately skyrocket a superstar to the main event-level. Hence, a surprise victory cannot be ruled out.
In all honesty, Elias could be that superstar and among all the honourable mentions, has the best shot at winning the Royal Rumble and becoming a new flagship star for the WWE. His gimmick is marketable, his physique is exceptional, and his mic skills are tremendous. He’s the whole package, which usually impresses Vince McMahon – and therefore, he could be a solid contender for the Rumble. However, Elias vs. Brock Lesnar or Elias vs. Braun Strowman taking place at WrestleMania still seems far-fetched and that means Elias’ overall chances still look slim.
4. Rey Mysterio
Even though I suspect Rey Mysterio will be the one to challenge Daniel Bryan for the WWE Title at WrestleMania due to the lack of baby-faces on SmackDown, I don’t think he has a good chance at winning the Royal Rumble. This is largely because being the underdog that he is, it’s difficult to envision Rey Mysterio having two Rumble victories in his career.
Additionally, Rey still lacks the momentum necessary to peak interest for a Rumble victory. He could end up being the part of the final-four in the match, but a victory is highly unlikely.