This weekend one of my personal favourite PPV’s take place, the Royal Rumble as we kick start the road to Wrestlemania. With a roster so incredibly stacked and two very dominant champions heading into Mania season, the possibilities are endless and fans could very well be in for a classic Rumble event. With all that in mind who is walking into this weekend’s pay per view the favourite to win their respected Rumble matches. Who will go on to compete for gold at the biggest event of the year? And who is about to end the first month of the new decade on a very high note indeed?
Charlotte Flair
Throughout the build to the Royal Rumble match, Charlotte Flair has made it clear she is the woman to beat and while it would be great to see an underdog talent such as Nikki Cross, for example, get the win on Sunday Flair remains a big-time favourite to walk out as the woman heading into Wrestlemania with a title shot. The Queen has been building momentum for weeks and despite fans witnessing Flair and Lynch go one on one several times before it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see this booked for Mania. The pair do have a huge history and considering Flair never truly lost her title at Mania last year this makes for a simple storyline the WWE could use this time around. Of course, there is a demand for something new and fresh but Flair being left out of a big Wrestlemania match seems unlikely and a Royal Rumble win added to her resume appears to be an inevitable booking decision.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldUaGEFEwNM
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns has been gaining moment for weeks now after suffering constant abuse from king Corbin and his allies Reigns has formed with blood in the form of the Usos and is bouncing back and looking to head into Wrestlemania the number one contender and the potential of seeing the big dog collide with the fiend on the grandest stage of them all is pretty high indeed! As two of Smackdown LIVE’s biggest names Reigns appears to be the most legit star to challenge Wyatt for the Universal Championship at Wrestlemania. Now, of course, we have seen these two men come face to face in the past however, the pair are very clearly in different positions and stages of their careers than the last time they shared a ring and undoubtedly new men. Their history and different motives makes this a big enough match u to take place Mania and when looking at the Smackdown roster there is no better fit than Reigns to win the Rumble and meet with the Fiend. Reigns has been kept out of the title scene for quite some time and fans could be about to see him make a major come back with another Rumble win.
Shayna Baszler
When it comes to the women’s Royal Rumble match there are is an even bigger list of potential winners, however, it’s former two-time NXT Women’s champion, Shayna Baszler who appears to be a major favourite heading into Sunday’s PPV. After colliding with the Man at last years Survivor Series event fans have been calling for a one on one rivalry between them and with the PPV ending in a manner that left everyone believing things were far from over between these two women it appears as though Wrestlemania could be the next time we see these two huge name come to blows. Lynch and Baszler have dominated their brands for well over a year and so it makes all the sense in the world for them to finally go one on one. It’s a big-time match up fans want to see and considering the backstory and the potential doors this bout opens, there can be no denying this is a Wrestlemania standard contest sure draw fans in from the build alone. Baszler isn’t a current main roster member but she is the most likely NXT superstar to make an appearance this Sunday and fan favourite to win the third-ever Women’s Royal Rumble.
Drew McIntyre
I have to admit that Drew McIntyre is my personal favourite to win this year’s mens Royal Rumble match. He’s a man with such a big story tell after going on an intense journey throughout his career. He’s a man that has been sitting back and waiting for his big opportunity and this Sunday could be the perfect timing. McIntyre is stronger than ever and in recent weeks we have seen him work a babyface role while picking up momentum massively in one on one and triple threat competition. The former NXT champion has been working huge matches over on RAW and he walks into the Royal Rumble a big favourite for the win. McIntyre has the story that fits a Wrestlemania spot and colliding with Lesnar gives him the chance to have that major spotlight he has always been worthy of and win or lose at Mania a win at the Royal Rumble could kick start a career-changing few months ahead of him.
Cain Velasquez
With a strong and famous history with Brock Lesnar Cain Velasquez is a pretty big time favourite to win this years Royal Rumble match. The two men met inside a WWE ring for the first time last year and fans have since wondered what is next for Cain in the WWE and when and if he and Brock will meet again in a WWE ring. The Royal Rumble as we know is the place to make the perfect surprise return and with Lesnar competing in this years Rumble match it’s very likely Velasquez will make an appearance to confront and eliminate Lesnar from the match then going on to get the win meeting at Wrestlemania but with full-time roster members favourited far more for the win this would sure be a controversial move on behalf of the WWE.
With names as well as Ronda Rousey and CM Punk making the list as potential winners for many fans we really can expect anything this coming weekend at one of the most unpredictable PPV events of the year as we kick start the road to Wrestlemania.
All pictures wwe.com