It’s everyone’s favorite time of year, the WWE Royal Rumble! The road to Wrestlemania starts here and this card is absolutely stacked. For the first time ever, the Rumble takes place at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona and will welcome more than 50,000 members of the WWE Universe.
Before we go into the predictions, here’s a reminder of the card.
- Men’s 30 man, over the top rope Royal Rumble Match
- Women’s 30 women, over the top rope Royal Rumble Match
- Universal Championship Match – Brock Lesnar (c) vs Finn Balor
- WWE Championship Match – Daniel Bryan (c) vs AJ Styles
- Smackdown Live Women’s Championship Match – Asuka (c) vs Becky Lynch
- Raw Women’s Championship Match – Ronda Rousey (c) vs Sasha Banks
- Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship Match – The Bar; Sheamus and Cesaro (c) vs The Miz and Shane McMahon
- United States Championship Match – Rusev (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura
- Cruiserweight Championship Match – Buddy Murphy (c) vs Akira Tozawa vs Hideo Itami vs Kalisto
At the time of writing, the United States and the Cruiserweight title matches will take place on the kick off show.
Thank you for joining us and we look forward to hearing what you guys think too.
Cody
Cruiserweight Championship Match:
I think this fatal four way will be superb, and I hope that the four men in this match will get enough time to showcase their talents. As this match is on the pre-show, I don’t think it will disappoint. Anyways, I think that Buddy Murphy will retain his championship, I just can’t see anyone taking it away from him yet. Hideo Itami might well defeat Murphy at a later stage, WrestleMania match-up maybe?
US Championship Match:
This match doesn’t deserve to be on the pre-show in my opinion. None the less, as this match is made to seem pretty insignificant, I think that Rusev should be able to hold onto his title.
Smackdown Live Tag Titles:
I don’t really have much to say about this match. The Bar should retain but my prediction, The Bar retain. Gotcha there didn’t I? I could see Shane picking up the win here but I’m really just hoping that doesn’t happen as it would significantly weaken the Smackdown Live tag division.
Raw Women’s Championship Match:
This match has the potential to be a show-stealer but ultimately, I don’t think Ronda’s losing her title to a Sasha Banks with a weak two weeks of momentum behind her. My prediction, Ronda Rousey to retain.
SD Live Women’s Championship Match:
Another person retaining… oh no! Asuka will retain here, the big WrestleMania match will be for Ronda’s title and I simply don’t see how a quick title change will be beneficial to either party here. My prediction, Asuka to retain.
WWE Championship Match:
Styles isn’t winning the title back, not here, not at WrestleMania, I honestly don’t think Styles will get close to winning back his title until Daniel Bryan loses his title to… someone. Bryan vs Andrade for the title sometime soon please? Thank you. My prediction, Daniel Bryan retains.
Universal Championship Match:
And it’s a clean-sweep of nobody losing their titles! Brock Lesnar to retain.
Men’s Royal Rumble Match:
First up, the surprise entrants. I think that Batista will enter around the middle of the match to varied reactions, but I think that will be the only retro return of the night. I also think that there will be several NXT entrants. I’m going to go for Aleister Black, Velveteen Dream and Adam Cole (making his second appearance at the Rumble) for this year’s match. I also hope we can see an entrance from a new call up in Lars Sullivan.
Next, the shortest and longest appearances. I’m not even sure if R-Truth will actually turn up in the Rumble but if he does, I doubt he’ll be in the match for any longer than a couple of minutes. I believe Seth Rollins will be the iron man in this match and I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes onto win the match.
Finally, the winner of the match. I’m pretty confident in somebody from Monday night picking up the victory but I’m stuck between two men, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. This is a really tough call but I’m going to go for McIntyre… I’m sceptical on this pick though.
Women’s Royal Rumble Match:
I’m slightly more comfortable on this one. I think we’re going to see ‘surprise’ returns by Lita, Trish Stratus, Molly Holly, Beth Phoenix and Jacqueline.
Now, I think that Charlotte will be the iron woman in this match. Controversial, maybe. A good set up for the end of the match, definitely. I’m going to guess that uh… Sonya Deville eliminates Mandy Rose in record time because, why not?
The winner… drum-roll please. Yeah, I’m going to go for the obvious pick here and choose Becky Lynch although I’m not going to be surprised if Charlotte manages to pick up the win here.
Wynter
Men’s Rumble
Winner: Seth Rollins
Seth had a red-hot 2018 and though he’s started off 2019 with a lackluster feud with Bobby Lashley, I still think Rollins is in the position to win the Rumble, take on Lesnar at WrestleMania and claim the Universal Title. His momentum was hampered a little bit by the underwhelming Ambrose feud, but his crowd response is still amazing.
5 Surprise Entrants: Aleister Black, Ricochet, Shelton Benjamin, Johnny Gargano, MVP
Iron Man: Drew McIntyre
Shortest Time: R-Truth
Women’s Rumble
Winner: Charlotte Flair
I think the writing is on the wall for Ms. Flair to win the rumble, especially since she wasn’t part of the historic first match. I also think they want to keep her in a rivalry with whomever the women’s champion is at the end of the night.
5 Surprise Entrants: Victoria, Candice Michelle, Mia Yim, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair
Iron Woman: Bayley
Shortest Time: Dana Brooke
Universal Championship-Brock Lesnar vs Finn Balor
Winner: Finn Balor
Braun Strowman got pulled from his title match so now it’s going to be Finn Balor taking on Brock Lesnar for the title. I’m a huge Balor fan and I’ve wanted him to have a good Universal Championship reign since he got back from injury. This is a great stage to bring back the Demon as well so I’m going to be optimistic for a title change here. Also, Braun Strowman is still p****d off so he might help here.
WWE Championship-Daniel Bryan vs AJ Styles
Winner: Daniel Bryan (via DQ)
The “new” Daniel Bryan vs the “real” AJ Styles. Styles has been showing newfound aggression over the last few weeks. I’m thinking that aforementioned aggression will actually cost him the match and as we know, titles (usually) can’t change hands on a disqualification.
Raw Women’s Championship-Ronda Rousey vs Sasha Banks
Winner: Sasha Banks
I’m actually very excited for this match. Banks is my favorite female wrestler and Rousey has been pretty entertaining to watch in her rookie year on the roster. I think Banks getting the upset victory and being the first to cleanly defeat Rousey would be perfect for her Boss character. While I’m hoping the Boss and Hug Connection are in the running for the women’s tag titles, I would be ecstatic to see Banks as the Women’s Champion once again.
Smackdown Women’s Championship-Asuka vs Becky Lynch
Winner: Asuka
I’m really hoping they didn’t give Asuka the title just to be a placeholder in this Becky Lynch push. Asuka was the champion for well over 500 days in NXT; it would be an insult to her legacy there just to have her be champion for a few weeks and also undermine her victory at TLC. I could see this match having a murky finish too, with perhaps some interference by Carmella or Charlotte.
Smackdown Tag Team Championship-The Bar vs The Miz and Shane McMahon
Winners: The Miz and Shane McMahon
I think Miz and McMahon will take the titles here, if only to jump-start their eventual implosion and subsequent feud.
United States Championship-Shinsuke Nakamura vs Rusev
Winner: Rusev
I’ve been enjoying this feud so far. I think Rusev will retain here as the higher ups have seemingly noticed just how popular Rusev really is with the fans. Plus, Nakamura’s title reign was mediocre at best, though really it was the fault of his booking rather than him.
Cruiserweight Championship-Buddy Murphy vs Kalisto vs Akira Tozawa vs Hideo Itami
Winner: Buddy Murphy
I haven’t been keeping up with 205 Live as much as I probably should, but I have watched a lot of Buddy Murphy matches. I like the belt with him and he seems very confident in his role. I just don’t see any of these other competitors taking the belt from Murphy.
Rox
Cruiserweight Championship Match
Winner: Buddy Murphy
I like the Cruiserweight division and I like the direction it’s going. If it aint broke, don’t fix it and Buddy Murphy is doing a great job as Champion and I see no reason why they would put the brakes on him.
United States Championship Match
Winner: Rusev
Shinsuke Nakamura, although a very talented wrestler, was not the right fit for the United States Championship. His title reign was very underwhelming and at times, baffling. There have been periods where we didn’t see the belt at all on live TV. WWE have been listening to their fans and have recognized the organic growth of Rusev’s popularity by putting the belt on him. My theory is that this match will see the end of Nakamura’s involvement in this title conversation and I’m expecting an emerging story-line as early as next week with regards to Rusev’s new challenger, perhaps Lars Sullivan.
Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship Match
Winner: The Bar
I don’t like this, I don’t like it one bit. I don’t understand what Shane McMahon is doing right now. They have a roster full of incredibly talented wrestlers and a strong tag team division on Smackdown Live. I don’t need to see Shane McMahon nearly kill himself again. Although I pick The Bar to win, there’s a part of me that thinks Shane and The Miz could win and it will eventually lead to some sort of feud between them and ultimately Shane’s swansong.
Raw Women’s Championship Match
Winner: Ronda Rousey
I make no secret of the fact I don’t like Ronda Rousey’s character, but I have been hugely impressed by her in-ring ability since her arrival in the WWE. I don’t think she’ll drop the title to Sasha Banks, I don’t think she’ll drop the title to anyone. I see her walking out of this event and into Wrestlemania as champion and I see the title being contested in a Triple Threat Match at ‘Mania, where she will lose the belt but not have to take the pin. Sasha Banks, I believe, is destined for a part in the crowning of the first ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Smackdown Live Women’s Championship Match
Winner: Asuka
Asuka will win this match, there is no way they’re going to have her be a transitional champion. Becky Lynch doesn’t need the title to be in the main event of Wrestlemania. One of my thoughts is that Becky Lynch will win the women’s Royal Rumble match, with Charlotte in a close second. Becky will go on to face Ronda and Charlotte will go on to face Asuka. There’s also a part of me thinking Becky, Charlotte and Ronda will be in the previously predicted Wrestlemania match for the Raw Women’s Title.
WWE Championship Match
Winner: Daniel Bryan
The story-line between AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan has been really interesting and I really like the ‘tweener characters they’re both showing. They are both fan favorites but at the same time are pulling out some intense heel behavior towards each other. It’s shows great charisma and depth on both their parts. I’m expecting this match to be the best of the night and expect nothing short of an absolute masterclass.
Universal Championship Match
Winner: Finn Balor
It’s hard to remain impartial when talking about this match because, as everyone knows, I absolutely adore Finn Balor. Speculation has been growing as to whether he is there to placate the fans and he’ll end up getting absolutely annihilated by Brock. On the other hand, Lesnar’s best matches in the last few years have been against guys like AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan, where he’s come out victorious but given his opponent a strong showing. Can Finn do this? I believe.
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Winner: Seth Rollins
Longest time in the match: Elias
Shortest time in the match: Baron Corbin
Surprise entrants: A returning Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens & Fandango. EC3’s debut and a one-off appearance from RVD
There is no-one on the roster more deserving of a Royal Rumble win than Seth Rollins, it’s as simple as that. On a side note, how incredibly clever of WWE to put all the heat and responsibility of the last year on Corbin. You can’t buy that type of heat, everybody legitimately hates him and he takes it like an absolute pro. I’d love to see each brand represented in the match, a couple of NXT and NXT UK guys, perhaps Adam Cole (BAYBAY) and Pete Dunne. How will Kofi stay in this year?
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Winner: Becky Lynch or Ruby Riott
Longest Time in the match: Bayley
Shortest Time in the match: Billie Kay
Surprise Entrants: Trish Stratus, Lita, Nikki Bella, Michelle McCool & (total long shot) AJ Lee
Ruby Riott appeared to be on a bit of a roll and for some reason (perhaps a minor injury) it stopped. A Rumble win could perhaps see her moved to Smackdown Live and I feel she’d be a great contender for Asuka. In all reality, Becky Lynch winning writes itself. The Man wins the women’s Royal Rumble match. If the hopes of Becky v Ronda meeting at Wrestlemania are to be realized, this is where that journey starts. That and Becky Lynch is a total badass!
CB (Better late than never)
Men’s Rumble Match
Winner: Seth Rollins
5 surprise entrants: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, EC3, Aleister Black and Hulk Hogan.
Who will be in for the longest: Seth Rollins
Shortest time in the match: Baron Corbin.
Women’s Rumble Match
Winner: Ember Moon or Ruby Riott (although I feel she’s be better with the Money in the Bank)
5 surprise entrants: Jazz, Victoria, Shayna Baszler, Toni Storm and Kairi Sane
Universal Championship match: Finn Balor
WWE title match: Daniel Bryan
Raw Women’s Title: Ronda Rousey
Smackdown Women’s Title: Asuka
Smackdown Tag match: The Bar
United States Championship match: Rusev
Cruiserweight Championship match: Hideo Itami
