The Royal Rumble is just some weeks away, and I’m fired up. With all due respect to WrestleMania, the Rumble is essentially the most thrilling night time of the yr for me as a wrestling fan, and it’s significantly thrilling this yr as a result of I don’t know what will occur. Each the lads’s and ladies’s Rumbles are vast open, and you might make a compelling case for why a bunch of massive names ought to win. I’ve some theories about what’s going to occur with the women, however the extra I take into consideration the gents, the extra confused I get. CM Punk, John Cena and Roman Reigns are on the prime of many individuals’s predictions, however there are additionally actually apparent explanation why they every ought to lose.
Now, to be clear, CM Punk, John Cena and Roman Reigns are all greater than deserving of profitable this yr’s Rumble for numerous causes. Every certainly one of them is known sufficient and over with the gang sufficient to major occasion WrestleMania, and there’s really a superb probability all three of them may find yourself major eventing ‘Mania this yr. However each has a evident pink flag that makes it uniquely problematic for them to win the Rumble. So, let’s discuss them out.
John Cena is the decide for lots of people this yr, as followers actually need to see him win huge. He’s already introduced it’s going to be his final Rumble, and no matter he does at his remaining WrestleMania goes to be an enormous deal. He additionally minimize a promo in the course of the first Uncooked on Netflix saying he’s getting into the Rumble, and most followers, myself included, are of the opinion that he’ll be in some sort of title match at ‘Mania. All of that factors to him profitable the Rumble, and that is actually how the betting market feels. I’m not so certain about that although.
Most of WWE’s commercials for Elimination Chamber have been very John Cena ahead. He’s in essentially the most outstanding spot in the primary poster, and there’s a variant poster saying it’s his final time in Toronto. That each one factors to him being within the Elimination Chamber, which he wouldn’t must do if he wins the Rumble. As well as, whereas profitable the Rumble can be a extremely enjoyable second, the higher story can be him shedding the Rumble after which spending the following month forward of Elimination Chamber speaking about how he has to win Elimination Chamber to get yet one more shot at a championship. He’s finished nothing however take losses every time he’s returned from Hollywood, and plenty of of his promos have been about self-doubt. The higher story right here is he loses once more however will get shut sufficient to begin believing in himself.
Lots of different persons are all-in on CM Punk profitable the Rumble. He’s made no secret about desirous to major occasion WrestleMania. It’s been introduced up quite a few instances on WWE tv, and given he received injured and completed second on the Rumble final yr, the story virtually writes itself. He can win, problem Cody Rhodes and eventually stroll to the primary occasion. Sounds nice, proper? Properly, I’m not so certain about that one both due to a unfastened finish WWE hasn’t tied up but.
Again when CM Punk joined the OG Bloodline Group at Survivor Sequence, WWE made a number of references to the truth that Roman Reigns’ supervisor Paul Heyman now owes CM Punk a giant favor down the highway. It wasn’t stated off-handedly. It was very clearly a serious factor that was hammered into the viewers that’s meant to return up later. The factor is, if CM Punk wins the Rumble and challenges Gunther or Cody Rhodes at ‘Mania, there’s no level in Paul Heyman or Roman being concerned. I suppose we may get again to that after ‘Mania season, however that’s a extremely very long time to sit down on one thing, even for Triple H. As an alternative, what I feel is extra probably is Punk loses the Rumble after which finally ends up preventing Roman at ‘Mania with this favor factor looming over everybody’s heads.
That brings us to Roman. With all due respect to Cody Rhodes, he’s clearly the largest attraction in WWE that’s not a returning film star. He’s already declared for the Rumble, and it appears probably Triple H, Bruce Prichard and firm are going to need to stick a belt on him sooner somewhat than later. Having him win the Rumble would additionally probably be significantly significant to Roman himself, as he was booed loudly and with out mercy by disillusioned followers sad along with his Rumble victory in ‘15. He would get a a lot better reception this time round, as he’s at present getting the loudest babyface pops of his profession.
However his supervisor Paul Heyman has already implied he’ll be difficult Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania if he wins the Rumble, and whereas the dynamic between the 2 would really feel very totally different than it did on the final two ‘Manias, I’m undecided persons are actually clamoring for these two to major occasion three consecutive WrestleManias. That’s manner an excessive amount of of the identical, even when the promos and the story would probably be totally different this time round. So, as white sizzling as Roman is correct now, I simply don’t see a victory right here as the end result followers really need.
All three of those superstars may nonetheless win the Rumble. I’m undoubtedly not making an attempt to say they need to be eradicated from consideration, however these apparent points I’ve outlined are why this might probably be a superb yr for somebody much less apparent to step up.
Drew McIntyre is doing the perfect work of his whole profession, and there have been loads of rumors about WWE wanting to offer him an enormous push this yr. Most individuals suppose The Rock isn’t going to work ‘Mania this yr, but when he have been to enter the Rumble, there’s a really robust probability he may win. He’ll actually major occasion ‘Mania if he works it. Seth Rollins has arguably been WWE’s most constant performer during the last a number of years, and after taking losses in a bunch of key spots, it is likely to be time for WWE to reward him on a extremely huge stage. Jey Uso has been promoting extra merchandise than anybody else within the firm, and his ring entrances are the most popular within the sport. Brock Lesnar might be going to return again sooner or later, and when he does, he’ll be a right away menace to win every little thing. All of those alternate choices are prospects.
Possibly, regardless of the pink flags, one of many favorites nonetheless wins. Possibly WWE surprises us and goes with a much less typical selection. I don’t know what’s going to occur, and it’s why I’m extra excited for this Rumble than I’ve been in a very long time.