The best PPV of the year has finally come back. Nothing gets me more excited than when late January/early February comes around because that means the Royal Rumble has arrived. The month or two before the Royal Rumble are usually the worst times to watch wrestling because there’s not much going on. Outside of a few feuds, I’ve been paying attention to WWE from afar. But now is the time to get 100% back in because it’s the start of Wrestlemania season. With that, let’s get into my predictions.
#DIY (c) V. Motor City Machine Guns in a Two out of Three Falls Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship
For the first time since Wrestlemania, we will get a men’s tag team match in a PLE, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s a perfect match between two of the best tag teams in the world. Papa H may have messed up by not putting any tag matches on PLE before, but if all goes right, I will forgive him. This should be a banger of a match where DIY retain their belts. I don’t see a reason why DIY loses. Let them hold the belts until Mania, where we should see another great match for these titles.
Prediction: #DIY Retain
Cody Rhodes (c) V. Kevin Owens in a Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship
Another match that I have extremely high expectations for. This match not only has the potential to be the match of the night, but it can easily be my match of the year. I am assuming Cody and Kevin will do some crazy shit with this match stipulation. With Kevin, I always expect him to do something to steal the show. It’s Cody I wonder what he will do. It will be his first ladder match since he left AEW in 2022, and that match was insane. I’m expecting a lot with this match. As for the winner, there’s no doubt Cody wins this match. He’s going to main event Wrestlemania against whoever wins the Men’s Rumble match. It sucks because Kevin Owens is top 5 for me right now, and I would love to see him get another shot as world champion. I think I predicted him to beat Roman Reigns in the last 3 years, but sadly, that prediction streak will end today.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes Retains
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
I assume, like most years, this match opens the show. It should be a great match, but I’m having negative vibes about it. Charlotte Flair is the expected winner, and which kind of sucks. It has nothing to do with Charlotte, but I don’t want to see her returning and getting a title shot right away. That seems to be the story with her. Let’s build some other people up and give her a storyline that doesn’t involve the title.
Now let’s talk about surprise. There are some hefty expectations on who people expect to return/debut tonight. I assume Becky Lynch makes her return tonight. Apparently, she’s been re-signed for months now, just waiting for Creative to give her something good. But what’s a better time to return than the Royal Rumble? Next up, I expect Jordynne Grace to officially debut as a member of the WWE roster. She tweeted that she wouldn’t be able to be in the Rumble because it’s her mom’s birthday, but we all know that’s bullshit. I also think we will see some NXT talent make their debut in the Rumble. It feels like Giulia, Roxanne Perez, and Stephanie Vaquer will all make their Royal Rumble debuts (excluding Roxane, who debuted last year). And finally, I fully expect AJ Lee to be in the Rumble. There’s been so much going around about her making her return that I find it hard to believe she won’t be in the match. If she is in the match, she might have the loudest pop of the night. Â
Prediction: Charlotte Flair Wins the Rumble
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Now, the Men’s Royal Rumble match gets a lot harder to predict. There are so many scenarios that can happen in this match. I can see Cena, Punk, Reigns, McIntyre, Zayn, and Rollins all winning this match. It’s the most unpredictable Royal Rumble we’ve had in a long time, and I love it. This is why I love the Royal Rumble. The only thing is, there aren’t as many chances for surprises in the men’s rumble as there are in the women’s. I expect some NXT wrestlers like Trick Williams or Ethan Page to make their Royal Rumble debuts, but that’s really it. Maybe we will see Joe Hendy make a surprise now that WWE has their partnership with TNA. I would be hyped as fuck if Matt Cardona, FKA Zack Ryder, made a surprise return.
But this match isn’t about surprises. It’s about the GOAT starting his retirement tour. I would love for Cena to win this match, but the better storytelling is him losing this match and having to fight for a chance for a world title at the Elimination Chamber. If I had it my way, I would have Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens’ main event Wrestlemania, but I digress. The only people I see winning this match are Cena or CM Punk. Punk winning his first Royal Rumble would be awesome, but I think WWE will give it to Cena. Let him tie Stone Cold’s Royal Rumble record and have him set up to face Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania.
Prediction: John Cena
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