On Sunday it will be the thirty annual Royal Rumble from the Alamodome in San Antonio. I will provide you with my overall thoughts predictions as well as the predictions from my colleagues for every match. There will be three matches on the preshow.
Raw Tag Team Champions
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Cesaro and Sheamus
The tag team division has been heating up lately on RAW. Cesaro and Sheamus have been fighting off Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. These two teams have competitive in a series of matches their last encounter ended in controversy.
Sheamus hit the referee by accident in the crucial moments of the match a couple weeks ago on RAW. Then, Gallows and Anderson capitalized on the opportunity and Cesaro fell victim to the Magic Killer. Gallows and Anderson picked up the win. However, another referee came down and reversed the decision. Going into the Royal Rumble Gallows and Anderson has momentum. This is a difficult match to predict because it is a toss up. However, that being said it’s time for a title change. Michael Cole continues to be annoying constantly stating that Gallows and Anderson won the IWGP Tag Team Titles three times.
Brian Waters: Anderson and Gallows
Corey Saunders: Cesaro and Sheamus
Michael Pearman: Anderson and Gallows
Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks
Nia Jax has her sights set on a “The Boss” Sasha Banks. Banks has never been the same since she lost her title to Charlotte Flair. Jax has had several calculated attacks on her damaged knee. Nia Jax will continue her domination on Banks continuing this feud.
Brian Waters: Sasha Banks
Corey Saunders: Nia Jax
Michael Pearman: Nia Jax
Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, and Naomi vs. Alexa Bliss, Mickie James and Natalya in a Six-Woman Tag Team Match
This is going to be a compelling six women tag team match all six women have issues with each other. Bliss and Lynch’s have had a very entertaining feud for the last couple of months. This feud was revolved around the SmackDown Women’s Championship. There was an interesting element that was introduced with a mysterious masked La Luchadora. La Luchadora was revealed to be the legendary Mickie James. She got involved in the historic first ever steel cage women’s match. James made an alliance with Alexa Bliss.
Natalya and Nikki Bella have no love lost between the two. It was later revealed that Natalya assaulted Nikki Bella from behind to take her spot at Survivor Series women elimination match. Noami is making her return to the company since doing The Marine 5: Battleground. Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, and Natalya will continue their momentum moving forward in the women’s division on SmackDown.
Brian Waters: Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, and Naomi
Corey Saunders: Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, and Natalya
Michael Pearman: Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, and Naomi
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Neville against Rich Swann
Since Neville return to the WWE he has never been better and nobody has been able to stop him. At Roadblock: End of the Line, Swann successfully defended the Cruiserweight Championship against TJ Perkins and The Brian Kendrick. After the match, Neville made a surprising return. Neville sent a message to the Cruiserweight Champion.
On the inaugural episode of WWE 205 Live, Swann defeated Kendrick to win inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Swann has not had any legit competition since he won the Cruiserweight Championship. Swann will have his hands full with Neville. Neville will continue to destroy the Cruiserweight division and become the Cruiserweight Champion.
Brian Waters: Neville
Corey Saunders: Neville
Michael Pearman: Neville
RAW Women’s Championship
Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley
Charlotte is leaps and bounds ahead of everybody else in the Women’s division. She will look to continue her dominance in the division. Charlotte will attempt to stay undefeated when defending her championship on pay-per-view. Bayley will battle Charlotte for the RAW Women’s Championship. She managed to twice defeat Charlotte on Raw. Bayley got a third win against Charlotte that ended in controversy. This made Charlotte irate therefore she got her lawyers to wipe out that win. For the rematch, Charlotte Flair used her protégé, Dana Brooke, as the special guest referee, and she rebound with a win. Bayley secured a title shot at the RAW Women’s Championship against Nia Jax as she was crowned the new number one contender. This match will either end in a straight win for Charlotte or in a no contest to continue this feud.
Brian Waters: Charlotte
Corey Saunders: Charlotte
Michael Pearman: Charlotte
WWE Universal Championship
Roman Reigns against Kevin Owens
My expectations are set extremely low for this match. Due to the fact that fans have seen this match a million times before. Reigns will receive a rematch because he got screwed out of the WWE Universal Championship at Roadblock End of the Line. Owens best friend Chris Jericho helped him retain his Championship. Raw General Manager Mick Foley decided to even up the odds at the Royal Rumble. Chris Jericho will be locked inside shark tank that will be twenty feet up in the air. Owens will find a way cheat and retain his Universal Championship.
Brian Waters: Reigns
Corey Saunders: Owens
Michael Pearman: Reigns
WWE Championship
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
This match has the potential to steal the show between two phenomenal athletes. Cena could tie Ric Flair record with sixteen times World Champion.The build up to this feud has been anything short of brilliance. John Cena and AJ Styles have had a series of great matches. Styles currently holds the advantage over Cena two to zero he defeated Cena clean without help at SummerSlam. Styles pinned Cena in a triple threat match at No Mercy to defend his WWE Championship.
Even though millions of wrestling fans don’t want to see Cena win and tie Flair it will happen eventually. Cena will win the WWE Championship and in the progress, he will get revenge on AJ Styles.
Brian Waters: Cena
Corey Saunders: Cena
Michael Pearman: Cena
Royal Rumble
This year the Royal Rumble is very unpredictable which makes it more intriguing. The last time that fans did not know what was going to happen was back in 2011 there were forty participants. All the heavy hitters are in this match this year from Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker to name a few. Triple H screwed Seth Rollins out of the match so I expect Rollins to return the favor. I am going with a longshot in Bray Wyatt but my darkhorse to the win the match is Undertaker.
Brian Waters: The Undertaker
Corey Saunders: Fin Balor
Michael Pearman: The Undertaker
Surprise entrants
Triple H
Rey Mysterio
MVP
James Ellsworth
Finn Balor
Tyler Bate
Shaq
JBL
Kurt Angle maybe
All photos were courtesy the WWE
Follow me on Twitter @Nino_416
