Another year is here and already WWE’s annual curtain raiser is upon us. The 29th Royal Rumble takes place this Sunday, live from Orlando, Florida, the main event as it is every year is the 30 man over the top rope Battle Royal. The victor of the match becomes the No1 contender to the WWE world heavyweight championship, and get’s to be in the coveted main event spot at Wrestlemania 32. In 2016 the game has changed, the rules have been altered, this year our WWE champion Roman Reigns must defend his heavyweight title in the Rumble match itself. Roman has to defend the belt against 29 other WWE superstars, and on Raw this week it was revealed that Roman would be entering at No1.
The build up to the Rumble this year has been far from satisfactory, most of the roster has been ignored and forgotten about, with only the top few stars given air time. The hottest feud for WWE right now is Dean Ambrose and his ongoing conflict with Kevin Owens. Both men have kept WWE watchable over the past four weeks, and I feel their Last Man Standing Match on Sunday will steal the show. For the Rumble itself I feel there are 5 potential winners this year, some I favour some I don’t, however they each have their arguments. So continue reading and see if you agree or not with my Royal Rumble top 5.
1.) Roman Reigns. The undisputed, undefeated, reigning and defending WWE champion is for some the hot favourite to walk out champion on Sunday. For Roman Reigns the road to winning the WWE title was hard enough, but now as champion it’s even harder. Since his brutal attack on the CEO Triple H, Roman has been the target of the McMahon family, from weekly beat-downs to being berated by Stephanie, the unsympathetic champion has taken everything thrown at him. Last week on Raw, Roman was tasked with fighting the entire heel roster, well as a matter of fact it actually turned into a singles match with Kevin Owens. Long into the bout, the rest of the talent jumped in and laid into Reigns, Vince urged superstars to rush the ring and take out the WWE champion. In the middle of all this the ‘Beast Incarnate’ Brock Lesnar made his long awaited return to the ring, taking out all in front of him, Lesnar was no one’s friend. Reigns also felt the wrath of the Beast, however this Monday on Raw, Roman gained revenge by hitting Lesnar with two Spears, WWE made him look strong against Brock. If Reigns walks in and out of the Rumble champion then what’s the point of a Wrestlemania match, by surviving the Rumble who can possibly defeat him one on one?
Summary. My opinion is that Roman should last at least 45 minutes until he is then set upon by the League of Nations and/or the Wyatt Family, thus resulting in his elimination. This then makes for an intriguing run into Wrestlemania.
2.) Bray Wyatt. WWE’s most vibrant, interesting character is a true superstar in the making, but only if WWE allow him to be. Since Wrestlemania 31 where he was defeated by the Undertaker, Bray’s career has been in decline. Passed from feud to feud and loss to loss, Bray Wyatt was the jobber to the true stars of the show, in 2015 he was sacrificed for the good of the company. His rhetoric, although convincing was just empty threats, Bray in 2015 meant no harm. After the Wyatt’s diabolical feud and resulting match against Undertaker & Kane at the Survivor Series, WWE seemed to realise the damage they had inflicted to one of their brightest acts. Therefore in December, WWE decided to attempt to rebuild Bray and his family, that meant having them steamroll the Dudley Boyz, Tommy Dreamer and Rhyno. Up until last weeks edition of Smackdown the Wyatt’s were still feuding with the Dudley Boyz, maybe last week was the end of it? However January has been the month to make Bray look strong, and to a degree WWE have succeeded. In the week’s leading up to the Rumble, Bryan and Co have walked between the line of heel and babyface, therefore the possibility of Bray winning the title on Sunday has been taken seriously. Bray as WWE champion both excites me and worries me, the question is, even with the WWE title in their camp, will Bray and the family be taken seriously? Will WWE book them correctly? These are all realistic questions heading into this Sunday.
Summary. If Bray is to win the WWE world title on Sunday then he has to convincingly, without the family and without shortcuts. A strong showing and a possible high profile elimination should set him up for Wrestlemania season.
3.) Brock Lesnar. The Undefeated, uncrowned WWE Champion is heading into the Royal Rumble looking a bit worse for wear. On Monday’s Raw the ‘Beast Incarnate’ suffered two spears and a Sister Abigail, he was left laying on the mat as the show went off air. In years gone by Brock has been the one that has left superstars laying on the mat before PPV’s, not the other way round. The sight of Brock looking vulnerable is not what the WWE universe is used to, the Beast is the man who dishes out the damage. Brock has to be one of the favourites this Sunday, the former WWE champion lost the title at Wrestlemania 31 without effectively losing, therefore shouldn’t he get an automatic rematch? As WWE exhibited Monday night, it seems a collection of superstars are the only force that can incapacitate Lesnar, so faced with the Wyatt’s, League of Nations and Roman Reigns, has Lesnar really got a chance? The Rumble will give us a clue to Brock will be facing at Wrestlemania 32, whether he wins or loses Brock will be pivotal to the succes of WM. So on that, surely nothing more than a title win is needed for Brock Lesnar!!
Summary. Brock like Roman is a favourite but easy pick, I’d have Brock eliminated by Kevin Owens or Bray Wyatt. Right there with either of those two, you have a legitimate Wrestlemania moment just waiting to happen.
4.) Daniel Bryan. For nearly a year we have all be awaiting the return of WWE’s most efficient wrestling machine. WWE have yet to clear him to wrestle, Daniel say’s independent doctors have cleared and permitted him to return to the ring. Whatever the truth is there in no better time than the Royal Rumble for leader of the ‘YES’ movement to return to the squared circle. Reports on social media this week have signalled that WWE may be willing to clear Bryan to come back, that leads me to think that Wrestlemania could be salvaged by the having the former World heavyweight champion reclaim the title he never lost. The story literally writes itself, the Wrestlemania main event writes itself, WWE’s ultimate underdog goes into battle against Roman Reigns and the ‘Beast’ Brock Lesnar. A match involving Bryan and Lesnar has been spoken about for the last two years, and why if WWE are wary of having Bryan go one on one with Lesnar, throw Reigns in to take some of the load.
Summary. I’d like to see Bryan return at the Rumble, I think it’s the best setting for him. He should be in the final four because I just don’t think WWE will give him the title straight away, a shame because Bryan’s story writes itself and sells seats.
5.) ‘The Phenomenal One’ AJ Styles. On January 20th 2016 the former TNA & IWGP World Heavyweight Champion finally signed with WWE. After 18 years in the business the man that built TNA signed with the biggest wrestling company in the world. The arrival of AJ Styles says a lot about WWE and the talent it now looks to sign, it also says a lot about AJ. After years of toiling in independent promotions, building TNA and then reinventing himself in New Japan, the time has come for AJ to become the megastar everyone knows he is. At the age of 38 he has learnt all there is to learn, he has become the consummate professional, a ring general. All signs point towards Styles making his debut in the Royal Rumble match, and for me that means he has to win the WWE world title. Why else bring him in, unless you’re going to shock the wrestling world? His arrival in NJPW propelled him to the main event, it made an everlasting impression on the wrestling industry. TNA’s ‘Lone Wolf’ and former Bullet Club leader has not come to WWE to take part, he’s come to establish his legacy and be remembered as one of the greatest ever.
Summary. AJ Styles is my favourite to win the Rumble, I feel there is zero point debuting him at the event if he isn’t going to win the title. I think he should enter late, between 25-30, being the wily veteran, eliminating the young brash Roman should come first, followed by a stare down with someone such as Owens or Jericho. Styles should be the hired gun of the McMahon’s, being presented that way won’t matter because he will be cheered, no matter what, on Sunday. An Styles title win turns the Road to Wrestlemania upside down, new and unseen feuds are established on the spot. For me there is no other option.
@Ciaran_1986
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