Every year, the Royal Rumble match is highly regarded as one of WWE’s best.
It ignites new stories, delivers fast-paced action, has huge returns, nostalgic legend pops and more often than not, makes a star, whether that is by winning the entire thing, like Drew McIntyre last year, or making an impact such as AJ Styles debuting in 2016.
Screw Christmas! The Royal Rumble event kicks off “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”… for wrestling fans at least, as we are truly speeding down the highway known as the ‘Road to WrestleMania’.
Winning the Rumble is seen as a tremendous feat. Something only stars considered the best can win.
A moment of headlining WrestleMania is up for grabs but who will gain the iconic opportunity to point at the ‘Mania sign this year?
10. AJ Styles
The ‘Phenomenal One’, AJ Styles, has had a very successful WWE career. He has won major championships, main evented pay-per-views, had big fights with stars such as John Cena and The Undertaker.
Retirement will come peacefully, knowing full-well his career will go down with the greats, despite his comparably lack of time on the roster.
He is a great example of WWE believing in someone and pushing them to the moon.
Styles only debuted during the Royal Rumble in 2016, which was won by Triple H. He is only entering his fifth year with the company and winning the Royal Rumble is still an achievement he awaits on possessing.
With Omos by his side, Styles will definitely be one of the largest threats in the 30-man elimination match.
There could be a moment where it looks like Styles is eliminated but instead lands in the arms of his right-hand man, and lives to fight another day. Styles is one of those men that WWE knows it isn’t a risk to place him at the top.
Additionally, a rematch with McIntyre would be something fans certainly wouldn’t mind watching, or if they wanted to go down the other route, Styles and Reigns could tear the house down.
Their previous matches were a bunch of fun, and therefore, a bout against Reigns at his greatest (at least in character terms) would be thrilling and ‘Mania worthy.
9. Jey Uso
Jey Uso has definitely made a name for himself as a singles star in the last six months, having two fantastic, gruelling matches with Universal Champion Roman Reigns, and reinventing himself as a sneaky heel servant for his cousin.
This is the most exciting he has been and another match between him and Reigns would be quite the spectacle to see, especially on a phenomenal stage such as WrestleMania itself.
The Royal Rumble match could be the setting for Uso’s eventual babyface switch and turn on Reigns.
The work they are doing as a pair right now is remarkable, but there is only so much torture and deception a man can take. Plus, a win at this level would be a massive push for Jey Uso proving WWE have high hopes in him.
Or they may go for another friendship split…
8. Sheamus
Since Sheamus reunited with good fella Drew McIntyre, there has been speculation on when he will stab him in the back for his WWE Championship shot. It isn’t really a matter of ‘if’, more a matter of ‘when’.
The Rumble would be the best place to strike. McIntyre would be emotional… possibly distraught, depending on the outcome of his Goldberg encounter.
Sheamus could win the Royal Rumble for the second time and start the feud with his best friend. Or stand up for his fallen brother, raiding the WWE Championship from Goldberg.
However, it would be more engaging to see the eventual fallout between the Irishman and Scotsman. They have been teasing on it but it never comes to light.
It would be interesting to witness the ‘Celtic Warrior’ remain face while victorious and eventually betray McIntyre during a tense moment on Raw.
This would catch us unaware, leading to the belief that we would see a battle for respect, until reality conveys they are fighting for much more.
Nevertheless, a McIntyre vs Sheamus match at ‘Mania would be excellent, even if it doesn’t include a Royal Rumble victory.
