Welcome one and all to my preview and predictions blog for the upcoming WWE live special, Royal Rumble. Before I begin I want you to check out my preview for the NXT live special the night before the Rumble, NXT Takeover:Phoenix and also an essay blog post on the 2000 Royal Rumble entitled My Favourite Rumble that I wrote last year. Not interested in pro wrestling ? check out my article series entitled The 52 In 52 in which I review a film I have never seen, part 3 on Upgrade is online now. If you have any comments or feedback you can do so by leaving a comment in the section below or by following me on Twitter and Instagram.
The Royal Rumble is coming this Sunday and is one of my favourite live specials of the year. There have been some last minute adjustments made to the match card and the Rumble match itself. Braun Strowman had to be one of the favourites to win the match after he was removed from the Universal Championship match a couple of weeks ago but he has been removed from the match as has Finn Balor, the new number one contender. Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch are also missing from the women's rumble match due to their championship matches. As always I will talk about the matches in nor particular order and will make edits after RAW and Smackdown Live have aired.
1. WWE Cruiserweight Championship Fatal 4 Way: Buddy Murphy (C) Vs. Kalisto Vs. Akira Tozawa Vs. Hideo Itami: It's no secret that I am a big advocate for 205 Live and the entire Cruiserweight division. A match of this calibre will hopefully help raise the profile of the less than popular show and division. I have really warmed to Murphy as a champion over the past few months and he has proven how good he is in the position he's in. Hideo Itami has floated about aimlessly for the past few months since joining 205 Live and one has to believe that he may be out when his contract is up but, for now he is part of a championship match. Kalisto has had a bit of a resurgence since forming Lucha House Party and has more than a little momentum going into this match. Akira Tozawa is arguably the dark horse in this match with very little momentum behind him I would love to see him pull out the surprise victory. This match will be fast paced and probably quite a short and sweet match that will see Murphy retain but, hopefully help raise the profile of 205 Live.
2. WWE United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura (C) Vs. Rusev: Nakamura has had a very uneven run in the past year or so. He has had the highs of competing in a WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania and turning heel in the process, after that he kind of floated about from feud to feud but, with Rusev he seems to have found a great match. Rusev, like Nakamura, has had a pretty uneven year but, with this championship match both competitors luck may change. This has been an interesting feud that reminds me a little bit of an Attitude Era story line due to the physical involvement and injury of Lana. This match should be a great back and fourth between two of the most under rated talents on Smackdown Live with a lot of hard hits and kicks. I really want to see this feud continue on into Wrestlemania season so I think Nakamura might pull out the win in devious fashion.
3. Smackdown Live Tag Team Championship: The Bar (C) Vs. The Miz And Shane McMahon: The story line involving The Miz and Shane McMahon has been a whole mess of weird from the get go and it doesn't seem to be letting up. The Bar have been pretty consistent over the past few months with some great matches with The New Day and The Usos. I have to feel that there are more deserving teams than The Miz and Shane McMahon in the tag team picture however, this is the match that is the only tag team match on the card. I have no idea what will happen in this match but, I have a creeping sensation there might be an upset victory for the Miz and McMahon.
4. Smackdown Live Women's Championship: Asuka (C) Vs. Becky Lynch: This match is arguably the more anticipated of the two Women's Championship matches on the card and why would it not be ? Becky Lynch has spent the past 6 months or so not only making a name for herself but women's wrestling in general, much to the disgust of many an old timer. Asuka has really been on the rise after a very mediocre second half of 2018 and it is more than deserved. This match should be one of if not the match of the night with match of the year prospects written all over it. conspicuous by her absence is Charlotte Flair and perhaps this is by design. I have a funny feeling she may be influential in the finish of this match and thus renewing the prospect of a triple threat match at Wrestlemania. I can't see Asuka losing her championship so early in her reign so for that reason look for her to win the match.
5. WWE Championship: Daniel Bryan (C) Vs. AJ Styles: What a difference a year can make. This time last year Daniel Bryan hadn't been medically cleared yet and was still the leader of the Yes Movement. Now the new Daniel Bryan is dishing out harsh truths as well as kicks. AJ Styles year long title reign came to a screeching halt at the end of last year and since then he and Bryan have had some incredible matches in amongst one of the better feuds on WWE TV right now. This will more than likely be the better of the two championship matches on the card and be a display that will further prove that both Styles and Bryan are two of the very best that the pro wrestling industry has seen. I can see the New Daniel Bryan finding another under handed way of retaining the WWE Championship and going into Wrestlemania the champion.
6. RAW Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey (C) Vs. Sasha Banks: I feel a little sorry for Ronda Rousey. She has come into the WWE with no real experience in the wrestling industry and has had some pretty decent matches. you can actually see her improving with every single match she has. The fans haven't been the kindest to her despite the fact she has less than a year under her belt. I feel it may be that her winning the championship so early in her career may be the reason but, I may be wrong. Sasha Banks has had a little bit of a middle of the road past year or so, spending most of it teaming with Bayley and having no championship matches for a year or so. This feud has been set up with neither really being a heel or a face, giving fans both a reason to boo and cheer. This should be an OK match but, I can't really see Ronda losing her championship before Wrestlemania and I can see Sasha and Bayley being credible contenders for the Women's Tag Team championship so for that reason I expect a Rousey win.
7. Universal Championship: Brock Lesnar (C) Vs. Finn Balor: Hey look Brock is here to compete ! I know I sound like a jaded keyboard warrior but, I can't be the only one tired of Lesnar showing up every so often to throw about anyone in his way, make everyone feel uncomfortable and then leave until the next big match. Finn Balor finally gets another punt at the Universal Championship he never lost nearly two years ago. It's a shame that it will more than likely be a one sided match seeing Lesnar retain with maybe a little Braun Strowman getting involved thrown in. Do I really need to tell you who's going to win ?
8. Women's Royal Rumble Match: Only the second women's Royal Rumble match and what a field there is this year. it would be easy to suggest that Charlotte Flair is the favourite to win and not a lot of people could argue that point but, it might be one of the over looked field that could pull of a surprise win. There are still 10 participants to be announced and you have to believe that a legend or two might show up to surprise everyone. I expect to see Trish Stratus and Lita make an appearance but, strangely absent from any promo for the match are The Bellas. I would love to see a former NXT star such as Nikki Cross or Lacey Evans have a good showing to bring focus onto them as they make their way on the main roster. Now to the winner and I think there might be a chance that if medically cleared to compete Alexa Bliss could grab the opportunity to headline Wrestlemania against Ronda Rousey.
9. Men's Royal Rumble Match: This year is the first year that I really can't think of someone that stands out as a clear winner and that is a good thing. There are, of course, feuds that could affect the match namely the feud between Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley who are all entered into the match but, Lio Rush has yet to be announced and could play a deciding factor in the sucess of Lashley during the match. Rey Mysterio and Andrade have had two great matches in two weeks and they could steal the show during the Rumble. The New Day could be a surprising factor on the match if their team work comes into play. There are 10 participants yet to be announced so, like the women's match, one of the unannounced could play an important part. I expect Lars Sullivan to finally make an appearance and really cause havoc during the match. The Big Show could be a worthy advisory of Sullivan and could play spoiler. As for a winner I have to think that it may be someone on the blue brand that will come out with the win to challenge Daniel Bryan. Who that person is I can't make up my mind. Jeff Hardy or Randy Orton seem to obvious and Mustafa Ali seems to unlikely but, I think one of these 3 might just surprise everyone.
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