Sunday will feature four championship matches. Thus far, six matches are set for the card. As always, these are just my predictions with no insider knowledge. Let’s get started with the first match:
Men’s Royal Rumble match (Entrants thus far: Daniel Bryan, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Otis, The Miz, Jey Uso, Cesaro, Jeff Hardy, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Dolph Ziggler, John Morrison, Sheamus, Mustafa Ali, Edge, 14 TBA)
I love the Royal Rumble. However, let's be real, this year’s lead-up to the match has been lackluster. Say what you will about Brock Lesnar being in the Rumble match last year, but it was a strong narrative that helped carry the 1st half of the match and it created a star in the process. There’s just no hook for this year’s bout. I missed the intricate stories that went into these matches.
Still, that doesn’t mean that the RR match will be bad. You can still tell several stories throughout the match that could actually lead to WrestleMania. In terms of who might actually win the RR bout, it's between Daniel Bryan, Big E, and Sheamus. My dark horse picks are Damian Priest, Karrion Kross, and Goldberg.
Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns pretty much writes itself and I think now is the perfect time to pull the trigger on this feud.
WWE has been building towards Sheamus vs. Drew McIntyre as well. This feud could actually be reminiscent of the Eddie Guerrero/Rey Mysterio feud in 2005 (minus the Dominick stuff) where Sheamus snaps after a couple of losses to his friend. Whether Sheamus wins the belt or not is still up in the air, but I can see creative possibly going in this direction.
In terms of Big E, he’s really the only face that sticks out as a possible winner. There have been hints of a Reigns/Big E feud due to the Intercontinental Champ’s run-ins with Paul Heyman on Talking Smack. WWE desperately NEEDS stars and I can easily see Big E going to the next level if the company truly believes in him.
Speaking of stars, that’s why my dark horse picks are Karrion Kross and Damain Priest. I can see Vince strapping a rocket to both men for two reasons: A) They’re big, sweaty men B) They have a good look and can cut a promo. Priest is more likely than Kross as there’s still more for the former NXT Champion to do in NXT; however, Kross isn’t tied to any feuds down in the black-and-gold brand so it wouldn’t be a stretch for him to be called up.
This leads to my third dark horse pick: Goldberg. Look, we shouldn’t forget about the potential Goldberg vs. Roman Reigns match. The build somewhat picked up earlier this year on “The Bump” and with 14 unknown names still missing, the WWE Hall of Famer can lose to Drew McIntyre and still enter the Rumble and face Reigns as “The Tribal Chief” will NOT lose the belt before WrestleMania. I hope the company doesn’t entertain this route, but there’s no denying that a Goldberg vs. Reigns match is likely happening at some point.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
Dark Horse pick: Goldberg
Women’s Royal Rumble match (Entrants: Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Bayley, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, Peyton Royce, Alexa Bliss, Shayna Baszler, Tamina, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, 18 TBA).
To me, it all boils down to either Bianca Belair or Rhea Ripley. Like the men’s RR match, I’m not exactly confident with my pick. However, Mandy Rose, Dana Brooke, Peyton Royce, Liv Morgan, and Ruby Riott are all in tag teams. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler are destined to break up soon; however, I don’t see the latter getting a singles push shortly. As for Jax, she’s had her WrestleMania moment. Same thing with Flair, though let's never count her out in terms of winning the RR again.
Bayley is coming off a long title reign. Tamina is essentially a gatekeeper at this point. Bliss is likely beating Asuka for the title before Mania. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bliss vs. Flair was the RAW Women’s title match for Mania. That leaves Belair and Ripley (who hasn’t been announced but has been written off NXT television).
Officials seem to like Belair as she’s been getting a mini-push on Smackdown and Belair vs. Banks is an attractive match-up on paper, though Belair is better suited as a heel so hopefully she turns. Carmella vs. Belair is also possible, but I do believe that Banks is keeping the title until Mania. Rhea Ripley is a STAR (and so is Belair), whose momentum was cut because of WWE’s overprotective booking of Charlotte.
While Flair vs. Ripley II makes more sense, the company can still give Ripley the win and have her go over strong against either Asuka or Bliss (or whoever walks into Mania with the belt). Flair/Ripley II can still happen at Summerslam and the story already writes itself.
WWE needs a new face of the women’s division as the roster took a hit when Flair, Lynch, and Rousey left throughout the year. While Bayley and Sasha did an excellent job on the Smackdown side, Asuka’s reign has been forgettable because creative doesn’t seem too interested in booking “The Empress of Tomorrow” in compelling feuds. Ripley or Belair can easily be the fresh faces that the company needs, though it’s still up to creative to book these women properly.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Dark Horse pick: Rhea Ripley
WWE Championship match: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Goldberg
This should be an easy one, right? Drew McIntyre wins. However, there are too many variables involved to simply come to that conclusion. Let's address the Miz situation. It's fishy right now. I originally felt that he was NEVER winning the title. But then, the company comes up with some bullshit to give the briefcase back to Miz. Let’s get something straight, THE MIZ IS NOT GOING TO WRESTLEMANIA AS WWE CHAMPION!
However, it is not impossible for Mr. Money in the Bank to capture the WWE Title at the RR. The company could have the Miz attack McIntyre before his match against Goldberg and successfully cash-in. Then, The Miz will be forced to defend the belt against Goldberg and he’ll drop the belt in seconds. Remember, Goldberg vs. Reigns is likely happening at some point and a title vs. title match is appealing to the masses.
Honestly, that’s the best scenario I have for the Miz winning the belt on Sunday. It’s also possible that he adds himself to the WWE Championship match and makes it a three-way. Goldberg or McIntyre could pin the Miz. This way protects either Goldberg or McIntyre from taking a clean loss. There’s also the possibility that Drew McIntyre straight up wins and Miz does nothing. Same thing for Goldberg.
Here’s the thing, Goldberg vs. Reigns keeps running through the mind. Reigns can also cost Goldberg the championship match, perhaps in a way that Goldberg did to Brock Lesnar at No Way Out 2004. That trash talk from Goldberg last month has to mean something, right? I don’t see a title unification match just yet, but I don’t see a clean victory here either.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match
I’m not going to waste too much time on this as I pretty much gave away my answer during the men’s Royal Rumble pick. Roman Reigns wins. And that’s for eternity (or at least until WrestleMania).
Winner: Roman Reigns
WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks (c) vs. Carmella
Another tricky match. Officials are clearly high on Carmella; however, taking the title off of Banks this early is a mistake. Banks may not be 2018 Becky Lynch hot, but she’s still at the peak of her career thanks to her 2020 work and The Mandalorian. Plus, Banks is far more likely to have stronger matches than Carmella. Banks vs. Belair is my Mania pick for the Smackdown Women’s title match, so my choice is…
Winner: Sasha Banks
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Asuka and Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
Jax and Baszler are breaking up soon as they’ve been teasing dissension between the two. I don’t know who emerges face or heel in their upcoming feud, but I do know that they’re likely not walking out of the Royal Rumble as the new tag champs.
Winner: Asuka and Charlotte Flair
That’s it! Thanks for reading and feel free to put your predictions in the comment section.