HELLOOOOOOOOOO to all of the fine people out there!
I've been working on this for a couple of days now, coinciding with Wrestle Rumble's Predictions, so without further ado, The Smark Shooter will guide you through the first WWE PPV of the year, the Royal Rumble!!!!!!!!
The Rumble, for those who are unaware or forgetful, is one of WWE's Big 4 PPVs. Centered around the elimination match for which the PPV is named, the Royal Rumble is the first big step in the journey to WWE's answer to the World Series, Champions Cup, and Super Bowl: Wrestlemania!
Personally, I'm very excited for this event and am really looking forward to the card. The only warning I'm going to give you. This WILL be biased and I'm not holding back on the preview and my predictions.
Let's get you people locked and loaded then:
Pre-Show Match: Royal Rumble Qualifier-Tag team Fatal Four way
The opening match for the evening is a precursor to the main event, with 8 guys pairing off into groups of two hoping to win this match in order to qualify for the Royal Rumble Match. (I'll explain the RR match when I preview it at the end.)
Here are the teams that will be fighting for two coveted spots in the Rumble.
Young/Sandow vs. The Ascension vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Swagger/Henry
Team 1:Damien Sandow and Darren Young: These two are not normally tag team partners. Sandow
has been essentially dormant for the past year since splitting away from The Miz (The real world's Mike Mizanin), whereas Darren Young has normally tagged with Rumble qualifier Titus O'Neill. While the fans would be ecstatic with a Sandow appearance, I highly doubt that this team is going to win. In fact, they would be the least likely team to make it, considering the other 3 teams at least have teamed once or twice in the past.
Team 2: The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor). These two are post apocalyptic dudes (originally they were more vampiric in WWE's Developmental system, NxT) that on the main roster, are the biggest flop in terms of their performance on the main roster compared to their work prior to being called up. Viktor's still a pretty good wrestler, and I've grown to like Konnor a little more than normal. That being said, them making the match is as unlikely as John Cena losing a match clean. It does happen, but it would be extremely rare. Quick Shot Note: The lone positive about the Ascension? They're "Technically" undefeated at the Rumble, so they can lean on that confidence if they make it in. I expect either them or team 1 to take the pin.
Team 3: The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von). The most decorated Tag Team in the WWE today. 23 time World Tag Team Champions (9 time WWE Tag Team champions to go along with their WCW, ECW, and TNA tag team titles), and the team that loves putting wrestlers through tables. Last year, Bubba Ray Dudley made his own return entering at #3 and eliminating R-Truth and the Miz. As crazy as Bubba Ray or D-Von winning would be.......they'll be lucky to win this match, let alone do decent in the main event. Honestly there's only 1 logical choice.
Final Team: "The World Strongest Man" Mark Henry and the "Real American" Jack Swagger.
Yes, Sandow is the most popular person in this cluster of forgotten wrestlers. Yes, The Ascension have developed as a tag team longer than Henry and Swagger. Yes, Henry and Swagger doesn't make sense as a team. And of course, The Dudleyz are the better team. However, with the stakes on the line at the Rumble (which will be covered there), Henry's age, and the fact that Swagger just came off of a semi-relevant feud with a good PPV match, this team is most likely going to win. Henry's on his last legs, even stating it on WWE's youtube page and winning a few matches with other projected rumble entrants. The only real question is does Henry qualify his team with "The World Strongest Slam" or does Swagger break someone's ankle with the "Patriot Lock"?
Winners and qualify for the rumble: Mark Henry and Jack Swagger
Main Card:
Match 1 WWE Tag Team Championships
The New Day(Kofi Kingston and Big E w/Xavier Woods) (c) vs. The Usos(Jimmy and Jey Uso)
There has been no act that has become more popular than The New Day, consisting of Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E. Essentially the trio is a positive group of unicorns (it's pro wrestling, what did you expect, something serious?)Ridiculous antics such as trombone playing and booty shaking aside, the obnoxious threesome have had a stranglehold on the Tag Titles since Summerslam back in August. It should have ended with a Slammy award for Tag Team of the year. Sadly, that went to their opponents for Sunday.
The Usos in 2014 were honestly the most popular team on the roster. The Samoan twins from the famous Anoa'i wrestling family were a bit depleted in 2015 with Jey Uso down via injury caused by The New Day at Wrestlemania last year. They still won Tag Team of the year in 2015 (because little kids don't know any better) and have all the momentum in the world going into this match.
All signs are pointing to the Usos to win. A huge win over the New Day (with the help of Chris Jericho breaking Xavier's Trombone) combined with a 6- man tag team victory with Dolph Ziggler on Thursday night.
I'm going to be a little different here. The New Day will definitely lose....but by disqualification. The Usos will eventually get the titles back, but I expect that moment to be at Wrestlemania.
Winners: The Usos via DQ. Still Champions: The New Day
Match 2: United States Championship Match
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Kalisto
Alberto Del Rio had a huge return to WWE, beating John Cena (CLEAN MIND YOU) for the US title.....and has done little to nothing with it. While being apart of The League of Nations doesn't hurt, it does put him in the background, especially since he isn't even the leader (yet he's the only one with a title in the group).
Kalisto has been a hot commodity since TLC. He won a Slammy for the OMG moment of the year, he had a cup of coffee with the US title before being cheated out of it and has an opportunity to regain it right back.
Normally, I'm not all for playing Hot Potato with any title. But keeping the title on Del Rio will basically ruin the work and prestige John Cena put into all the title defenses and making it relevant again. I can definitely see Del Rio retaining the title with help from any of his stablemates;King Barrett and Rusev, with Kalisto screwing over Del Rio during the Rumble later on. I can also see Kalisto winning the title back and giving the diminutive dynamo a true opportunity to create some new buzz with the championship.
I think the most likely scenario is a definitive (but not clean) pinfall victory for Del Rio. Kalisto, while is getting really popular, needs a little more time for a more meaningful victory over someone better than Del Rio.
Del Rio retains via Double Stomp.
Match 3:Intercontinental Championship in a Last Man Standing Match
Dean Ambrose(c) vs. Kevin Owens
I'm going to say it here, this will be the best male match of the night. Ambrose and Owens are brawlers perfectly fit for a match with this type of magnitude and chaos. In a Last Man Standing match, the object is to beat your opponent senseless until they are unable to answer a 10-count from the referee. Both wrestlers are former Combat Zone Wrestling alumni (the indy's answer to deathmatch wrestling), so they know exactly how to inflict inhumane amounts of damage. Expect tables, and chairs, and kendo sticks and fights in the crowd.
To be perfectly honest, it's not even a matter of who wins, because both should have big plans for their respective Wrestlemania appearances. The only question is after this match, are they going to be ready for the Royal Rumble, or will they be too beat up to participate...thus leaving two more spots up for grabs.
Dean Ambrose retains.
Match 4 and most likely semi-main event: Divas Championship
Charlotte (c)w/Ric Flair vs. Becky Lynch
So that comment I made in the last match? This is why. Charlotte and Becky are going to steal the show, calling it now. Of all the matches that aren't the rumble, this without a doubt has received the best build and the best story. Former best friends separated by a title and an overbearing father, with revenge and glory and pride on the line alongside the Divas Championship.
Best case scenario and my prediction. Lynch wins the title....whether it's clean or not does not matter. The feud continues one on one through Fastlane, then when Sasha Banks becomes healthy, the three horsewomen (and I guess possibly Paige, Nikki Bella, and/or Natalya or Naomi) can steal the show at Wrestlemania.
Becky Lynch Wins the Title.
Main Event: THE ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH!
The reason why this PPV is considered a Big 4 PPV is because of this match and the implications behind it. The concept is fun:
Have 30 wrestlers participate in the match.
Start with 2 at the beginning and every 90 seconds send another person to the ring.
If you're thrown over the top rope and BOTH feet hit the floor (not hands, not elbows, not knees, not thyroids, not esophaguses, etc. FEET), then you're out of the match.
Think of this like don't touch the lava. Once you enter, the floor's lava.
The last person standing after all 30 participants have entered wins the match and is guaranteed a spot in the main event at Wrestlemania (there have been a few exceptions to this....because John Cena sucks but I digress).
Normally, this is for a no. 1 contendership for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. This year is a bit different.
In the current batch of storylines, Vince McMahon has ordered Roman Reigns, the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, to defend the title in this match.
If he's eliminated, regardless of if all 30 have entered already or not, he loses the title and the last person standing enters Wrestlemania as the Champion.
Current Favorites:
WWE WHC Roman Reigns
Brock Lesnar
Triple H (possibly. Not official but would make sense in the rumble)
Bray Wyatt
(Depending on health clearances and contracts: Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles)
This is the most unpredictable match (with the exception of the last 3 years) because even the people who aren't favored usually have a good showing, or even a tease at winning.
In the past, people who've entered at 27 and 24 have had the most luck: #27 has produced 4 winners and 24 has produced 3 winners.
Numbers who have produced 2 winners include 30, 29, 28, 22, 19, 2, and 1
Other winning numbers are 3, 5, 8, 13, 18, 23, 25, and (there was 1 40 man version) 38.
As unoriginal as this prediction is going to be (and note this, this is 1 of there I'm doing for the Wrestle Rumble contest), I'm going to say that Bray Wyatt will win the Rumble. Reigns will have his main event feud in some form, and I feel like it's only fitting that the final roadblock is someone who continually claims...."Anyone But Roman." Plus, with Reigns starting at No. 1 and with the reaction he got last year when he won, a repeat victory is going to ruin his momentum as a good guy that he FINALLY found after trying all of 2015 to obtain.
Plus, Bray is due. As for his number......I've never been right about this part so honestly based off of poorly calculated data and horrific guessing skills, I'll say Wyatt will win in the 26th spot.
No one has won from 21 and by the time Wyatt enters, he should have the rest of the Wyatt family with him. Even if one or two are eliminated via Reigns or Brock Lesnar, Wyatt should be able to pick up the pieces.
Those are my picks and I'm sticking to them...(though I expected to be wrong....Very Wrong)
When in Doubt, Watch Wrestling.
! Oh, and follow me on twitter @TheSmarkShooter.
Thanks for reading guys!
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