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.
7. Shinsuke Nakamura
If it wasn’t for the story-altering gauntlet match seen on SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura wouldn’t be on this list. However, WWE has proven how comfortable pushing stars can be if they relax a little.
The company has turned Nakamura into a star once again, as he had been in a limbo tag team with Cesaro for a while now. Another underappreciated star by the way!
Nakamura was lightning in a bottle during this SmackDown main event, determining who would face Roman Reigns at the Rumble pay-per-view.
The match was finally won by “Not an authority figure” Adam Pearce, due to involvement from Reigns and Uso, but if he didn’t swerve the curve, Nakamura was the last man standing in this fight.
Nakamura eliminated Mysterio, Corbin and surprisingly, Daniel Bryan, before being knocked off the podium by the ‘Head of the Table’. Another Rumble win for Nakamura would relight the fire that is sorely desired.
Previously, Shinsuke Nakamura won the Rumble match in 2018, gaining the opportunity to have a dream match with AJ Styles.
The ‘Phenomenal One’ retained, which resulted in the low-blow from Nakamura, turning heel in the process.
Nakamura’s babyface turn has seemingly been confirmed through the return of his original theme song without lyrics.
6. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
As frustrating as it is, “The Fiend” is never far away from entering the WWE Title picture.
Obviously, the fans look at it sourly as we all understand a title win will result in a title loss. Losing is something we want to rarely see the Fiend do. But WWE views him as a main event star, and therefore, he must be feuding for a title.
So, it won’t be a shocker if “The Fiend” returns from hell during the Royal Rumble and wins the whole thing.
Maybe Orton will win the WWE Championship at the Elimination Chamber event and we can get Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania in a reverse situation from their ‘Grandest Stage of Them All” encounter a few years back.
Let’s pray that doesn’t happen but it is an option. If Wyatt does emerge at the Rumble and wins, a rivalry with McIntyre would be a thrilling classic worthy of a ‘Mania spot.
McIntyre is one of those guys that can build a tense story while remaining brave, and therefore, a feud between the two would be interesting.
5. Goldberg
If this was a list of stars that fans would love to win, then Mr. Bill Goldberg would most certainly be at the very bottom.
However, this is a list of potential winners and the former Universal Champion is highly likely as the booking odds have kept him near the top for some time.
This would be a truly underwhelming experience for many reasons.
Goldberg was revealed on RAW Legends Night to be challenging Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble for the WWE Championship.
With McIntyre next, it is surely possible that Goldberg could win the championship on the show.
However, if he does suffer defeat, a win in the Rumble would definitely have fans booing explosively. Even WWE’s editing team can’t stop the Thunderdome.
With McIntyre going the distance last year, eliminating Brock Lesnar, and going on to win the championship twice, it is a fantastic example that this annual stipulation can elevate wrestlers to the top of their game. Unfortunately, Goldberg winning would take away the glory from a current star.
There is no doubt a rematch between Goldberg and the ‘Scottish Psychopath’, or the match that is a year late, Goldberg vs Roman Reigns, would keep the fans anticipating the ‘Mania result.
Despite this, legends only provide one-off rating bumps and don’t give any reasons to continue tuning in.
Therefore, having Goldberg win the Rumble is not a good idea, but is certainly a WWE idea that is highly possible.
4. Brock Lesnar
Could we get the rematch of Lesnar vs. McIntyre exactly a year later? If ‘The Beast’ wins the Royal Rumble match this could be a reality.
Brock Lesnar hasn’t been seen since last year’s WrestleMania, which is roughly when his contract expired. Since then, McIntyre has elevated the WWE Championship having it appear impressively on each show
Additionally, Lesnar’s advocate, Paul Heyman, has started working alongside Roman Reigns in one of WWE’s most dynamic pairings for some time. Surely, Lesnar coming to blows with the ‘Tribal Chief’ in a story about who Heyman will side with would be increasingly engaging.
With Lesnar being more absent than usual lately, it has fans curious if he will be making his huge return twisting the 30-man battle royale into Suplex City.
Furthermore, he is a huge draw for the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’. Not missing a single WrestleMania since 2013, it would be mind-blowing if Lesnar is nowhere near the show’s top storylines.
3. Keith Lee
What can you say apart from Keith Lee winning the 2021 Royal Rumble would be… limitless.
Keith Lee had quite the 2020 compared to other NXT call-ups.
Yes, he had an awful theme song at the start. Yes, he was forced to wear a top to cover his non-typical-WWE body. Oh dammit, yes, he barely gets sweet victories. However, Lee has never shied away from the main event scene of Raw.
He made his ultimate debut by squeezing himself in the middle of the never-ending McIntyre vs Orton title feud. Even garnishing an impactful victory over ‘The Viper’ at WWE Payback.
More recently, he faced McIntyre for the WWE Championship on the first Raw of the new year, in a losing effort. This match merely teased what could’ve been if they had a pay-per-view calibre match.
Keith Lee could certainly be the Drew McIntyre of this year. The fans are behind him but he is stuck in limbo, just like the current WWE Champion at this time last year.
If Lee wins the Rumble, he’d get a huge match at WrestleMania that many fans believe he deserves.
2. Big E
Big E is ready for a ‘big’ year by the looks of things, and what a way to kick that off with a Rumble victory, especially with the Intercontinental Championship around his broad shoulders.
Challenging Roman Reigns would remind fans of the great Hulk Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior story from WrestleMania VI.
Big E can be very entertaining and goofy but with the flick of a switch, can turn into a serious heavyweight ready to give it his all. Big E’s singles run has been excellent, to say the least.
Moreover, Big E is the type of wrestler I can imagine knocking Roman Reigns off from his platinum high-horse.
He is an epic face to represent SmackDown, and with two belts post-Mania, we would certainly be ushering in a ‘New Day’.
1. Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan’s momentum hasn’t been shifting recently, with his pushes being very stop-start. He has even said in person that he thinks he has “lost his step” as a wrestler.
That is highly likely because he has had time off to spend with his new son, and has been moving into a more backstage role as part of WWE’s creative team.
Bryan is even said to be behind Nakamura’s face turn on SmackDown, emphasising this by putting him over in the gauntlet.
Nevertheless, Bryan has never won the Royal Rumble match before in his career. With his legendary time on the WWE roster rapidly reaching its conclusion, there is only so long WWE can wait before giving him another moment of a lifetime.
Previously, we cheered Daniel Bryan to the moon at Royal Rumble 2014, which saw the disappointing victory of Batista. The uproar managed to give us the wholesome Bryan moment that close WrestleMania 30.
It may be seen as long overdue, but better late than never. Furthermore, Daniel Bryan has been slightly involved in the Reigns storyline being at the forefront of the Jey Uso beatdown which led to Uso’s heel turn.
This would’ve led many to believe Bryan vs Reigns would be about to begin. Instead, Reigns started a feud with Kevin Owens and Bryan has been either in tag matches with Otis or on the sidelines.
This Rumble match would be the best method to reignite the ‘Yes’ chants and put Daniel Bryan back in our point of focus for at least one more time.
Moreover, a match with the ‘Head of the Table’ at WrestleMania 37 would be truly incredible.
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