The Royal Rumble is this weekend, so it is indeed time for us to provide you with our predictions. Curious who we think will take the grand prize? Check out the forecasts from Hunter, Katie, and Sandra below. Who will get most right this time?
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan vs. Sheamus & Cesaro (The Bar) for the Raw Tag Team Championship
Hunter: I DISAGREE WITH EVERYONE. It seems to me that Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins will wrestle at Mania this year. Meaning something has to happen to facilitate their losing of the titles. Hence, the Bar gets a victory. Or maybe Jordan is wrestling Kurt Angle? Either way, they can’t have the tag straps on them for that to happen. The Bar seems to be starting a feud with Titus Worldwide, so that sounds like a logical step.
Katie: I love Jason Jordan’s comically obtuse act, and Seth Rollins is doing an equally great job playing Jordan’s frustrated mentor. It’s way too soon to take the tag titles from them yet, so expect Jordan and Rollins to pick up the “W.”
Sandra: I do not see Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins losing the title since the WWE seems to have their heart set at building Jordan at this point. Also, Seth needs something to do in the tag team division while Dean Ambrose is hurt. Therefore, I think the win will go to Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan, but this rivalry is far from over.
The Usos vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship (2-out-of-3-Falls Match)
Hunter: Chad Gable is a rising star, and Shelton is already a big name. I think they can win the championship here, making Gable the first to win the Smackdown tag crown with two different partners.
Katie: If this weren’t a 2-out-of-3 falls match I’d be more inclined to give Benjamin and Gable the win. But, it doesn’t look like WWE is interested in taking the tag titles from the Usos anytime soon, and this match stipulation will allow Benjamin and Gable to still look strong while losing.
Sandra: While it would be ridiculous to do so, I fear Gable and Benjamin may take the titles. The WWE is trying to get Benjamin and Gable over, so getting a push with the SmackDown tag team titles might be their way of doing that. One of the Usos was arrested for D.U.I recently as well, so there might be some consequences for that. Still, if I had a say, I would leave the Usos with the title, because they have been doing wonders with it.
AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship (2-on-1 Handicap Match)
Hunter: AJ wins here but whether or not Sami and Kevin “break up” is another story. They won’t be out of the title picture quite yet. On paper, this match could get messy. I hope the three live up to their potential here and put on a solid showing
Katie: Remember when Michelle McCool and Layla were co-Women’s Champion? It was a dumb idea then, and making Owens and Zayn (or “Kami,” as AJ calls them) co-WWE Champion would be an even dumber idea now. Styles retains.
Sandra: I do not think Styles will lose the championship this close to WrestleMania. So, AJ Styles will retain. Plain and simple.
Brock Lesnar vs. Kane vs. Braun Strowman for the Universal Championship
Hunter: Somehow Kane and Brock team-up to bury Braun under the rubble of a collapsed building and Lesnar beats the Demon to continue onto Mania.
Katie: As much as I would love to see Strowman as Universal Champion, rumor is he’ll be fighting for another title at WrestleMania. And there’s no way Kane wins this match, so that means Lesnar retains.
Sandra: I’m not even going to try any more until WrestleMania. We all know it, Brock Lesnar will retain and bore us for another couple of week.
Women’s Royal Rumble
Hunter: The odds-on favorites are Nia Jax and Asuka. I would say it would come down to the two of them. Asuka has lost a battle royal before in NXT, to Carmella of all people. I don’t think Ronda is showing up. And if she is, then it would make sense for her to be eliminated by Stephanie, who will be ringside on commentary. Nia, Asuka, or maybe Becky Lynch.
Katie: If Ronda Rousey debuts and wins this incredibly historic match that she’s had no part in making happen I will riot. No, no, just no. However, while Asuka is undoubtedly the (deserving) favorite to win, I’m going to make the bold prediction that Nia Jax wins the first ever women’s Royal Rumble match. WWE has been trying to push Nia for some time, but circumstances keep getting in the way. Plus, Asuka’s undefeated streak will technically remain intact if she’s eliminated, and a win for Nia would put her on a collision course with her BFF, Alexa Bliss.
Sandra: Even though many people believe Asuka will win this, I’m going wild on this one and predicting someone will win that is not even on the roster yet – Ronda Rousey. It’s the perfect time for her to come in, so why not? Technically it would not break Asuka’s undefeated streak either, so it is possible.
Men’s Royal Rumble
Hunter: This is the most open, unpredictable match of the night. The last two years in a row, we’ve gone into the Rumble completely unsure who is going to win. Gamblers seem to think Nakamura is the favorite, followed by Reigns, Cena, and funny enough, Daniel Bryan. I don’t think Bryan will be in the Rumble, as he has yet to be medically cleared by WWE. As for Roman, winning in Philly again would cause an actual riot. Nakamura winning would be huge and set-up a match for him at Mania against AJ Styles (be still my heat). Since Raw has the Elimination Chamber before Mania, the thought is that someone from Smackdown will win. Cena is a “free agent” so he’s in the mix too. Some people think Dolph Ziggler will make a surprise return and win, which fans would love. However, Dolph Ziggler’s been fantasy booked more than Harry Potter, so don’t hold your breath.
Katie: It only seems fair that, since I’m predicting a Raw roster win for the women’s Royal Rumble match, someone from SmackDown should win the men’s competition. And because I want Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles at WrestleMania so bad it hurts, I’m saying Nakamura wins. Reigns is on a collision course with Lesnar no matter what – he doesn’t need the Rumble win to justify that. So give us something interesting, WWE. Please.
Sandra: Once again, I’m going wild with this one. People are calling Shinsuke Nakamura, but I have two people who are more likely to win. The first is Roman Reigns, who is set to take the title from Brock Lesnar; this was planned more than a year ago! Of course, there is another option, Daniel Bryan, who is said to be talking with management about an appearance in the Royal Rumble. So, I believe either Roman Reigns or Daniel Bryan is taking that win.
What are your Rumble predictions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.