WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2018
PREDICTIONS
It's that time of the year again In the WWE, the road to Wrestlemania starts tonight at the 2018 Royal Rumble which will be in the vocal city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
My hype for this year's Royal Rumble is just not as high as it has been in other years, and it's probably down to the fact that the WWE have not created any hype or major intrigue going into the Men's Royal Rumble match itself (let's face it, it's the main reason that we are tuning in for). We should have gotten some Royal Rumble Qualification matches to cement a few superstars on the roster as sure fire entrants for the upcoming Rumble, backstage segments with superstars staking their claim as to why they will win this year's Royal Rumble and go on to main event Wrestlemania and even a qualification match featuring legends for a spot in the Rumble match.
But we literally got nothing the attention was all on the nostalgia of Raw and not the upcoming PPV. You really can't be blamed if you had no idea that their was a Royal Rumble PPV this Sunday.
Looking at the roster that we have in WWE in 2018, I don't know who I want to really root for, there isn't any major star on the rise who would benefit majorly from a Royal Rumble win and going on to main event Wrestlmania 34, and to me that's a problem.
According to sources Shinsuke Nakamura (left) and Roman Reigns (Right) are the two top favourites to win the 2018 Royal Rumble, with Shinsuke Nakamura the No.1 pick to win and Roman Reigns as the No.2 pick to win
The very underwhelming 25th Anniversary of Raw also did intrigue and hype going into this PPV no favours as it was a huge opportunity to create segments around 'Who Will Win The 2018 (men's) Royal Rumble Match and tease the possibility of legends entering the fray.
But it's really a double sided coin because not knowing who to root for does make for a unpredictable situation and unpredictability is ALWAYS a good thing because it genuinely keeps you tuned in (and not wanting to take a nap)
However it will be very interesting to see the new dynamic of having the first ever Women's Royal Rumble match as it is very important that the women participants knock this one out of the park and it doesn't just become a blink and you'll miss it affair when it comes to eliminations and the length of the match which WWE have been guilty of doing with the women's roster for years upon years now, the Women's Royal Rumble match needs to be on par or slightly on par with the Men's one.
The first ever Women's WWE Royal Rumble needs to deliver on the hype that it has been building and give us the same excitement and thrills that the Men's Royal Rumble match has given us over the years, which means a well booked and paced out over the top rope showcase
And speaking of the Women's Royal Rumble match, it would be great to see some female legends jump into the fray as well, and it would also be great to see some women that are free agents such as an Angelina Love or a Velvet Sky make a fantasy appearance in a WWE ring for the first time.
Let's not also forget those rumours of the former UFC Women's Division badass Ronda Rousey (above) making an appearance in the Women's Royal Rumble match tonight, which is very much a given to happen
As for the two World Title matches that we have on the card, I am more intrigued for one over the other as I feel one of those matches are just a formality as to who will walk out with the championship.
The WWE Championship match is the bout that interests me the most out of both defenses as we have the interesting dynamic of AJ Styles having to defend his championship in a handicap match against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn which leaves a lot of potential to be setup around the WWE Championship going forward which I will get to in my predicitons in a little while.
It will be very interesting to see how AJ Styles (right) will handle the task of having to defend the WWE Championship against a very hungry pairing of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (left), but could either Owens or Zayn winning the WWE Championship cause friction between the pair?
The WWE Universal Championship bout however does not really stand out to me or have 'must see' written all over it, despite me being a huge fan with Braun Strowman and how he has been booked as the top monster (not named Brock Lesnar) in the WWE as a character like his is very much needed to fill a huge void that both Kane and Big Show will leave when they retire.
A Monster's Ball: Three monsters among men Brock Lesnar (left), Kane (middle) and Braun Strowman (right) will duke it out for the WWE Universal Championship, but it may just be a formality of who will walk away from the battle as THE monster in WWE
The dynamic between these three monsters has run it's course in my opinion and to me their bout for the Universal Championship has the most obvious outcome out of all matches on the card, hopefully the chaos that Brock, Strowman and Kane should cause in the match should make for a thrill ride.
Now without further ado let's get into how I think matches on the card will play out on what should be a decent Royal Rumble event:
Six Man Tag Team Match:
Kalisto, Lince Doraldo and Gran Mtalik vs TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher and Drew Gulak
Will the team of unified Luchadors get the win or will ego driven team of TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher and Drew Gulak (right) back up their confidence?
The Kickoff show will be featuring a Cruiserweight showcase six man tag team showcase which is always a good way to start a PPV as we are sure to get fast paced acrobatic action to hype up the crowd.
The Kickoff show will be featuring a Cruiserweight showcase six man tag team showcase which is always a good way to start a PPV as we are sure to get fast paced acrobatic action to hype up the crowd.
I am not a big follower of WWE's 205 live and tend to miss it most weeks than I do watching it, but it is still good to see that the WWE are still doing everything in their power to keep the division running even with the many setbacks that seem to keep coming it's way with the latest casualty being the recent fiasco of the then reigning Cruiserweight Champion Enzo Amore being fired resulting in a planned title defense between him and Cedric Alexander being cancelled at this event.
It's a massive blow to the Cruiserweight division as Enzo Amore's larger than life character was really injecting much needed life into the division as a whole and made it something you had to pay attention to.
Where WWE go with the Cruiserweight division now is beyond me.
As for this match, I expect a very fun little opener as we have a three team full of masked luchadors in Kalisto, Lince Doraldo and Gran Mtalik, which I believe is a first in WWE taking three of the Cruiserweight division's most cocky and arrogant members of TJP, Gentleman Jack & Drew Gulak which can make for great in ring chemistry.
The ingredients are all here for something to keep you in your seat as you start to dig into that bag of potato chips.
What Will Happen: Kalisto, Lince Doraldo and Gran Mtalik will defeat TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher and Drew Gulak.
What I Want To Happen: Same as above.
Tag Team Match:
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
In what is set to be another Kickoff showcase for the PPV, we have a interesting Tag Team match between two rough and rugged teams, which could easily provide a smash mouthed in ring affair that could prove to be another strong taster match in what is looking like a strong Kickoff PPV card
I'm not the strongest fan of either of these teams as I feel they both could be booked a lot stronger as the badass rough and tough teams of the WWE Raw tag team division.
Whoever wins this bout should be able to make their claim to be the next in line to challenge for the WWE Raw tag team championships.
I must say this one is a hard one to call as i think both of these teams need a win and momentum going forward in the Raw tag team division.
What Will Happen: Luke Gallows & Carl Anderson will defeat The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
What I Want To Happen: Same as above.
Open Challenge WWE United States Championship Match:
Bobby Roode(c) vs TBD
Who will step up to the plate to take on a fresh and hungry United States Champion Bobby Roode? (above)
I've got to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of the decision to put the United States Championship on Bobby Roode as I felt that Jinder Mahal would of been the perfect fit to reign as heel United States Champion under his gimmick.
But nether the less I am a Bobby Roode fan and have been since his early days in TNA and it's good to see him win his first main roster championship.
The intrigue here of course is the dynamic of a open challenge United States Championship defence which means literally anyone can step up and see if they can cut Bobby Roode's championship reign short.
As to who it will be? I just have a gut feeling it will be...... Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler has been away from the WWE for a while now after relinquishing the United States Championship on 'his terms', Ziggler has most likely been at home watching Bobby Roode triumph in the United States Championship tournament and is now hungry to take on a 'credible' opponent in Bobby Roode to prove that he is the 'best at what he does'.
This match should be the icing on the cake of what could be the strongest kickoff show for a PPV there has been in a very long time.
What Will Happen: Bobby Roode will retain his United States championship via a Dolph Ziggler disqualification.
What I Want To Happen: Dolph Ziggler defeats Bobby Rood to once again become the WWE United States Champion.
2018 Women's Royal Rumble Match:
Which woman will make history by becoming the first ever WWE Women's Royal Rumble winner?
So here we have it, the first ever WWE Women's Royal Rumble match, and I must say this is perhaps the most intriguing match on the card as this will be the proving ground for if a Women's Royal Rumble match can be just as much of a spectacle as the Men's Royal Rumble match.
This match will most definitely need to hit it out of the park as we have seen the WWE on countless occasions over the years refuse to book a nicely paced over the rope contest between women.
I want to see a highly competitive match with all the surprises, thrills, bells and whistles that the Men's Royal Rumble match has given us on a daily basis.
This should prove to be very fun and edge of your seat stuff.
What Will Happen: Asuka will win 2018 WWE Women's Royal Rumble match.
What I Want To Happen: Same as above.
WWE Raw Tag Team Championship Match:
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan(c) vs Cesaro & Sheamus
Will Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (left) be able to stay on the same page and successfully defend their Raw Tag Team Championships against a dangerous team up of Cesaro & Sheamus? (right)
There is something interesting in the air going into this WWE Raw Tag Team Championship match tonight, and it's that of one particular Jason Jordan as seen on RAW 25 this past monday the Manhattan crowd really let Jason Jordan have it with a nuclear rain of boos, which is the biggest reaction that Jason Jordan has gotten in the company which tells me that the seeds are starting to grow on the much needed Jason Jordan heel turn, also add in the accidental Seth Rollins flying elbow meant for Sheamus that ended up hitting Jordan on Christian's special edition of the Peep Show segment, the signs are most definitely there for dissolution and miscommunication between the odd pairing of Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins here.
There are also rumours that a long feud between Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan will soon start in the WWE which will see Jason Jordan complete his heel turn.
I feel that Sheamus & Cesaro are definitely due another WWE Raw Tag Team Championship reign.
This match will surely be the most interesting out of the two tag team bouts on the card in terms of the dynamics that could explode. We're in for a thrilling Raw Tag Team Championship defence here.
What Will Happen: Sheamus & Cesaro will defeat Seth Rolins and Jason Jordan to become the new WWE Raw Tag Team Champions due to miscommunication between Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan.
What I Want To Happen: Jason Jordan cements a heel turn by attacking Seth Rollins and handing the Raw Tag Team Championship victory to Sheamus & Cesaro.
WWE Championship Handicap Match:
AJ Styles(c) vs Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
Will The Phenomenal One AJ Styles be able to show why he is just that by surviving and retaining the WWE World Championship against the cunning duo of Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn?
The most interesting World Championship defence of the night is most definitely this one for me as it will be a mountain for AJ Styles to climb to retain the WWE Championship against both a hungry and cunning team up of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
I'm pretty much expecting Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn to dominate the majority of the match, with AJ Styles making the classic babyface come back throughout
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn are going to pull every trick in the book to take the WWE Championship from AJ Styles, meaning the referee is going to have a very hard time in this one.
What Will Happen: AJ Styles will find a way to retain the WWE Championship.
What I Want To Happen: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defeat AJ Styles to become the new 'co WWE Champions'.
2-Out-of-3-Falls WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match:
The Usos(c) vs Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin
Will Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin be able to knock The Usos (left) of of their Perch?
This WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championship match is sure to be the workhorse match of the night and you can pretty much expect a Match of The Year candidate already here with this one as we have the superb Usos who are the best Tag Team in wrestling period going against the super athletic freaks of nature that are Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin.
Expect every bag of tricks in the book when it comes to athleticism, expect smash mouthed action, and expect a lot of near falls which is sure to be another epic Smackdown Tag Team Championship defence by The Usos.
What Will Happen: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin will go 2 falls to 1 against The Usos and become the new WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions.
What I Want To Happen: Same as above
WWE Universal Championship Handicap Match:
Brock Lesnar(c) (with Paul Heyman) vs Braun Strowman vs Kane
Who will walk away as the dominant monster of the WWE in this Monster's Ball WWE Universal Championship match?
I've got to be honest and say that I'm not really looking forward to this WWE Universal Title match on the card and it's down to the me being very sure of who will walk out with the title, and it also has the potential to be a slow and short match.
I've been a huge supporter of Braun Strowman getting a run with the Universal title for a while now as I feel his character has been built up excellent by WWE to the point where he can be bought as a viable babyface or heel monster champion, but I feel that WWE are still a bit away from pulling the trigger on that. I expect another Braun Strowman superstar performance in this match also.
Also with the rumours swirling around that Bobby Lashley has signed with WWE, there is only one person I see walking away with this match for certain.
I do have hope that for what this match will be, we will get three monsters going all out in a chaotic and thrilling match.
What Will Happen: Brock Lesnar will retain the WWE Universal Championship.
What I Want To Happen: Braun Strowman becomes the new WWE Universal Champion.
2018 Men's Royal Rumble Match:
Who will book their place in the main event of Wrestlemania this year?
And last but certainly not least is the main attraction and spectacle of this PPV, the 2018 WWE Men's Royal Rumble which is a very hard one to call this year as there isn't anyone who really stands out as a runaway winner, but I do have a gut feeling that WWE are planning a World Championship match for Wrestlemania that fans have been clamouring for since early last year and my pick to win is based on that (you can have a nice guess as to what match I'm possibly alluding to when you're done reading this)
I feel this year's Rumble match will be a slight improvement over last year's and it's mainly down to the huge unpredictability factor that we have going into it.
What Will Happen: Shinsuke Nakamura will win the WWE 2018 Royal Rumble.
What I Want To Happen: Same as above.
And there you have it, my predictions and thoughts on what should prove to be a alsightly above decent Royal Rumble PPV that hopefully will deliver plenty of surprises and twists.
Feel free to leave your comments and thoughts on what you think will happen on the night.
-Simeon Barrett
