One of the vital thrilling WWE occasions of the yr is ready for Saturday because the Royal Rumble involves Tropicana Subject in St. Petersburg, Florida. The occasion serves because the true kickoff of “WrestleMania season,” resulting in WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and seven in Philadelphia.
The Royal Rumble is an occasion that at all times invitations hypothesis from followers. Who would be the shock entrants? Who will go on the longest run of the evening? And, most significantly, who will win and punch their ticket to a world championship alternative at WrestleMania?
The CBS Sports activities specialists sat all the way down to resolve who our greatest selections to win the boys’s and girls’s Rumbles can be, together with a couple of darkish horse picks for each matches. Let’s check out who we expect might finish the evening pointing on the WrestleMania signal.
Males’s match — Favorites
CM Punk
Why he might win: Punk’s return to WWE was stunning, a second that felt like it might by no means occur after Punk walked out of WWE in 2014. After returning to wrestling with AEW, Punk continued to trash WWE till issues collapsed amid a number of backstage altercations. This all led to Punk’s return at Survivor Sequence. You merely do not carry a star of Punk’s caliber in and do something apart from swing for the fences. This alone makes him a robust contender to win the Rumble as a result of such an enormous star returning, and headlining WrestleMania is the appropriate enterprise resolution.
WrestleMania outlook: Punk vs. Roman Reigns is not sensible, so cross that off. Seth Rollins, nonetheless, has a built-in storyline as somebody who genuinely does not like Punk however is at all times prepared to do enterprise. It has been made clear by means of promos that Punk needs to take Rollins’ title. And, with Rollins coping with a official knee damage that he intends to work by means of till WrestleMania, whoever faces him on the largest present of the yr will nearly definitely be strolling out as the brand new champion. If Punk wins the Rumble, he doubtless leaves WrestleMania as world heavyweight champion. This additionally offers with Punk’s longstanding subject of by no means really having a “WrestleMania second.” — Brent Brookhouse
Cody Rhodes
Why he might win: Rhodes may very well be the primary particular person in additional than a quarter century to win consecutive Royal Rumbles. Doing so places Rhodes in rarified air with Hulk Hogan (1990-1991), Shawn Michaels (1995-1996) and “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin (1997-1998). Rhodes is one in every of WWE’s hottest and guarded superstars, a plausible winner and a secure alternative for this yr’s 30-man battle. The person is WrestleMania destined.
WrestleMania outlook: “End the story” has been Rhodes’ slogan since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 and has solely gained in significance in his pursuit to avenge his loss to undisputed WWE common champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. Defeating Reigns at this yr’s showcase is his future and I am optimistic WWE will see it by means of. Win or lose on Saturday, Rhodes is WrestleMania sure — wanting a “Rock” sized curveball. — Shakiel Mahjouri
Gunther
Why he might win: We should always begin by mentioning that Gunther is an especially unlikely Rumble winner. He set the boys’s report for longest time in a Rumble match final yr however by no means actually felt like a risk to win the match, as an alternative serving as the ultimate hurdle for Cody Rhodes to clear. Nonetheless, Gunther has been elevated a lot as a star throughout his record-breaking run as intercontinental champion that he matches into the basic Rumble function of “one of many true contenders” even when he is not actually one. Nonetheless, Gunther’s interplay with Rollins after Rollins introduced his damage, saying he’d win the Rumble after which take Rollins’ belt by concentrating on his knee and again makes him a enjoyable “What if?” possibility.
WrestleMania outlook: Gunther would problem Rollins, that was made clear on Uncooked in the course of the aforementioned confrontation with the world heavyweight champ. Whereas Rollins’ knee damage makes it extraordinarily unlikely he walks out of WrestleMania along with his title, this looks like a scenario made for a Damian Priest Cash within the Financial institution cash-in. In some unspecified time in the future, WWE has to tug the set off on Priest utilizing his contract and it might make sense right here with Gunther not feeling like the appropriate choice to turn into world heavyweight champion. —Brookhouse
Darkish horse candidates
Jey Uso
Why he might win: My darkish horse decide is a toss-up between Uso and Drew McIntyre. Finally, if you happen to’re seeking to ship the followers dwelling buzzing, you want a fan favourite to tug off the shocker. Uso has flourished as a singles celebrity, scrubbing away his twin identification and rising into his personal. It feels recently like Uso is taking a backseat in the crowded essential occasion scene, however a shock Rumble would go over effectively with the followers and inject new blood into his solo run.
WrestleMania outlook: Rhodes vs. Reigns and Punk vs. Rollins really feel like WrestleMania ensures. But when Rollins cannot work by means of his latest knee damage, Uso might work some severe babyface magic towards a cocky veteran Punk. The end result of the match is likely to be decided by the weekend’s different essential occasion. WWE has conditioned its viewers to anticipate a “WrestleMania second.” If Rhodes loses to Reigns once more, inventive might give followers a morale increase by awarding Uso his first world title in a scrappy win towards an enormous identify. Both approach, the match catapults Uso to new heights. — Mahjouri
The Rock
Why he might win: The most recent member of the TKO board, The Rock returned to WWE for a shock look at Day One Uncooked. Extra shocking, nonetheless, was Rock commenting on sitting “on the head of the desk,” instantly kicking off hypothesis {that a} long-discussed match between Reigns and his extra well-known cousin would lastly be dealing with off within the ring. Rock doesn’t want to win the Rumble for that match to occur. Merely calling for it might be cause sufficient to make the match, however the pop if Rock’s music hit on the Rumble can be off the charts. Once more, it is unlikely this may occur, but when we’re speaking enjoyable darkish horse choices to win the Rumble, The Rock sits on the high.
WrestleMania outlook: Clearly, the one play is Rock vs. Reigns. Another use of Rock can be an enormous fumble. That stated, it is laborious to think about WWE placing Rock over at WrestleMania. Rock is not sticking round for an actual run, even along with his new take care of TKO, and slicing the knees out from Reigns’ longstanding “head of the desk” gimmick for a single second can be shortsighted in a approach that WWE does not appear to function below Triple H’s inventive imaginative and prescient. Possibly within the days of Vince McMahon, however not in 2024. — Brookhouse
Girls’s match — Favorites
Becky Lynch
Why she might win: The Rumble is not solely about creating new stars or pulling off shockers. Generally it is so simple as reheating a in style act and giving them a handy path to WrestleMania. Lynch will at all times be a plausible risk on this match. “The Man” has been participating in a surprisingly strong feud with Nia Jax since wrapping up her NXT stint and nonetheless operates at a excessive stage.
WrestleMania outlook: Lynch lately confronted ladies’s world champion Rhea Ripley on Uncooked. It was a uncommon and sometimes underutilized promo that constructed up each ladies as elite threats. Ripley vs. Lynch is not probably the most impressed route, nevertheless it’s a straight shot to a barnburner WrestleMania match. I would anticipate Lynch to take the loss as Ripley builds additional on a career-defining run. — Mahjouri
Bayley
Why she might win: Bayley has been on an fascinating journey of late. From main a dominant faction in Harm CTRL to obviously being the girl on the outs from the group. There is a built-in story for Bayley with successful the Rumble and difficult Harm CTRL’s Iyo Sky for the WWE ladies’s championship after all of the faction’s drama.
WrestleMania outlook: Bayley vs. Sky can be the transfer if Bayley gained the Rumble. From there, it is laborious to say what the play is. Bayley successful the belt and occurring to feud with the assorted members of Harm CTRL is a wise play and one that offers Bayley a lift again to the principle occasion scene. Harm CTRL might additionally assist Sky retain and set Bayley on the course of chasing some measure of revenge. Nonetheless, I would anticipate Bayley to stroll out of WrestleMania as champion ought to she win the Royal Rumble. — Brookhouse
Nia Jax
Why she might win: Jax returned to WWE eventually yr’s Rumble to unanimous groans. But her new run with the corporate has been surprisingly good. Jax lately placed on a career-best match with Lynch and has been introduced as a official drive within the ladies’s division. Yearly round this time, WWE leans into the trope of “who might probably eradicate this bodily imposing celebrity.” Properly, nearly yearly these superstars get eradicated. Jax’s success within the final 12 months makes this a yr the place optics and reserving mesh collectively.
WrestleMania outlook: Pitting Jax towards Ripley or Iyo Sky are each intriguing choices. The Ripley match is a bodily energy wrestle between two of WWE’s strongest ladies. It is also a feud that has been brewing since Jax returned final yr. Difficult the WWE ladies’s champion would drive Sky right into a face function, a David vs. Goliath story. I believe Jax would come up quick towards Ripley however overcome the smaller Sky. — Mahjouri
Darkish horse candidates
Jade Cargill
Why she might win: Cargill’s signing was big for WWE they usually made her a right away presence on tv, even when she wasn’t wrestling any matches. It might be the case that WWE needs Cargill to spend a while in NXT, however she’s been round lengthy sufficient with out doing something within the ring that she makes a enjoyable darkish horse candidate to point out up within the Rumble and win all of it, establishing herself instantly as a participant on the highest stage. Cargill can also be made for a powerful run within the Rumble. The true threat is that this could be a real sink-or-swim play by WWE however the reward may very well be well worth the threat.
WrestleMania outlook: The choices may very well be huge open for Cargill. Difficult Sky or Ripley can be fascinating of their methods, however I feel Cargill vs. Ripley feels like the higher possibility. There is no such thing as a scarcity of challengers for Ripley on Uncooked however a gathering of powerhouses at WrestleMania looks like a safer match than asking Cargill to maintain up with Sky, who’s a barely trickier match and Cargill wants her hypothetical WrestleMania debut to go as easily as attainable. — Brookhouse
Liv Morgan
Why she might win: There’s plenty of buzz a couple of Morgan comeback. The previous SmackDown ladies’s champion has been sidelined for six months with a shoulder damage. The boys’s Rumble has too many WrestleMania storylines for a shock entrant not named “The Rock” to win. The sphere on the ladies’s finish is extra open. There’s sufficient proof to anticipate the transfer to work: Morgan has a devoted following, the excitement of a shock return and she or he will not be stealing a spot the followers imagine is owed to another person. Plus, she’ll have additional motivation to win…
WrestleMania outlook: Morgan was written off tv in July after being attacked by Ripley. It was an assault that price Morgan her half of the WWE ladies’s tag staff championships. Morgan can have revenge in thoughts and would definitely go after Ripley. It is a story that writes itself and offers Morgan some much-needed edge after her middling run with a high singles title. It is unlikely Morgan beats Ripley, nevertheless it might do loads for her long-term place in WWE. — Mahjouri
