The Royal Rumble is just days away, coming to the WWE Network and PPV on Sunday, January 28. For the first time in the event's history, there will be a women's Royal Rumble match in addition to the men's one. Because of this, the card for this show looks a little light. However, both Rumble matches will likely take up a majority of the night.
This year's event will take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA with a start time of 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. A Kickoff show will presumably take place one to two hours prior--at the time of this writing, a Kickoff Show had not been announced. The evening will consist of six matches, including both the Universal and WWE Championship matches. So what matches are on the card and who do we think is going to win?
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday for live coverage of the event.
Note: The Enzo Amore/Cedric Alexander match for the Cruiserweight Championship was removed from the card because Amore was released from WWE after a sexual assault accusation.
The Usos (c) vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin (2-out-of-3-falls match)
(For the Smackdown Tag Team Championships)
Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin really want to #FreeTheTagTitles after a controversial call by a referee last month during their match against the Usos. They'll get their chance at a rematch during the Rumble in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, which will undoubtedly end with a 2-1 score. I'm throwing the win to The Usos. They've done well as the tag team champs, and I don't think their reign is over yet.
Our prediction: The Usos win after some "Twin Magic"
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) vs. The Bar
(For the Raw Tag Team Championships)
The pairing of Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan--Kurt Angle's whiny, entitled son--is bizarre and kind of wonderful. The fact that they are tag champs is a tad dumbfounding, but it works. The Bar will get a shot to get reclaim the Raw Tag titles, but I think their title reign is over for now. Rollins and Jordan have been fun, and they're not going anywhere. I may be getting ahead of myself, but Rollins and Jordan may be placeholders for a while until some NXT call-ups like Authors of Pain or Sanity make their way to the roster and destroy the Monday night show's tag division.
Our prediction: Rollins and Jordan win
Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane
(For the Universal Championship)
Raw's big title match is a bummer, as it seems more than likely it's all just a setup for Lesnar to continue his dominance over the locker room. As much as I love everything that's going on with Braun Strowman, a match with him against the Royal Rumble match winner doesn't seem like the best draw for Wrestlemania. Lesnar is that draw, and hopefully, he'll finally drop the title at the big show in April.
Our prediction: Lesnar wins
AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (2-on-1 Handicap Match)
(For the WWE Championship)
The storyline involving AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Shane McMahon, and Daniel Bryan has been nothing short of phenomenal--pun intended. As fantastic as the booking is for this match--where if Owens or Zayn win they become co-champions--I don't think WWE will pull the trigger on having two champions leading into Wrestlemania. As much as I want that duo to win, I'm giving the win to Styles.
Our prediction: Styles wins
Women's Royal Rumble
2018 is a landmark year for WWE, as it is the first time there will be a women's Royal Rumble match. We asked the wrestling fans at GameSpot who they think will win the match, and here are their answers.
Check out all the confirmed entrants for the Royal Rumble here.
Ronda Rousey
Prediction by Greg Thomas
Rousey will likely make an appearance at the Rumble this Sunday. As every minute passes, betting odds are running towards a surprise Rousey upset. The WWE seems to want Rousey as the Brock Lensar in the woman ranks, and this would be an interesting scenario with Asuka as the clear favorite for the women's Rumble. Hell, you can argue that Asuka is the best wrestler in the company today, period. Hear me out, I predict everyone will team up to throw Asuka out of the Rumble early, then Rousey comes in as the final entrant and win. Look into your hearts friends, Rousey is going to be thrown into main events sooner than we think.
Asuka
Prediction by Chris Hayner
Nobody is ready for Asuka, not even the 29 other women that will participate in the Royal Rumble. WWE should add a Rumble win to her undefeated streak and keep the most exciting female wrestler going full-steam ahead to winning her first Women's Championship at WrestleMania.
Nikki Cross
Prediction by Mat Elfring
While my pick for the men's Rumble--which you'll see a little later--is incredibly safe and ultimately, regrettable, I'm going out on a limb for the women's Rumble and picking Sanity member and NXT star Nikki Cross. Yes, Asuka is favored to win, as well as insanely tough and undefeated in singles competition, but we all know from past Rumble matches that the bigger and tougher you are, the bigger the target you'll have on your back. Cross will come in under the radar and ultimately win as she won't hold back because she teeters on insanity.
Men's Royal Rumble
Don't expect too many big surprises in the men's Royal Rumble match this year (even though we have a few we'd like to see). The men's roster is pretty deep, since this match combines both Raw and Smackdown talent. Here are who GameSpot's wrestling fans think is going to win the Rumble.
Check out all the confirmed entrants for the Royal Rumble here.
Brock Lesnar
Prediction by Greg Thomas
This is a stretch, and to be very clear, I hope this doesn't happen. Yet, I can’t help but wonder what crazy ideas are running through Vince McMahon's mind as we approach the massive PPV. I believe Lesnar will be in the main event at WrestleMania 34 regardless of the outcome on Sunday night, but there’s a slight chance he could drop the title to Braun Strowman without getting pinned. Strowman could pin Kane, and a pissed-off Lesnar could run into the Rumble at the last minute to win it.
Shinsuke Nakamura
Prediction by Chris Hayner
Roman Reigns going to WrestleMania to fight for the Universal Championship seems practically guaranteed at this point, whether fans want it or not. He doesn't need the Rumble win, but Shinsuke Nakamura sure does. A win would legitimize him as a main event player in WWE, and sending him to WrestleMania to challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Championship would be perfection.
Roman Reigns
Prediction by Mat Elfring
It pains me to write this, as I'd much rather see pretty much anyone else win the Rumble over Roman Reigns. However, it's hard not to think Reigns will get the win, especially after losing the Intercontinental Championship to The Miz on Raw 25. Furthermore, there are a ton of rumors flying around that the main event will be Reigns/Lesnar at this year's Wrestlemania. As much as I'd love to see newer talent get a push, everything is pointing to Reigns for me. I'm sorry. I don't like it either.
Let us know who you think is going to win at the Rumble in the comment section below!
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