10 Most Probable Winners of The 2019 Men's Royal Rumble Match

The Royal Rumble match is arguably the most exciting match one can watch as a wrestling fan. The event marks the beginning of the Road to Wrestlemania, and it's the time of the year where WWE gets into its best form.

We are just one pay per view away from the Rumble and things seem to be shaping up interestingly leading up to it. Smackdown Live boasts the previous two winners: Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton. However, after their abysmal performance at Survivor Series this year, it is less probable that we will get a winner from the blue brand.

On the Raw side of things, however, a lot of potential names come to mind when thought from an optimistic fantasy booking point of view. A surprise NXT call-up may also be the one to claim this grand victory, but who could it possibly be?

There were rumors a few months ago that WWE was keen on having a repeat winner. Someone who has already won the Rumble match before would be winning it again in 2019. If this were true an argument for the list of former winners who are still active wrestlers to win again would be difficult to form, especially for Sheamus.

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However, we never know as WWE loves to surprise and thrill its fans and there is no better time for a surprise all year than the Royal Rumble, but if this were to happen it would be an unpleasant surprise for most of us

As unpredictable as the event is, it is equally interesting to make predictions for the same. Let's delve in to see ten names which come to mind when we consider who can win the men's match as per the current scenario.

#10 Rusev

No, this is not supposed to be a joke. Rusev would be a great pick to win the Rumble and go on to clash with WWE Champion Daniel Bryan at Wrestlemania. He has the support of the fans, and in this time when Smackdown is in dire need of a top hero, he can be the savior. He has the ability to put on good matches and his contrasting size and technique with Daniel Bryan could work wonders.

Ever since the anti-climatic finish to the 'One Night in Milwaukee' storyline, he hasn't been up to much. The guy has much more potential and WWE need to tap into it as soon as possible.

Also, he is the case of a natural, organic babyface who got super over with the fans, much more than he was expected to. This could be used as the basis for his feud with Bryan, who had a similar past. However, due to this being more of a fantasy than a probability, this stands tenth on this list.

#9 Finn Balor

After Roman Reign's heartbreaking temporary exit, WWE stands in dire need of a top babyface. If one was to make a list of the most wasted superstars over the last one year, Finn would be almost on top of it.

He has done literally nothing of much significance whatsoever ever since he became the 'First Ever Universal Champion', maybe except for his stellar Ironman performance in the Royal Rumble match last year.

If WWE ever wants to pull the trigger on Finn, the time is now. The man has got it all in him and is in his late thirties. A Royal Rumble victory would lead to the Brock Lesnar dream match many fans have been wanting, provided Brock is still Universal Champion at Wrestlemania.

However, as this list is about what may happen and not what should happen, so just like Rusev, Finn is perhaps best suited at the ninth place itself.

#8 Elias

It looks like Elias is all set to get a big push. He was hastily turned babyface and now is being portrayed as very valiant and tough. Bobby Lashley, who not long ago beat Roman Reigns clean, has to cheat to beat him. He even bravely confronted the deadly trio of Corbin, McCintyre, and Lashley all by himself.

His story looks similar to John Cena's: a music-based heel gimmick who was super successful as a heel and then turned face and pushed to the next level. If WWE sees the next John Cena in Elias, this would be a great way to make him that.

However, with Brock or Braun being the likely Universal champion at Mania, having Elias as the contender doesn't seem to be all good. However, owing to the unpredictability WWE love to exploit, there is a ray of hope for this to happen.

#7 Dean Ambrose

The Lunatic Fringe may as well turn out to be the surprise winner of the 2019 Royal Rumble match. He has not wrestled much ever since he made his return from injury especially after turning heel. He needs something really big to get back on the right track. A Royal Rumble win would do the honors for him.

This could lead to several things: a triple threat between Lesnar, Rollins, and Ambrose, or just a match between Rollins and Ambrose after Rollins wins the title at Elimination Chamber. This would be a much better alternative to take their feud ahead instead of simply battling over the Intercontinental Championship at a mid-card level.

However, WWE does not seem to be as high on Dean as it once was. Also, the other way around seems to be a much more formidable option in terms of storytelling and is discussed in the next slide.

#6 Seth Rollins

The Architect has been on a role for the last year and a half. His matches on Raw with the likes of Ziggler, Reigns, and Balor have been nothing short of amazing. He, however, is in a feud with Dean Ambrose, which ostensibly is long-term enough to end at Wrestlemania at the earliest. So, why not put the Universal title into the feud?

This would give it the intensity it needs to be the main event of Wrestlemania. Seth can win the Rumble, all set to face Brock, who, however, loses the belt inside the Elimination Chamber after being eliminated by Braun, but Ambrose steals the win at the end. Brock and Braun begin a feud with each other and Seth and Dean go on to fight for the big one at Mania.

This also is not that likely as it's probably the Intercontinental Championship that will be used for the same purpose and Brock will most probably not show up at Elimination Chamber.

#5 John Cena

One thing an experienced wrestling fan knows is that one can never count John Cena out of anything. He can win anything. Also with WWE's well-known penchant for having repeat Rumble match winners, this may not be as unlikely as it sounds.

With his part-time schedule and his mainstream attraction, WWE would be keen on giving him a marquee Wrestlemania match to wrestle, probably for the record of seventeen world titles. Winning the Royal Rumble match would give him the option of selecting a shot at either the WWE or the Universal Championship by virtue of his free agent special status.

This can lead to weeks of speculation after which he can go for either Bryan, Brock, or preferably Braun presuming he would conquer the Beast on the same night and become the new Universal Champion. After this, having Braun go over John at Wrestlemania would cement his place at the top of the mountain.

#4 Aleister Black

Black has it in him to become a top babyface. He recently went over Johny Gargano at NXT Takeover Wargames 2, and thus, in the process has done pretty much of everything one can in NXT. A great way to push him would be to make him win the Rumble match on his main roster debut and then go on to feud with Daniel Bryan over the WWE Championship.

This feud would be a delight for all the independent style wrestlers, who would get to see two of their icons go head to head under the almighty banner of WWE. This would be a great step to fill the void of fresh talent in Smackdown's roster.

Also, considering how WWE loves to surprise the fans, this may be a viable option. If there is a guy from NXT who deserves to be in this position, it has to be Aleister.

#3 AJ Styles

AJ Styles just completed his iconic year-long run with the WWE championship. He lost it in an incredible match to Daniel Bryan, which just happened to be on Smackdown Live. The two have the ability to have many more stellar matches.

One way of doing this would be to have Bryan somehow go over Styles at TLC in controversial fashion and then go on to face someone else like Mysterio or Rusev and retain his championship, preferably at the Royal Rumble.

Styles can go on to win the Rumble match on the same night and then the two can go on to clash at the Showcase of the Immortals. With AJ turning 42 years old next year, it would be better to involve him all important angles he can contribute to as soon as possible. Although this doesn't look very probable there is a chance, however.

#2 Braun Strowman

The Monster among Men seems to be on the threshold of being the next top guy. A great way to proceed for that would be to make him win the Royal Rumble match. This can only happen if he competes in the match which will happen if and only if Corbin somehow manages to beat him at TLC.

This would not be a bad option at all as Corbin is a great heel General Manager and this would make it even more heroic when Braun goes over Brock at Mania. The only drawback this would pose is the inherent predictability of the Royal Rumble match outcome once Corbin wins at TLC.

But if what is predictable is what the fans want, it is not necessarily a bad thing. The only things that keep him from topping this list are the uncertainty of his Corbin match outcome and his injury.

#1 Drew McIntyre

Drew has got everything in him to be a top guy. He has the size, the physique, the looks, the microphone skills, and the in-ring ability. Also, he has been protected well ever since he was called up to Raw. He has not been pinned even once in 8 months which is indicative of the big plans WWE have for him.

The only thing he needs is a momentous achievement to propel him to the next level and there would be nothing better than a Royal Rumble win for that.

As he does not seem to be turning face any time soon, the best thing to do would have him win the Rumble match and Strowman win the Universal Title from Brock at Royal Rumble to set up a huge Braun Strowman vs Drew McIntyre match for Wrestlemania. This would be a prospective direction for the company to go in and seems very likely.

Edited by Gabby Duran