2016 is quickly coming to an end, and boy has it been an interesting and exciting year for the WWE Universe! Just think about all of the huge names signed by the WWE and the list of title holders as of right now. Who would have ever imagined that we would possibly end the year with Kevin Owens, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura all holding top titles for the same company?
It's been a monumental year for Vince and crew, and for once, maybe they should be commended for delivering us, the common fans, a quality year of some of the best sports entertainment we've been privy to in quite some time.
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Looking ahead, into the new year, the 2017 Royal Rumble will officially kick-off Wrestlemania Season and the stakes are at an all-time high. On January 29, 2017, WWE rolls into San Antonio and unloads at the historic Alamodome for the 30th edition of The Royal Rumble.
Roughly 70,000 WWE fans will be in attendance for what will likely be one of the most pivotal nights in recent memory, for the future of the WWE. As we know, the winner of the Royal Rumble match goes on to main event Wrestlemania.
With that in mind, the winner of the Rumble match needs to be someone who is capable of running with the torch throughout the entire new year. This needs to be someone who is either over with the fanbase or can get over...quickly.
There are way too many quality candidates under WWE contract, to waste this huge night on a lame duck Royal Rumble winner.
So, who's it gonna be? Who is capable of handling the weight of not only winning the Rumble but going on to main event Mania and potentially carrying the weight of the company on their shoulders, for the whole year? I've narrowed the list down to five superstars who should win the Royal Rumble match and five who absolutely should not win the match.
SHOULD: Cesaro
Ever since arriving at the WWE, Cesaro has had to kick, scratch and claw for any sort of respect he's gotten. This guy had a fantastic resume before ever considering life with the WWE. He's disgustingly strong, technically skilled and has developed a great in-ring presence that has captivated the entire WWE Universe.
Cesaro may not be the most attractive option in some people's book, but he's a quality option, one who can carry the load and have, what would be a refreshingly new type of title reign. Fans have been begging for Cesaro to get the push he so rightfully deserves.
Now is a better time than ever to look at the Swiss Superstar as a very legitimate possibility to win at the 2017 Royal Rumble.
SHOULD NOT: John Cena
I have always, and will always defend John Cena as the greatest superstar of this generation. Period. The guy is the perfect mix of ‘ company man’ and someone who is readily accessible to his fans. He's a pure sports entertainer in every sense of the term, and I will not say anything negative about him.
However, this is no longer the place for Cena to take these type of stepping-stone victories. He has nothing left to prove, and I bet he'd also agree that the Royal Rumble match is an opportunity for a fresh face to shine, and for fans to see what tomorrow looks like.
John Cena is a two-time Rumble winner, with wins coming in 2008, and 2013. His legacy is very much intact, and this platform cannot make, or break the 15-time world champ.
SHOULD: Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman will likely finish 2016 as the most improved superstar of the year. The last couple of months have been fantastic for the big guy, and from the looks of things, Vince is sold on the idea of Strowman being a go-to performer.
Things have evolved recently for the company. Today's champion can be someone who is 5'9", and 180 pounds or he can be a 6'8", 400-pound monster of a human being. I had my suspicions about how well Braun would, or would not do on the main roster, especially out of the grasp of Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family.
However, I can safely say those suspicions have been laid to rest with his vast improvements in the ring. Having Braun Strowman win the Royal Rumble match would be a huge testament to the confidence Vince and crew have in him.
SHOULD NOT: Brock Lesnar
It's possible that Brock Lesnar won't even be in the Royal Rumble match. He could be featured in a singles match that night, or there's a possibility that he may not be on the card at all. But, in the event Lesnar's name is called, he should definitely not be considered for the win. Lesnar is a spectacle.
He's the main event attraction, and someone who has never relied on gimmick match wins, or special stipulations to get to the top. In fact, Lesnar will be perfectly fine if he never wins another title.
I'm sure that Lesnar's role in Wrestlemania will probably already be determined by mid-January, but just in case it isn't, I sure hope he's not thought of when the creative team makes the decision as to who would win in San Antonio.
SHOULD: Shinsuke Nakamura
After dropping the NXT Championship to Samoa Joe at Takeover, Shinsuke Nakamura is now a very real contender to win the 2017 Royal Rumble match. WWE officials made it clear in the main event at NXT Takeover-Toronto that they're ready for Nakamura on the main roster.
I would look for Shinsuke to debut on either Raw or Smackdown in the very near future. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if his main roster debut is made at The Royal Rumble. Either way, Nakamura is a unique talent, overflowing with charisma. This makes him the perfect choice to lead the new era charge at Wrestlemania 33.
SHOULD NOT: Triple H
Calm down, put your golden shovel down and step away slowly. This is just a reminder that in case anyone, including Hunter himself, has any hair-brain ideas....do NOT put Trips in the Royal Rumble match, much less let him win the match!
It's easy to forget that Triple H was the winner of this year's Rumble match, the same match that not only sent the winner to main event Wrestlemania but also declared Triple H the new WWE World Champion. I'm not sure if there are plans for Trips to enter the Rumble, but I sure hope not.
Triple H is one of the last true living legends. He's accomplished more than his fair share, and as much as he has had to do with the development of new talent, I doubt he's eager to take the spotlight from one of his prodigies.
SHOULD: Bray Wyatt
I went into 2016, lobbying for this to be the year of Wyatt. Bray Wyatt has been such a workhorse, ever since he went back to NXT as Husky Harris, reinvented himself as Bray Wyatt, and returned to shock the wrestling world with his incredible improvements.
No one on the entire roster is as deserving of a break as Bray Wyatt.
This is a guy who has graciously done everything that has been asked of him. He has completely owned his gimmick, which has been a creative dream, thanks primarily to his commitment.
Bray has shown he's capable of handling the workload, as well as the pressure. Having Bray Wyatt main event Wrestlemania would be the most historic moment in recent memory.
SHOULD NOT: Roman Reigns
Let's just hope everyone learned a lesson from 2015. Not even his electrifying cousin could help matters that night when Roman Reigns was booed completely out of Philly. Roman is a decent wrestler, with tremendous presence, and a great look.
However, he lacks that ever elusive "it factor," which is always a necessity in this business, especially for those who desire supremacy. The best option for Roman Reigns is contentment at the upper mid-card level or hoping for a Shield reunion.
SHOULD: Finn Bálor
Any day now, Finn Bálor will return, and when he does, look for him to have a chip on his shoulder, as he skyrockets to the top of the roster. Bálor suffered an unfortunate injury at SummerSlam, which derailed what would have likely been a huge run with the Universal title.
Nevertheless, it’s certain that he's coming back with a vengeance, ready to reclaim the title he never lost. In a perfect world, Bálor would win the Royal Rumble match, and go on to main event Wrestlemania against Kevin Owens, at which time the Demon King would take back his rightful property, the WWE Universal Championship.
SHOULD NOT: The Undertaker
I know this pick probably puzzles some readers, but just think about Taker’s remarks at SmackDown Live. He told the world that he would no longer be defined by Wrestlemania alone, and he clearly said he's back.
Now, it's safe to say Taker won't be taking on a full-time schedule, but there is a possibility that The Deadman has one final title reign in his sights. One way to put himself into title contention, would be by entering, and winning the Royal Rumble match, then going on to defeat the title holder at Mania.
This would surely be an exciting feat, no doubt, and I would never make the assertion that The Undertaker is unworthy. However, this is a bad idea, simply because it's not the right time, nor place. Taker is one of the greatest of all-time, this match would not change that fact in any way.
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