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WWE Royal Rumble is one of the most anticipated events of the company's pay-per-view schedule. It's importance cannot be overstated, as it kickstarts the road to WrestleMania. For this reason, the outcome of the show is even more important than the results of the pay-per-views throughout the year.
One of the main reasons it's so crucial in WWE is that the winners of both Royal Rumble Matches receive title shots at "The Showcase of the Immortals." Typically, the winners main event WrestleMania, but several stars who have won a Royal Rumble Match did not compete in the main event of the show.
The Royal Rumble has also traditionally featured major returns, like Edge's appearance last year. Plus, NXT debuts regularly take place at the show, as Shayna Baszler shocked everyone by entering the Women's Royal Rumble Match in 2020.
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With so much importance placed on this WWE pay-per-view, the company needs to deliver a strong show. There are also some booking choices that could backfire, so WWE should avoid these paths.
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With that being said, here are five things that must happen at WWE Royal Rumble 2021.
#5 Potential WWE NXT participants must look strong in the Royal Rumble Matches
One of the main issues that NXT stars have experienced is starting from scratch on WWE RAW or SmackDown. Other than Finn Balor, most of these performers have to almost reboot themselves once they graduate from NXT.
The Royal Rumble has utilized stars from the black-and-gold brand since 2015. Some stars, like Bianca Belair in 2020, have lasted a long time in the battle royal. But others simply make brief appearances in the match.
NXT stars often lose a lot of their momentum when they arrive on the main roster. Keith Lee is an exception, as he has already had some WWE Championship Matches. Still, most recent graduates from the black-and-gold brand have floundered on WWE RAW and SmackDown.
By allowing NXT stars to have lengthy runs in the Royal Rumble Matches, WWE can let these performers impress the fans. Giving NXT wrestlers a decent run in the battle royal makes it seem like they genuinely belong on the main roster. As a result, WWE won't have to build those stars up again later when they make their official debuts.
#4 Drew McIntyre must defeat Goldberg at WWE Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is one of the the biggest pay-per-views of the year. It usually features major title matches. Goldberg's latest return has been quite divisive, but he has added some star power to the show. Still, his potential victory would utterly derail Drew McIntyre's momentum. This argument is based on the fact that it happened to The Fiend last year.
The most frustrating part about Goldberg's victory over The Fiend was that most fans assumed that he'd drop the title to Roman Reigns. Goldberg ended up dropping the title to Braun Strowman instead, so it's fair to argue that The Fiend didn't need to lose the title to the legend. Still, WWE often puts its titles on part-time competitors on the road to WrestleMania.
If Drew McIntyre loses to Goldberg, this defeat would undo all of the great work that the Scottish Superstar has done as the WWE Champion. McIntyre has been a titleholder to be proud of. He has also carried the torch through the most challenging year in recent memory.
While WWE might be tempted to have Goldberg win another title at the Royal Rumble event, this decision would hurt McIntyre more than it would help Goldberg.
#3 Charlotte Flair must not win the Women's Royal Rumble Match
Just as Goldberg winning a title from a top star at WWE Royal Rumble would be a mistake, WWE would ultimately regret the decision to give "The Queen" her second consecutive win in the battle royal.
Charlotte Flair is always booked as the top women's competitor in the company. At this point, she doesn't need to win the Royal Rumble in order to get a title match. In 2019, she was simply inserted into the main event at WrestleMania 35 due to her standing with WWE management.
Winning her second Royal Rumble would add another accolade to Flair's resume, but this victory would be gratuitous. That notion is especially true when one considers stars like Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley or Shayna Baszler. Each one of them would greatly benefit from the push that comes with winning the battle royal.
Flair will likely win a singles title at some point in 2021. This victory could even occur at WrestleMania 37. Whenever it happens, it's fair to say that Flair will continue to win championships throughout her career because WWE might want her to break her father's record. But in order to do that, "The Queen"" doesn't necessarily need to win the Royal Rumble Match.
#2 Daniel Bryan must have a great showing in the Men's Royal Rumble Match
Daniel Bryan has endured a strange relationship with the Royal Rumble Match over the last decade. He went from being a sentimental favorite in some of the battle royals to entirely missing a few of them due to an injury. Bryan has regained his status as an active competitor. But he has competed in title matches at the event for two years in a row.
Bryan has typically been featured on the pay-per-view. But in 2014 and 2015, he either wasn't in the battle royal or he was only a participant for a short stint. Both situations upset a large portion of the WWE Universe, as winners Batista and Roman Reigns were widely rejected by the audience.
The 2021 Men's Royal Rumble Match is the perfect spot to right this wrong. Bryan was the first person to announce his entrance into the battle royal. With "The Tribal Chief" Roman Reigns ruling WWE SmackDown, a champion of the people needs to challenge him at WrestleMania. Bryan fits that bill perfectly.
Many fans would be thrilled if the former WWE Champion wins the Royal Rumble Match. But at the very least, Bryan needs to have a significant run in the battle royal. To meet this goal, WWE could have Bryan become the iron man of the bout. Whatever happens, WWE needs to book Bryan strongly in the 2021 Men's Royal Rumble Match.
#1 WWE must pick a first-time winner for the Men's Royal Rumble Match
The same argument about Charlotte Flair on her slide applies to former winners of the Men's Royal Rumble Match. Big names like Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Edge and Sheamus have already won at least one Royal Rumble contest. None of these competitors should add another win to their resume in 2021.
All of the names mentioned above can simply walk up to any current champion and demand a title shot. WWE sometimes makes competitors earn these opportunities. But stars like Goldberg can easily demand one. As a result, these main eventers don't need to win the battle royal to earn a title match.
There are storylines that could be written around any of the aforementioned men winning the 2021 Royal Rumble Match. But in order to move forward and push newer stars, another first-time winner must emerge victorious this year. Keith Lee, Daniel Bryan and Big E are just a few of the possibilities.
WWE wants to create new stars. By giving a first-time victor the win in the Royal Rumble Match, the company could catapult a fresh competitor to the main event level. It worked for McIntyre last year. It could work again in 2021.
