Predicting the champions after Royal Rumble PPV 2019

We're just a week away from the first big four PPV, the Royal Rumble. As of now, only seven championship matches have been announced, along with Men's and Women's Royal Rumble matches.

Moreover, WWE has announced a Worlds Collide Tournament, which will take place on 26th and 27th January at Royal Rumble Axxess. The tournament will feature several superstars from NXT, 205 Live and NXT UK. The winner of this event will receive an opportunity at any one of three championships - NXT, 205 Live, or NXT UK.

That being said, as Royal Rumble is one of the PPVs in WWE, we'll see several championships being defended on it, therefore a few titles are expected to change hands. Let's see who will be walking out of Phoenix as the champion.

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#6 Raw Women's Champion - Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey

It's been a while since we have seen The Boss, Sasha Banks in the Women's Title picture.

Now, Sasha Banks is scheduled to face Ronda Rousey at Royal Rumble for the Raw Women's Championship. She earned an opportunity to challenge for Rousey's title when she defeated Nia Jax in a one-on-one match.

Moreover, as per the report, Ronda Rousey herself asked the WWE officials to face Banks at the Rumble.

That being said, although Banks is back in the title picture after a very long time, that doesn't mean she's going to defeat Rousey cleanly at Rumble, as Rousey is rumored to win the main event of Wrestlemania 35.

Therefore, this rumored WM match takes away even the slightest possibility for Banks to become new Raw Women's Champion. Hence, expect Rousey to retain her title at Rumble.

Also, Banks and Bayley are rumored to become the inaugural WWE Women's Tag-Team Champions, therefore this could be another reason as to why we won't see Banks winning the Raw Women's Title at Royal Rumble PPV.

#5 SmackDown Women's Champion - Asuka

Asuka

Last year Becky Lynch lost the SmackDown Women's Championship to "The Empress of Tomorrow" at the TLC PPV, following the interference of Ronda Rousey. But, now she's all set to recapture her title again at Royal Rumble.

Becky earned an opportunity to regain the title after she defeated Charlotte and Carmella in the triple threat match.

Moreover, the chances of Becky recapturing the title at Rumble are slim, as she is rumored to win this year's Women's Royal Rumble match. To add to that, Ronda Rousey is believed to interfere in Becky's match at Rumble once again.

Therefore, I think Becky Lynch will lose her match against Asuka at the Rumble due to Rousey's interference, and then later she will be the surprise entrant in the Women'ss RR match.

That being said, if WWE has plans to make Becky win the title from Asuka at the Rumble, then why lose it to Asuka at TLC in the first place? Guess we'll have to wait.

#4 United States Champion - Rusev

Lana and "The Bulgarian Brute" Rusev

Rusev became the United States Champion on the very last episode of SmackDown Live 2018 when he defeated Shinsuke Nakamura. Also, the two men were continuously involved in a feud on and off. This title victory for Rusev came after a very long time.

That being said, Rusev is scheduled to defend his U.S Title for the first time since winning it. His first scheduled opponent is the former champion, Shinsuke Nakamura.

However, I think the chances of Nakamura regaining the title again are slim because if he is about to become the champion for the second time, he wouldn't have lost it to Rusev in the first place.

Moreover, I think the title is better off Nakamura as his reign as the U.S Champion is hard to remember. Therefore, expect Rusev Day to retain his title at Rumble against Nakamura.

#3 SmackDown Tag Team Champions - The Miz and Shane McMahon

Expect the team of Shane McMahon and The Miz to defeat the team of Sheamus and Cesaro at the Royal Rumble PPV to become the new SmackDown Tag-Team Champions

The Miz and Shane McMahon will face The Bar for the first time ever at the Royal Rumble PPV. Also, since coming together as a team, it will be the first time for The Miz and Shane McMahon to be in a championship match together.

Although it'll be the first championship match for Miz and Shane, I think the chances of The Bar retaining their title are almost none as WWE will probably want to continue their momentum as a team.

Therefore, expect the team of Shane McMahon and The Miz to defeat Sheamus and Cesaro at Rumble and become the new SmackDown Tag-Team Champions.

#2 WWE Champion - AJ Styles

AJ Styles

Daniel Bryan is scheduled to defend his WWE Championship against AJ Styles next week at the Royal Rumble PPV. Styles earned an opportunity at Bryan's title when he won the fatal-five-way match a few weeks ago on SmackDown Live.

Moreover, in the last three months, Styles has tried to regain the WWE title from Bryan on several occasions, but unfortunately, "The Phenomenal One" has failed to do so.

That being said, this new-found attitude of Styles might make him a three-time WWE Champion as Vince McMahon in recent weeks has teased a heel turn for Styles. And in order to capitalize on Styles' character change, WWE needs to make him win his match at Royal Rumble.

Considering this, WWE could pull out Styles' heel turn at Rumble, and if this happens then it'd make this title change a real big deal. Also, if the same happens, we will see Styles turning heel after more than two-years.

Therefore, you can expect Bryan to lose his title at Rumble to Styles.

#1 Universal Champion - Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar is scheduled to defend his WWE Universal Championship against Finn Balor for the first time since winning it back at the Crown Jewel PPV.

Earlier, The Beast Incarnate was meant to battle Braun Strowman at the Royal Rumble PPV, but following the damage done by Strowman on Mr. McMahon's car, he was taken out of the match and was replaced by Finn Balor.

Although, this last year the McMahon family has promised that now we will see a fresh start for the company, with some new faces getting the opportunities, but I think Balor getting a shot at Lesnar's title at Royal Rumble PPV is the closest he's going to get.

Therefore, expect Lesnar to retain his Universal title against Finn Balor at Rumble and then go on to WrestleMania 35, hopefully still as the champion.