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As the curtains on 2017 begin to close and the anticipation for the new year rumbles throughout the world, WWE will once again be bringing a packed show for it's first Pay-Per-View of the year, the Royal Rumble on Sunday 28 Jan. And with not one, but now two Royal Rumble matches (with the addition of the women's royal rumble match) on the horizon, fans across the globe are frantically predicting the card for the 2018's kick off Pay-Per-View in WWE.
But do not worry Sportskeeda fans, because I have compiled the 10 matches that we will see at Royal Rumble next month. And not only have I predicted the 10 matches on the card, but I've also listed all 60 entrants into the men's and women's royal rumble matches, with the winners of each match announced at the bottom of the page.
Who says Christmas is over? Yes, for a real treat, have a look at the next 9 pages and find out exactly how the Royal Rumble will play out. And as always, please feel free to offer your ideas and suggestions, on how you see the Royal Rumble going down, in the comments tab below.
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#10 Kick-off show (tag-team match) The Bludgeon Brothers vs. The Ascension
After the Bludgeon Brothers were proven as the villains that were stalking Breezango in the Fashion Files, they have looked impressive, decimating their opponents. Harper and Rowan look like unstoppable beasts who are on their way to tag-team division gold on the blue brand. But the Ascension will have something to say about that.
The Ascension will feel the need to revenge Breezango's loss to the Bludgeon Brothers by challenging them to a fight at the Kick-off show for the Royal Rumble. And given the strength and brute force that the Ascension have, they should put up more of a fight than their detective buddies.
However, as WWE seem to continuously do nothing with the Ascension and are clearly looking to build Harper and Rowan up for an eventual title shot, this one will be over in a matter of minutes. Which is still, better than Breezango's efforts.
Winner: The Bludgeon Brothers
#9 Kick-off show (singles match for the Cruiserweight Championship)
Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Enzo Amore
I can see Cedric picking up his first championship in the WWE when challenging Amore next week on Monday night Raw. Enzo has a lot of distractions at the moment, being under some sort of Nia Jax love spell, and of course with his bumbling assistant, Drew Gulak. Cedric has already said, this is his second chance at championship gold, and he's not going to let it slip.
Once Alexander beats Enzo Amore, probably after a failed interference from Gulak, Enzo will challenge Alexander to a rematch at the Royal Rumble. However, there's a new challenger in town in the form of Hideo Itami who is surely going to challenge for the Cruiserweight championship in the next few months.
Given that Itami is gaining popularity and Amore is the biggest heel in the Cruiserweight division, expect Amore to pick up his third Cruiserweight championship on the Royal Rumble kick-off show, celebrating in style with his new love conquest, Nia Jax, with Itami lying in wait to challenge Amore leading into Wrestlemania.
Winner: Enzo Amore
#8 Women's Royal Rumble match
Here we have it, the first ever Women's Royal Rumble contest. I'm not sure how pretty this match is going to be, but history is being made on 28 Jan with this match. Personally, I'm not sure about it. I feel two Royal Rumble matches decreases the level of uniqueness of this event. But with this making history and the females of the WWE being so hyped up about this occasion, they should give it their all and really put on a show for the fans.
1. Asuka 11. Carmella 21. Noelle Foley
2. Bayley 12. Tamina 22. Ruby Riott
3. Mandy Rose 13. Dana Brooke 23. Paige
4. Sonya Deville 14. Alicia Fox 24. Becky Lynch
5. Natalya 15. Billie Kay
6. Sasha Banks 16. Brie Bella 26. Nia Jax
7. Liv Morgan 17. Nikki Cross 27. Nikki Bella
8. Sarah Logan 18. Shayna Baszler 28. Lita
9. Naomi 19. Mickie James 29. Trish Stratus
10. Lana 20. Peyton Royce 30. Rhonda Rousey
Final Four: Asuka, Paige, Nia Jax and Rhonda Rousey
Winner: Asuka
#7 Tag-team match for the Smackdown Tag-Team Championships
The Usos vs. Gable & Benjamin (c)
Gable and Benjamin are guaranteed a championship shot for the Smackdown Tag-Team Championships against the Usos, after picking up the victory and becoming number one contenders this past week. This time it will be two-on-two without any other teams involved. And I suspect the gold to change hands, as they break out of the Uso penitentiary, with the grip that the Usos have on the tag-team division on the blue brand finally loosening. However, expect the fans to kibosh this match with various chants of 'Rusev Day'.
WWE might not have given Rusev Day the win this past week on Smackdown, but that will only add to the popularity of the highly charismatic duo of Rusev and Aiden English. I think there's only one way WWE should go with this, and that is set Rusev Day up with an eventual championship run.
Therefore, expect Gable and Benjamin to retain the gold in this contest. Rusev Day are the most popular tag-team in the WWE currently, so they should be the next challengers for a victorious heel team of Gable & Benjamin following their continued success at the Royal Rumble.
Winners: Gable & Benjamin
#6 Singles match for the Intercontinental Championship
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe has vowed to cut straight through the Shield and destroy one of the most dominant factions WWE has ever seen. After putting Dean Ambrose on the shelf for several months, his path of destruction looks to continue at the Royal Rumble. After failing to claim the Intercontinental championship this past Monday night on RAW, he did however pick up a victory against Reigns via disqualification.
This surely sets up a rematch for the Intercontinental championship, and WWE would be foolish to not have this match at the Royal Rumble as the pair certainly make for a good feud.
'The Big Dog' might currently be the Intercontinental champion but WWE, as always, are setting him up for bigger things at the Show of Shows. Hopefully this means Reigns will relinquish his championship to a very deserving and dominant challenger, in Samoa Joe, who should do a lot more for the gold than Reigns.
Winner: Samoa Joe
#5 Tag-team match for the Raw Tag-Team Championships
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) vs. The Bar
I expect to see a few interesting exchanges between Rollins and his tag-team partner for the time, Jason Jordan. Much like how Sheamus and Cesaro were partnered up, Rollins and Jordan have been thrust together by the RAW General Manager. I'm hoping this is the beginning to the Wrestlemania build-up.
I'm not being fooled by this injury to Dean Ambrose, or maybe I'm just hoping all isn't what it seems. I can see Ambrose returning between the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania, costing Rollins & Jordan the RAW Tag-Team Championships, thus setting up the obvious Rollins vs. Ambrose match at Wrestlemania, this time with Ambrose turning heel.
Maybe Jordan will then turn on his storyline Father, Kurt Angle. The Revival might be able to get into the tag-title picture. The Shield implode again. But before all that, the peculiar team of Rollins and Jordan will hang onto the RAW Tag-Team Championships until Ambrose returns.
Winners: Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan
#4 Singles match for the Vacant United States Championship
Jinder Mahal vs. Bobby Roode
Confusion still surrounds the shocking events we witnessed last Tuesday night, as Dolph Ziggler left his United States championship vacant in the middle of the ring. Many believe that this is the end of Dolph Ziggler in the WWE, which seems like the most likely scenario, after months worth of rumours that 'The Showoff' will be leaving the WWE.
Whatever might be the case, Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan, quickly made an eight-man tournament for the vacant United States Championship. Shane O'Mac has a point that this is quite a controversial decision, as Baron Corbin technically deserves a rematch for the Championship he lost during Clash of Champions.
Baron Corbin will clearly have to wait however, after Roode beat him this past week in the first round, alongside Jinder Mahal who defeated Tye Dillinger to gain access to the Semi -finals. Whoever the other four superstars are competing in this tournament, I fully expect Roode and Mahal to be the finalists and battling for the Championship at the Royal Rumble. At which point, Mahal will claim the championship he should have held in 2017 instead of the WWE championship.
Winner: Jinder Mahal
#3 Triple-threat match for the WWE Championship
AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
'The Phenomenal One' ends 2017 as the WWE Champion, replicating what happened at the end of 2016. We all remember, the classic between Cena and Styles at the Royal Rumble last year. Will AJ Styles have another classic this time round?
It seems likely that Kevin Owens will be his challenger heading into the first Pay-Per-View of 2018. However, since we've seen this feud not all that long ago, as the duo battled for the United States Championship, hopefully WWE will mix things up a bit and add Sami Zayn into the match. It would certainly make things interesting and could potentially be the beginning of Owens and Zayn falling out.
Sami Zayn deserves this opportunity possibly more than any other superstar on the blue brand. However, if WWE are to actually get it right, and book the fans dream match in AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestlemania, surely it only makes sense for it to be for the WWE Championship. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn seem to be continuing their feud with Shane McMahon, so this one shouldn't be too difficult to predict.
Winner: AJ Styles
#2 Triple-threat match for the WWE Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane
I hope they reinforce the ring for this monstrous showdown between 'The Beast', 'The Big Red Machine' and the 'Monster Amongst Men'. Braun Strowman is becoming one of the most popular features in the WWE right now, decimating his way through the WWE locker room. I can't see Kane being anything here other than a feeding for the 'Monster Amongst Men' as he proves he is the true Monster of the WWE.
However, that doesn't mean he's a beast. It seems written in the stars that Brock Lesnar will continue his quest of dominance and ultimately defend his WWE Universal Championship at Wrestlemania, most likely against 'The Big Dog'.
Will we see a shock in this contest? Possibly, but I doubt it will be Brock Lesnar losing his championship. Maybe, a certain Deadman could rise at the Rumble?
Winner: Brock Lesnar
#1 Men's Royal Rumble match
And for the main event, expect surprises, disappointment and nail biting action as the 30 male entrants in the men's 30-man Royal Rumble match takes place. This year, for the first time ever, the women will share the limelight and battle for their own coveted prize. But this is always the match I most look forward to each year in the WWE. And this year, there's so many possible contenders that could end up winning. Let's have a look at my pick for the 30 entrants below.
1. Seth Rollins 11. Jason Jordan 21. Kevin Owens
2. Elias 12. Enzo Amore 22. Shinsuke Nakamura
3. Cesaro 13. Drew Gulak 23. Sami Zayn
4. Bobby Roode 14. Big E 24. Shelton Benjamin
5. Finn Balor 15. Mojo Rawley 25. Samoa Joe
6. Baron Corbin 16. Aiden English 26. Bray Wyatt
7. Chad Gable 17. Matt Hardy 27. Roderick Strong
8. The Miz 18. Roman Reigns 28. Braun Strowman
9. Kofi Kingston 19. Rusev 29. John Cena
10. Tye Dillinger 20. Randy Orton 30. Rey Mysterio
Final Four: Roman Reigns, John Cena, Rey Mysterio & Shinsuke Nakamura
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
