The Final Four of WWE Men's Royal Rumble 2019

WWE must end this decade's last Royal Rumble in style and there's no better way to do so than in a stadium setting, an experiment that proved a fascinating success in 2017. As such this year's Rumble, as well as the vaunted final four, will have to showcase the future of the WWE going forward rather than hopefully looking back.

This is especially true after the unfortunate sabbatical taken by Roman Reigns, his absence means that the top of the food chain at least for the men is open for debate while the women's division possibly ushers in the next face of the company. Some might argue it's already Becky Lynch.

The men's Royal Rumble, this year, presents an interesting opportunity for WWE going forward. This was true last year, with the men's featured story being that of a changing of the guard (which unfortunately hasn't fully materialized) but WWE should double down on that this year with an unlikely and brilliant final four setting up the MVP's for the coming year barring champions and challenges.

As such let's have a peek at the four men that will stand tall this Sunday at the Royal Rumble.

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The Story

Chase Field is the perfect arena setting for the massive Royal Rumble!

Like last year, it's hard to imagine despite the ramifications that the Men's Royal Rumble ends the night. In fact, even the women's version will play at the tail end of the night, with a surprise main event providing a clear path to Wrestlemania.

A few nuggets of stories, as usual, shall play forth in the Rumble, specifically, Kofi Kingston's latest hairbrained save (he should really win one of these) to the arrival of a supposedly "injured" John Cena and a lot more.

Unfortunately, with his anxiety issues, it's hard to see Lars Sullivan making it to this match since if he were, he'd be a clear top four favorites with a rumored feud against Cena at Wrestlemania. Instead, WWE will see to other NXT standouts getting some shine, including a few surprise appearances such as Velveteen Dream, Ricochet and a couple of others from NXT UK.

With the intertwining narratives on both RAW and SmackDown, there's also the chance to lay the foundation for WrestleMania 35.

4. Andrade 'Cien' Almas

The year of El Idolo begins at the Royal Rumble

A surprise entry as NXT champion last year, it seems since that Andrade Cien Almas' stock has fallen just like the last two parts of his name. Yet his current rivalry with Rey Mysterio has once more put the spotlight on El Idolo, promising that the rumors of a showcase at Royal Rumble may just come to fruition.

The Tranquilo superstar will begin the match from the onset against another coast to coast combatant in Seth Rollins. A dream match lighting the Rumble on fire, as Andrade goes through a host of superstars including the blockbuster eliminations of Mysterio, Samoa Joe, and revenge for last year on Randy Orton.

Andrade, however, won't survive the final onslaught, taking a massive beating en route to a performance that puts him massively over with the WWE universe paying dividends to a possible US Championship shot and win at Wrestlemania. This big roadblock will be none other than the man he began the match with and one he'll have a fruitful rivalry against in the coming years.

Eliminated by Seth Rollins

3. Braun Strowman

Bereft of a title shot, the Monster among Men has got a McMahon sized chip on his shoulder!

With a championship shot whisked right away from his hands, Braun Strowman shall enter the Rumble at the vaunted number 30 spot as an angered wrecking machine. A vindictive beast, Strowman in a span of a few minutes can come close to breaking the Reigns held the record of 12 eliminations in one match, throwing around 9 poor saps out the ring.

Braun shall find his aura restored after an uneven start to the year and poor feud against Brock Lesnar. Unfortunately for fans, this feud is far from over as prior to the match Strowman shall poke the bear or in this case the Beast backstage with a well-placed jibe. Reminiscent of his feud starter with Goldberg in 2004, Lesnar shall make his way out to taunt Strowman and cause his eventual elimination.

This will set an easy path for the Monster Among Men's retaliation later in the night. Meanwhile who else but on and off big man rival Drew McIntyre to give Strowman a taste of claymore and a sneaky elimination to stake his claim as the ruthless big bad of Monday Nights.

Eliminated by Drew McIntyre

2. Drew McIntyre

A sinister force to be reckoned with

Though spending a considerably lengthier time in the ring than Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre will match the Monster among men elimination for elimination, picking up a vaunted eight including the prime scalp of John Cena en route to a silver medal effort. This will set up his blockbuster showcase match against the Franchise at Wrestlemania.

McIntyre won't win the whole thing unfortunately but hopefully shall regain some of the lost heat ever since WWE decided to showcase his vulnerable side late last year. It'll set him up for a fantastic 2019 culminating in an eventual Universal Championship victory. That might even come against the man who beats him on this night.

Still, McIntyre shall get one such shot at the Rumble winner on the road to Wrestlemania as he ruffles some managerial feathers thanks to the champion of his choosing. It's hard to keep surprises when it's so obvious, so let's just say Drew McIntyre is going to have a great rumble but he's inevitably going to get burned down.

Eliminated by Seth Rollins

1. Seth Rollins

Will Seth Rollins Burn it Down this Sunday?

Starting at the number one position, Seth Rollins will be the third man in Royal Rumble history to go coast to coast from that position to win it all. A feel-good moment if they ever were one, Rollins will put the stomp on one hell of a year just at the anniversary mark of his unbelievable one-hour gauntlet match showcase last year.

With Roman Reigns indefinitely gone, Rollins picking the mantle is a bittersweet moment to set up his path to Wrestlemania. While at one point it looked clear that a confrontation with the Beast occurs, it isn't too surprising to consider that the current trajectory might be a little different.

Nobody is giving Finn Balor a fighting chance against Lesnar in his championship match, but the Beast's interjection in the Rumble will find Braun doing the same allowing Finn a surefire victory on the way to a Universal championship match against Seth Rollins. Their stories merge for now, especially more so with HHH and Mr. McMahon's involvement in lighting a fire under both competitors.

That for Seth to fulfill his tribute to the remnants of the shield, he will have to face another transgression that saw him fail to capture his last real world title shot is poetic. That after conquering his own demons from the past two years, Finn will face the man who cost him this is even more poetic.

It'll thus become the perfect clash of not one but rather two generational superstars ready to forge the future of the WWE in absence of the Big Dog. It's poetic and it's what the fans want, WWE should abide.

Result: Seth Rollins wins the Royal Rumble and goes to WrestleMania.