The road to Wrestlemania. The most magical and special time of the wrestling year and it’s finally here. After Cena’s shocking return last year, who knows what surprises the E has in store for us this year? The Royal Rumble match is always fun and this year’s roster is one of the best ever. The rest of the card is also promising a lot and it wouldn’t surprise me if this year’s PPV will turn out to be one of the best Royal Rumbles in history. So sit back and read what the Pulse team thinks about this year’s event.
30-Man Royal Rumble Match:
Mark Allen: Automatically my favorite match of every year. I’m once again expecting big things from this match. That being said I really expect Randy Orton to finally walk out of this one as winner after coming so close in 2006 and 2007.
Winner – Randy Orton
Raffi Shamir: It’s easily my favourite gimmick match. When it’s done right, and usually it is, the Rumble is arguably the most exciting hour of WWE programming. And I like it when there’s no clear winner. Three names come to mind – Triple H, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. Hell, if he hadn’t beatedn Big Show last week, I think that winning the Rumble could have been the ultimate redemption of MVP’s character and the perfect end to his losing streak. But that’s off the table. After coming so close in previous years and with the Legacy by his side, I can see Orton finally winning the Rumble. And after this week’s ECW and this clip, wouldn’t it be cool to see John Morrison and The Miz draw numbers one and two?
Winner – Randy Orton
Matthew Michaels: As I write this, only 21 names have been entered into the Rumble, according to WWE.com. Hm. Do I bet on a “surprise” winning? Well… since I picked Edge, Cena and Swagger to leave as champions, who would make the best challenger to each at Mania? Okay, we can X out Swagger, since there’s no way the ECW title is being defended in the Mania main event. If Cena wins, you have Jericho and Orton as the top candidates to take the Rumble; and if I had to choose between the two, I’d pick Jericho, since I have a feeling Shane and Orton will be going at it next. So who to face Edge? Taker? Been there, done that. HHH? Too predictable. How about a surprise?
Winner – Jeff Hardy
Brad Curran: This is the most wide open Rumble in years, as there’s no one obvious choice, and a lot of big names who could be slotted in to a title shot/Mania main event. I’ll pick the guy who’s got the most momentum going in and will apparently be feuding with the McMahons.
Winner- Randy Orton
Danny Wallace: This is one of the hardest-to-predict Royal Rumble’s in recent memory… my memory is bad like, but still. I’ve got no idea where any of the major storylines are headed, especially the one with Randy Orton, so it’s even harder to predict than usual. This match should set up some WrestleMania matches, for example, whoever eliminates the Undertaker (my votes for a returning Umaga or Vladimir Kozlov) has an easy program to run with, especially if they go with Kozlov, as if they keep him unbeaten until Mania then it’ll add more to a match with Taker.
Let’s do a quick run through of the participants that have no chance of winning. Finlay, Mark Henry, CM Punk, R-Truth, Carlito, Brian Kendrick, Big Show, Shelton Benjamin, Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, The Miz, John Morrison, Cody Rhodes, Ted Dibiase, Santino, Kane, Khali, Chavo.
That leaves us, without the surprise entrants, Triple H, Kozlov, Undertaker, Randy Orton and Chris Jericho. Some people may have picked the Big Show, but he’s got less direction than the others. I can’t see Undertaker winning again, as he’s already had a feud with Edge recently, so he’s out. Triple H just held the title and seems to be more concerned with Vickie Guerrero than the title at the moment, so he’s out too. Kozlov’s been pushed well and he’s held his own in all the high-profile matches he’s had so far, but I don’t think a Smackdown guy will win as their World title’s in the midst of a feud that doesn’t need a Rumble winner.
So that leaves Randy Orton and Chris Jericho, two of the best men in the business at the moment. The JBL – Cena program has a short time span, and I think Randy Orton is going to be feuding with Vince/Stephanie McMahon somehow, so that leaves Jericho.
Either that, or HBK and JBL are involved somehow. Possibly the following could happen – JBL doesn’t beat Cena, JBL fires HBK. HBK and JBL are both entered in the Rumble and HBK eliminates Layfield. Or… JBL wins, fires HBK anyway (he’s got what he wants and doesn’t need Shawn anymore), then HBK goes on to win the Rumble leading to a HBK vs. JBL match at WrestleMania. OR… JBL wins the title, keeps HBK around but HBK is a suprise entrant in the Rumble match and wins it, leading to a HBK vs. JBL match for the title at WrestleMania.
You can tell I haven’t done this in a couple of years, can’t you?
Winner – I’ve no idea… let’s say HBK for the fun of it.
World Heavyweight Championship:
John Cena (C) vs. JBL
Mark Allen: JBL doesn’t need to win this. Cena and Orton at WrestleMania is a WrestleMania dream match I have been waiting for years (despite all their interaction in 2007). Plus it looks like JBL has his dance card all punched with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania (even though Michaels deserves so much better.)
Winner – John Cena
Raffi Shamir: I love the HBK/JBL storyline. I’d hate to see it end in WrestleMania because that would be a terrible way to waste HBK in the biggest event of the year. But prior to that, we have this championship match which I think is a foregone conclusion. JBL will not hold a major title heading into Mania, especially not at Cena’s expense, doesn’t matter what HBK pulls on Sunday.
Winner – John Cena
Matthew Michaels: No way is Cena losing.
Winner – John Cena
Brad Curran: I can’t see JBL ever getting another world title reign again, unless it’s transitional, and there’s no face for him to transition it to who makes more sense holding the belt than Cena (unless it was Shawn, but I don’t see that happening). Shawn will cost JBL the match, intentionally or not, to keep that storyline going.
Winner- Cena
Danny Wallace: This is another toughie to predict, but it’s a match I think EVERYONE’S looking forward to, but not because of the match content. I think we’re all waiting to see what or how HBK becomes involved, and if he’s fully turned heel or what.
Cena’s pretty directionless at the moment, and he’s not had the title for very long, so I think he’ll keep it and the HBK vs. JBL thing can kick off.
Winner – John Cena
WWE Championship:
Jeff Hardy (C) vs. Edge
Mark Allen: Looking back I must save I have been quietly intrigued in the SD main event scene over the past few months thanks to the interchangeable parts of Hardy, Edge, HHH, Vlad, UT and Big Show. That being said this match still is a toss-up for me as I don’t know if they’ll pull the trigger on Christian this weekend or if they’ll wait until after those above six met in the Elimination Chamber in February. *Flips a coin*
Winner – Jeff Hardy
Raffi Shamir: I can see Hardy’s first title reign going like Edge’s, where he wins it for a test run and loses it back at the Rumble. Also, if the rumours about Christian making his return here to cost Hardy the title and be revealed as the one behind the attacks, the title can switch hands without Jeff Hardy losing much face.
Winner – Edge
Matthew Michaels: I’ll go with the rumors that Christian’s making his come-back here and costing Jeff the title. I’d rather see Christian win the Rumble, Jeff win this match, and they go on to face each other, but hey, what do I know?
Winner – Edge
Brad Curran: I could see them go either way with this one, but Jeff being screwed over by Edge and a certain cagey veteran making his return, and having to win the Elimination Chamber next month to get a rematch at Mania, makes the most sense to me. So, another reign for Edge.
Winner- Edge
Danny Wallace: I love having Jeff as the Champion, it’s been a long time coming and it feels like a breath of fresh air has blown all the cobwebs away on Smackdown and in the WWE as a whole. Saying that, with Christian’s rumoured return and the recent “screw-up” storyline that they’ve got going on with Hardy, I’m picking Edge to win via Christian interference.
Winner – Edge
ECW Championship:
Jack Swagger (C) vs. Matt Hardy
Mark Allen: Hardy is not going to win the belt back this quick, but if they were going to a rematch this soon I wonder why they didn’t wait and pull the trigger on Swagger’s win on PPV?
Winner – Swagger
Raffi Shamir: That’s one title change that’s gonna stick. Matt has bigger and better things in his future and I see him jumping to one of the main brands soon to chase after a real world championship. Hell, I have a friend who picked him as this year’s rumble winner, though I don’t share this speculation.
Winner – Jack Swagger
Matthew Michaels: Might as well keep it on Swagger, see how the fans react to him with the gold, uh, silver.
Winner – Swagger
Brad Curran: Swagger just won the belt, and I assume Matt will be tied up with what Jeff’s up to or in Money in the Bank at Wrestlemania. At any rate, it’s nice to see an ECW Title match that could be good on one of the “big 4” WWE shows.
Winner- Jack Swagger
Danny Wallace: I don’t like Jack Swaggaaa. There, I said it. Something about him annoys me. I think it may be the stupid way he pounds his chest when he walks down the ramp. Stupid annoying git. Anyhoo, I don’t really care about this match. Hardy’s going to be more involved with his brothers storyline so it made sense for him to drop the strap to Swagger, and I can’t see him winning it back again so soon.
Winner – Jack Swagger
Women’s Championship:
Beth Phoenix (C) vs. Melina
Mark Allen: Don’t really care, but there seems to be a wealth of face challengers on the RAW brand for Beth to go against plus the Rosa Mendez story so I say Beth takes it here.
Winner – Beth
Raffi Shamir: I don’t buy Melina as a face and certainly not as a face champion. After RAW in Canada last month, my dream is to see Trish Stratus making a comeback for a match with Beth at WrestleMania. Even if that doesn’t happen, Beth should keep her title here and keep it at least until WrestleMania.
Winner – Beth Phoenix
Matthew Michaels: I’d assume Melina would win this, but it doesn’t feel like it’s her time yet. Eh.
Winner – Beth
Brad Curran- I’ll pick a champ losing here, just to have one title change, and because I could see Rosa costing Beth the match to continue that storyline. Although they could do that by DQ.
Winner- Melina
Danny Wallace: Not too bothered about this match, although I think we can see some brilliance from Santino and some unwelcome distraction by that Rosa chick.
Winner – Melina.
And that’s the Rumble roundtable. Come back tonight to PulseWrestling for our live, up to the minute coverage of the Royal Rumble.
