Tonight is WWE Royal Rumble 2019, here are the Pulse Wrestling crew’s full previews and predictions!
Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar vs. Finn Bálor
Spain: I’ve wanted this match since Lesnar’s return and couldn’t believe when we finally got it. But what with Lesnar’s implacability and how Finn’s been treated since his injury, as well as him reportedly not bringing the Demon to Royal Rumble (which, in-universe, makes Finn Balor a fucking moron), there seems to be little hope of a title change before WrestleMania, which is unlikely to include Balor.
Winner (and still Universal Champion): Brock Lesnar
Jake Ziegler – Hopefully Brock feels like trying, and we get a fun display. No chance the title changes hands though.
Winner – Brock Lesnar
PK: There is no expectation at all that Balor wins this match, and the lack of The Demon pretty much solidifies it. Hopefully we get a bit of fun similar to the Survivor Match against Bryan.
Winner – Brock Lesnar
Widro: It’s odd that they took Braun out of the match given that Finn is going to lose anyway.
Winner – Brock
WWE Championship
Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles
Spain: It could be the five-star classic we’ve all been waiting for, but I don’t see a title change here. There’s time for a new challenger to emerge and take the fight to Bryan by WrestleMania, which seems like the better option than keeping the Styles/Bryan feud going until April. Call it a narrow win for Bryan and hopefully the match of the night.
Winner (and still WWE Champion): Daniel Bryan
Jake Ziegler – Bryan is KILLING it with the heel promos, and I hope they run with it for a bit longer.
Winner – Daniel Bryan
PK: Bryan’s evil Captain Planet promos have been getting better and better (especially the one from the Axxess Store that is on WWE.com). This feud needs to end, and my guess is we have a clear WrestleMania WWE Title match at the end of the night.
Winner – Daniel Bryan
Widro: Heel Bryan has done some great promos and this could be a great match, but the Smackdown title matches have been disappointing more than not.
Winner – Bryan
2019 Men’s Royal Rumble Match
#1/2: Seth Rollins and Shinsuke Nakamura
Winner: Seth Rollins
Final Four: Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio
Longest Time: Seth Rollins
Most Elimination: Braun Strowman
Surprise Entrant(s): Velveteen Dream
Jake Ziegler – #1/2: Andrade and Mustafa Ali
Winner: Seth Rollins
Final Four: Rollins, Andrade, Dean Ambrose, Samoa Joe
Longest Time: Andrade
Most Elimination: Samoa Joe
Surprise Entrant(s): Velveteen Dream
PK: #1/2 Jeff Hardy & Jinder Mahal
Winner: Rollins
Final Four: Rollins, Ambrose, Orton, Braun
Longest Time: Mysterio
Most Elimination: Braun
Surprise Entrant(s): Velveteen Dream, Pete Dunne, MVP, Becky Lynch
Widro: #1/2 Samoa Joe, Rey Mysterio
Winner: Rollins
Final Four: Rollins, Ambrose, Braun, Drew
Longest Time: Kofi
Most Elimination: Braun
Surprise Entrant(s): Aleister Black, RVD,
2019 Women’s Royal Rumble Match
#1/2: Ember Moon and Naomi
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Final Four: Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, Nikki Bella
Longest Time: Ember Moon
Most Elimination: Charlotte Flair
Surprise Entrant(s): Shayna Bazler
Jake Ziegler – #1/2: Ruby Riott and Natalya
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Final Four: Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Carmella, Ember Moon
Longest Time: Bayley
Most Elimination: Charlotte Flair
Surprise Entrant(s): Michelle McCool, Layla
PK: #1/2 Riott & Naomi
Winner: Charlotte
Final Four: Charlotte, Riott, Moon, Carmella
Longest Time: Riott
Most Elimination: Charlotte
Surprise Entrant(s): Shayna Bazsler, Toni Storm, Kharma
Widro: #1/2 Alexa Bliss, Natalya
Winner: Charlotte
Final Four: Charlotte,
Longest Time: Ember Moon
Most Elimination: Nia Jax
Surprise Entrant(s): Toni Storm, Bianca Belair, Kairi Sane
Raw Women’s Championship
Ronda Rousey vs. Sasha Banks
Spain: This is Rousey’s first defence against a great wrestler: not a cheating heel, a powerhouse or whatever Nikki Bella is. Banks should get an even better work from Rousey than we’ve seen already, but the title change would be an unexpected one at this point, barring interference from Charlotte or Becky which is not necessary. Ronda retains.
Winner (and still RAW Women’s Champion): Ronda Rousey
Jake Ziegler – This should be a great match, and the promo work by Ronda and Sasha has been pretty entertaining. Ronda retains of course.
Winner – Ronda Rousey
PK: This is just as easy as a pick as the Brock/Balor match. Ronda wins for sure, but maybe we see more a heel side of Sasha here to join her fellow Horsewomen.
Winner – Ronda Rousey
Widro: I am super happy that Sasha is getting pushed again and I hope she can get a great match out of Ronda.
Winner – Ronda
SmackDown Women’s Championship
Asuka vs. Becky Lynch
Spain: If Asuka’s to be salvaged, and she must be, then she needs to hold onto this Championship. Lynch doesn’t need it for the WrestleMania bout with Rousey that’s hopefully still on the cards, whereas Asuka can benefit tremendously from a few dominant defences. Right now, the title is exactly where it should be.
Winner (and still SmackDown Women’s Champion): Asuka
Jake Ziegler – THE MAN COMES AROUND
Winner – Becky Lynch
PK: Asuka deserves some time with the belt, and I think so goes all the way to WrestleMania with it. They will have to figure out a way to get both Charlotte & Becky on Raw to face Ronda.
Winner – Asuka
Widro: I think Becky picks up the win here.
Winner – Becky
SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Bar vs. The Miz & Shane McMahon
Spain: I’m split down the middle between Miz waiting to get the belts before betraying Shane or after. WWE logic is utterly butterly absurd, so I may as well bet that we see yet another embarrassing title loss for Sheamus and Cesaro.
Winners (and the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions): The Miz and Shane McMahon
Jake Ziegler – Ugh, not interested in any of this. Poor Sheamus and Cesaro.
Winners – Shane McMahon & The Miz
PK: In the span of 1 calendar year, The Bar will be losing their titles to both a child, and Shane McMahon.
Winners – Co-Besties
Widro: This seems to be telegraphing a Miz turn but they will get the belts first.
Winner – Shane & Miz
WWE Cruiserweight Championship Fatal 4-Way Match (Kickoff Match)
Buddy Murphy vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Kalisto vs. Hideo Itami
Spain: Not got the faintest idea, so I’ll trust in Royal Rumble tradition and say the Champion retains.
Winner (and still WWE Cruiserweight Champion): Buddy Murphy
Jake Ziegler – This match should rule, but it’s not time to take the belt off Murphy yet.
Winner – Buddy Murphy
PK: Buddy Murphy is so dominate right now, and this cast of challenges will not be able to keep up.
Winner – Buddy Murphy
Widro: Out of all the cruiserweights under contract, Buddy Murphy would not have been my guess for most dominant in the division.
Winner – Murphy
United States Championship
Rusev vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Kickoff Match)
Spain: Tough to say. Rusev’s still stands a chance of doing something with the belt, whilst Nakamura’s tenure as Champion has been underwhelming. A title change this early would be odd, so I think Rusev will get some well-deserved revenge against the former Champion.
Winner (and still United States Champion): Rusev
Jake Ziegler – Rusev and Nakamura usually have solid but not spectacular matches together, so they’re fine here on the preshow. I could see this one going either way, but why not let Rusev have a little run?
Winner – Rusev
PK: It really is a shame how Nakamura has not clicked with the WWE Universe. Rusev keeps the title, and Nakamura continues to fall into obscurity.
Winner – Rusev
Widro: Rusev back at the US Title level!
Winner – Rusev
