Probably the most thrilling WWE occasions of the yr is about for Saturday because the Royal Rumble involves Tropicana Subject in St. Petersburg, Florida. The occasion serves because the true kickoff of “WrestleMania season,” resulting in WrestleMania 40 on April 6 and seven in Philadelphia.
The Royal Rumble is an occasion that at all times invitations hypothesis from followers. Who would be the shock entrants? Who will go on the longest run of the evening? And, most significantly, who will win and punch their ticket to a world championship alternative at WrestleMania?
The CBS Sports activities specialists sat right down to resolve who our greatest selections to win the lads’s and girls’s Rumbles will probably be, together with a number of darkish horse picks for each matches. Let’s check out who we expect may finish the evening pointing on the WrestleMania signal.
Males’s match — Favorites
CM Punk
Why he may win: Punk’s return to WWE was surprising, a second that felt like it will by no means occur after Punk walked out of WWE in 2014. After returning to wrestling with AEW, Punk continued to trash WWE till issues collapsed amid a number of backstage altercations. This all led to Punk’s return at Survivor Collection. You merely do not carry a star of Punk’s caliber in and do something apart from swing for the fences. This alone makes him a robust contender to win the Rumble as a result of such a giant star returning, and headlining WrestleMania is the best enterprise determination.
WrestleMania outlook: Punk vs. Roman Reigns is senseless, so cross that off. Seth Rollins, nonetheless, has a built-in storyline as somebody who genuinely does not like Punk however is at all times keen to do enterprise. It has been made clear via promos that Punk desires to take Rollins’ title. And, with Rollins coping with a professional knee damage that he intends to work via till WrestleMania, whoever faces him on the largest present of the yr will virtually actually be strolling out as the brand new champion. If Punk wins the Rumble, he probably leaves WrestleMania as world heavyweight champion. This additionally offers with Punk’s longstanding concern of by no means really having a “WrestleMania second.” — Brent Brookhouse
Cody Rhodes
Why he may win: Rhodes could possibly be the primary individual in additional than a quarter century to win consecutive Royal Rumbles. Doing so places Rhodes in rarified air with Hulk Hogan (1990-1991), Shawn Michaels (1995-1996) and “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin (1997-1998). Rhodes is considered one of WWE’s hottest and guarded superstars, a plausible winner and a protected selection for this yr’s 30-man battle. The person is WrestleMania destined.
WrestleMania outlook: “End the story” has been Rhodes’ slogan since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 and has solely gained in significance in his pursuit to avenge his loss to undisputed WWE common champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. Defeating Reigns at this yr’s showcase is his future and I am optimistic WWE will see it via. Win or lose on Saturday, Rhodes is WrestleMania certain — in need of a “Rock” sized curveball. — Shakiel Mahjouri
Gunther
Why he may win: We must always begin by declaring that Gunther is an especially unlikely Rumble winner. He set the lads’s document for longest time in a Rumble match final yr however by no means actually felt like a menace to win the match, as an alternative serving as the ultimate hurdle for Cody Rhodes to clear. Nonetheless, Gunther has been elevated a lot as a star throughout his record-breaking run as intercontinental champion that he suits into the traditional Rumble function of “one of many true contenders” even when he is not actually one. Nonetheless, Gunther’s interplay with Rollins after Rollins introduced his damage, saying he’d win the Rumble after which take Rollins’ belt by concentrating on his knee and again makes him a enjoyable “What if?” possibility.
WrestleMania outlook: Gunther would problem Rollins, that was made clear on Uncooked through the aforementioned confrontation with the world heavyweight champ. Whereas Rollins’ knee damage makes it extraordinarily unlikely he walks out of WrestleMania along with his title, this looks like a scenario made for a Damian Priest Cash within the Financial institution cash-in. Sooner or later, WWE has to drag the set off on Priest utilizing his contract and it will make sense right here with Gunther not feeling like the best choice to grow to be world heavyweight champion. —Brookhouse
Darkish horse candidates
Jey Uso
Why he may win: My darkish horse decide is a toss-up between Uso and Drew McIntyre. Finally, should you’re seeking to ship the followers residence buzzing, you want a fan favourite to drag off the shocker. Uso has flourished as a singles famous person, scrubbing away his twin id and rising into his personal. It feels recently like Uso is taking a backseat in the crowded principal occasion scene, however a shock Rumble would go over nicely with the followers and inject new blood into his solo run.
WrestleMania outlook: Rhodes vs. Reigns and Punk vs. Rollins really feel like WrestleMania ensures. But when Rollins cannot work via his current knee damage, Uso may work some severe babyface magic in opposition to a cocky veteran Punk. The end result of the match may be decided by the weekend’s different principal occasion. WWE has conditioned its viewers to anticipate a “WrestleMania second.” If Rhodes loses to Reigns once more, artistic may give followers a morale enhance by awarding Uso his first world title in a scrappy win in opposition to an enormous identify. Both manner, the match catapults Uso to new heights. — Mahjouri
The Rock
Why he may win: The latest member of the TKO board, The Rock returned to WWE for a shock look at Day One Uncooked. Extra stunning, nonetheless, was Rock commenting on sitting “on the head of the desk,” instantly kicking off hypothesis {that a} long-discussed match between Reigns and his extra well-known cousin would lastly be going through off within the ring. Rock doesn’t want to win the Rumble for that match to occur. Merely calling for it will be purpose sufficient to make the match, however the pop if Rock’s music hit on the Rumble can be off the charts. Once more, it is unlikely it will occur, but when we’re speaking enjoyable darkish horse choices to win the Rumble, The Rock sits on the prime.
WrestleMania outlook: Clearly, the one play is Rock vs. Reigns. Some other use of Rock can be a large fumble. That mentioned, it is onerous to think about WWE placing Rock over at WrestleMania. Rock is not sticking round for an actual run, even along with his new take care of TKO, and slicing the knees out from Reigns’ longstanding “head of the desk” gimmick for a single second can be shortsighted in a manner that WWE does not appear to function beneath Triple H’s artistic imaginative and prescient. Perhaps within the days of Vince McMahon, however not in 2024. — Brookhouse
Ladies’s match — Favorites
Becky Lynch
Why she may win: The Rumble is not solely about creating new stars or pulling off shockers. Typically it is so simple as reheating a widespread act and giving them a handy path to WrestleMania. Lynch will at all times be a plausible menace on this match. “The Man” has been participating in a surprisingly stable feud with Nia Jax since wrapping up her NXT stint and nonetheless operates at a excessive stage.
WrestleMania outlook: Lynch just lately confronted girls’s world champion Rhea Ripley on Uncooked. It was a uncommon and infrequently underutilized promo that constructed up each girls as elite threats. Ripley vs. Lynch is not essentially the most impressed course, however it’s a straight shot to a barnburner WrestleMania match. I would anticipate Lynch to take the loss as Ripley builds additional on a career-defining run. — Mahjouri
Bayley
Why she may win: Bayley has been on an attention-grabbing journey of late. From main a dominant faction in Injury CTRL to obviously being the lady on the outs from the group. There is a built-in story for Bayley with profitable the Rumble and difficult Injury CTRL’s Iyo Sky for the WWE girls’s championship after all of the faction’s drama.
WrestleMania outlook: Bayley vs. Sky can be the transfer if Bayley gained the Rumble. From there, it is onerous to say what the play is. Bayley profitable the belt and occurring to feud with the assorted members of Injury CTRL is a smart play and one that offers Bayley a lift again to the principle occasion scene. Injury CTRL may additionally assist Sky retain and set Bayley on the course of chasing some measure of revenge. Nonetheless, I would anticipate Bayley to stroll out of WrestleMania as champion ought to she win the Royal Rumble. — Brookhouse
Nia Jax
Why she may win: Jax returned to WWE finally yr’s Rumble to unanimous groans. But her new run with the corporate has been surprisingly good. Jax just lately placed on a career-best match with Lynch and has been offered as a professional pressure within the girls’s division. Yearly round this time, WWE leans into the trope of “who may presumably remove this bodily imposing famous person.” Nicely, virtually yearly these superstars get eradicated. Jax’s success within the final 12 months makes this a yr the place optics and reserving mesh collectively.
WrestleMania outlook: Pitting Jax in opposition to Ripley or Iyo Sky are each intriguing choices. The Ripley match is a bodily energy battle between two of WWE’s strongest girls. It is also a feud that has been brewing since Jax returned final yr. Difficult the WWE girls’s champion would pressure Sky right into a face function, a David vs. Goliath story. I think Jax would come up quick in opposition to Ripley however overcome the smaller Sky. — Mahjouri
Darkish horse candidates
Jade Cargill
Why she may win: Cargill’s signing was big for WWE and so they made her an instantaneous presence on tv, even when she wasn’t wrestling any matches. It might be the case that WWE desires Cargill to spend a while in NXT, however she’s been round lengthy sufficient with out doing something within the ring that she makes a enjoyable darkish horse candidate to point out up within the Rumble and win all of it, establishing herself instantly as a participant on the highest stage. Cargill can be made for a formidable run within the Rumble. The actual danger is that this might be a real sink-or-swim play by WWE however the reward could possibly be definitely worth the danger.
WrestleMania outlook: The choices could possibly be large open for Cargill. Difficult Sky or Ripley can be attention-grabbing of their methods, however I believe Cargill vs. Ripley appears like the higher possibility. There isn’t a scarcity of challengers for Ripley on Uncooked however a gathering of powerhouses at WrestleMania looks like a safer match than asking Cargill to maintain up with Sky, who’s a barely trickier match and Cargill wants her hypothetical WrestleMania debut to go as easily as potential. — Brookhouse
Liv Morgan
Why she may win: There’s a whole lot of buzz a couple of Morgan comeback. The previous SmackDown girls’s champion has been sidelined for six months with a shoulder damage. The boys’s Rumble has too many WrestleMania storylines for a shock entrant not named “The Rock” to win. The sector on the ladies’s finish is extra open. There’s sufficient proof to anticipate the transfer to work: Morgan has a devoted following, the thrill of a shock return and he or she will not be stealing a spot the followers imagine is owed to another person. Plus, she’ll have additional motivation to win…
WrestleMania outlook: Morgan was written off tv in July after being attacked by Ripley. It was an assault that price Morgan her half of the WWE girls’s tag crew championships. Morgan could have revenge in thoughts and will surely go after Ripley. It is a story that writes itself and provides Morgan some much-needed edge after her middling run with a prime singles title. It is unlikely Morgan beats Ripley, however it may do loads for her long-term place in WWE. — Mahjouri