Roundtable: Royal Rumble 2019

Which non-Rumble match are you most looking forward to?

Troy Taroff: I don’t think it would be a shock to anyone to say that Asuka and Becky Lynch may be the most intriguing match heading into the Rumble just because all the hype behind Becky’s new attitude and popularity. But any match that includes AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan is sure to steal the show. Sign me up for more and more of these in the future.

Juan Bautista: Sasha vs. Ronda. It’s great to see Sasha in a high-profile match again. Although it’s highly unlikely, the possibility lingers that Sasha walks out as the Raw Women’s Champion.

Sam Gladen: Asuka vs. Becky Lynch: two of the most interesting wrestlers of the past two years who have both come back from a significant period of disuse. A clean win over “The Man” is the best way to reestablish Asuka as a legitimate heavyweight without sacrificing any heat for either performer.

John Corrigan: Obviously, we already know who wins Brock-Finn, so I’m pretty psyched for Asuka-Becky.

Anthony Mahalis: I really would like to say Balor vs. Lesnar because I want to believe that Finn wins. Let’s be realistic though, we all know Vince McMahon. He doesn’t like small guys to beat big guys. If Styles and Bryan didn’t beat Brock with no title on the line, Finn isn’t winning the title. So, I am most looking forward to a rematch between Styles and Bryan because they should put on a clinic.

Neal Wagner: Having seen what Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles can both do in the ring together already a couple times, there’s no way this match ever gets old. The aggressive side of AJ vs. the “New” Daniel Bryan will be amazing. I’m predicting a new champion on Sunday in the “Phenomenal One.”

David Gibb: In terms of match-ups, this is just about as strong a Royal Rumble card as the WWE could put together in January of 2019. While the next installment of Styles-Bryan should be another tremendous match, I’m most hyped to see Lesnar and Balor for the Universal Title. If the motivated Brock shows up, expect him to win over a lot of his most intense critics in his battle with the intense Irishman.

Chad Gelfand: Sasha Banks vs. Ronda Rousey. This will be a fantastic match and Sasha will finally be able to go all out and show once again why she’s one of the best women’s wrestlers in the world.

Steven Jackson: Without a shadow of a doubt, Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles. I want them to tear the house down and show the world what we all saw in ROH from them over 15 years ago!

Jack Goodwillie: We’ve hit a bit of a hot streak with WWE right now where the talent has finally aligned to give us what, on paper, should be really good PPV cards, regardless of how bad the Raws get. So as far as non-Rumble matches go, take your pick. I’m very intrigued to see how Finn Balor meshes with Brock Lesnar, especially since this was a match a lot of us were clamoring for at last year’s Rumble.

Give a surprise entrant for the men’s Rumble.

Taroff: Number 30: R-Truth stumbles out like the goof he is, only to be blindsided by Becky Lynch. Lynch just lost her match to Asuka and being called “The Man” isn’t enough for her, she wants to BE “The Man” as well (hypothetically speaking, of course). I don’t honestly see this as a surprise, per say, but don’t be shocked if Lynch decides to enter herself in the men’s Rumble, as well as the women’s, making this year’s Royal Rumble “The Man Show” (hypothetically speaking, of course).

Bautista: Batista. Just like Rey Mysterio, he will experience redemption and receive a hero’s welcome unlike his 2014 return when he was booed out of the building.

Gladen: Keith Lee will show up in the men’s Rumble, but he’s signed to NXT so it’s not that shocking. Out of left field – if the Lucha Bros rumors are true, this is the best time to debut them.

Corrigan: It’s been a long time since X-Pac competed in a WWE ring, so let’s bring back a Bronco Buster.

Mahalis: Velveteen Dream. He will come in and put on a great performance, and will leave fans waiting until he gets the call up to the main roster. I would say Kenny Omega, but I think they save his debut for SmackDown on Tuesday. That’s right, Kenny Omega debuts Tuesday night to start his feud with AJ Styles.

Wagner: If he wants to keep claim to the “Greatest Sports Entertainer Alive,” Tommaso Ciampa needs to make an appearance. It should be tradition now every year that the NXT Champion gets an immediate spot in the Rumble.

Gibb: Shane Strickland. (See my Top 100 profile.)

Gelfand: MVP. It would be great to see Montel Vontavious Porter in a WWE ring again. Hearing the “tic tock” in the beginning of his entrance would get me out of my seat.

Jackson: I’d love to see Johnny Gargano enter and get close to the end!

Goodwillie: I’m going to say something that many probably won’t agree with: legend cameos at the Rumble are dumb. I just rewatched The Godfather’s Rumble cameo and found myself asking why? Just so JBL could scream, “It’s the GODFATHER MAGGLE,” into the microphone? Personally, I’d rather see NXT guys make those cameos, even if it’s only for a one-off. But I think Velveteen Dream could not only debut in the Rumble, but come up for good if we’re to believe this holdout storyline he’s doing in NXT.

Give a surprise entrant for the women’s Rumble.

Taroff: Is it a forgone conclusion that R-Truth will try and enter this with Carmella at Number 30? This is no surprise, of course. Expect the likes of Trish Stratus and Lita to grace their usual presence as well. But for a surprise? It would be hard for WWE to really pull out a surprise for the women’s Rumble as every woman in good standing with the company was involved last year.

Bautista: Victoria. She has announced it will be her last year as an in-ring performer. She hasn’t made a surprise appearance and WWE is limited on surprise entrants. I would love if Melina was a surprise entrant as well.

Gladen: Jazzy Gabert. The German competed in the inaugural Mae Young Classic before having to step away from professional wrestling due to health concerns, but was seen ringside recently at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool. Perhaps signaling that she has been cleared to return to the ring a la Daniel Bryan?

Corrigan: Zoya the Destroya!

Mahalis: I’m not sure there are many answers here that would be a surprise. You will get Trish and Lita again, probably Beth Phoenix, Torrie Wilson, etc. I guess if I had to pick a semi-surprise, I’ll go with Toni Storm.

Wagner: I don’t believe there is another woman hotter in WWE than Toni Storm right now. Keep the momentum going with an appearance and good showing in the Rumble. Also, what better way to introduce another member to the main roster with a win?

Gibb: Lisa Marie Varon has said that 2019 will be her last year wrestling, and Victoria is more than deserving of a spot in the women’s Royal Rumble.

Gelfand: Victoria. She was one of the women in the early 2000’s holding it down for the women, having a fun character and putting on entertaining matches in a time when the women were consistently disrespected and short changed on segment/in-ring time.

Jackson: It’s got to be Viper from STARDOM and ICW. Always a pleasure to watch and a dominant force, I’d really like her to scare and eliminate everyone in sight!

Goodwillie: On the flipside, I don’t have a problem if the legends are going to actually factor into the match in some way and with the women’s Rumble, so much of the talent pool comes from NXT, anyway. I was very impressed with Ivory’s appearance at Evolution, so I think she could play the Mr. Perfect 2002 role in this year’s match.

Who wins the men’s Royal Rumble?

Taroff: This year it’s either going to Rollins or McIntyre. The number-one face and number-one heel on Raw have been on a roll these past few months (Rollins had a YEAR in 2018) and both are suitable opponents to take on Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35. Sorry Finn, but this just isn’t your time unfortunately. I would love to see Samoa Joe win it, but the year hasn’t been too kind to Joe with meaningless feuds with Jeff Hardy and Mustafa Ali. ALSO, why not The Miz? I know he’s doing this weird tag thing with Shane McMahon right now, but that can’t stay afloat for long, can it? Have him feud with Daniel Bryan one last time, this time with the character roles reversed. That would be some poetic justice for fans.

Bautista: Most likely Drew. While the momentum has stalled out for Seth Rollins , he has become the favorite.

Gladen: AJ Styles.

Corrigan: I have no interest in Rollins challenging Lesnar. So even though it’s a long road to WrestleMania, I’m walking with Elias.

Mahalis: I was on the fence between Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre because I don’t believe a SmackDown star will win for a second year in a row. I am going to go with McIntyre, but I think it is very close.

Wagner: It is way too hard to go against Seth Rollins right now. Everything has lined up for him to win by losing the IC Title to set up a potential shot at the Universal Title. I hope maybe they could do Balor (as champion) vs. Rollins at Mania rather than what’s rumored

Gibb: Some dude. Who cares about the men’s stuff, anyway? Cena, I guess.

Gelfand: My wish: Kofi Kingston. Who I think is actually going to win: Seth Rollins.

Jackson: I’d really like to see Mustafa Ali shock the world and get in the main event of WrestleMania. The guy has it and after his amazing 2018, WWE should follow up on his momentum for 2019.

Goodwillie: We already know that Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins are on a collision course to WrestleMania and they should be able to tell a really compelling story given the history between the two (between Seth’s ‘Mania cash-in and each of them making up two-thirds of my favorite triple-threat match ever). I re-watched the ’04 and ’05 Royal Rumbles over the weekend and found both to be sleeper hits, even though the former had up to 10 potential winners and the latter had one obvious choice, maybe two at most. I prefer the more unpredictable model for these matches, but sometimes the obvious choice is the right choice: Seth Rollins over.

Who wins the women’s Royal Rumble?

Taroff: This has to be Charlotte, right? I mean no other woman in WWE right now can be a reputable challenger to Ronda at WrestleMania and if WWE is really going to push a triple threat including Becky Lynch, this is the time to do it. Just please, please, please, don’t have us succumb to another Nia Jax run. My TV speakers can’t handle the abuse.

Bautista: My head says Charlotte, my heart says Becky and my gut says WWE is going to find a way to mess it up. It’s one of the most predictable Rumbles, but that’s the danger in this game.

Gladen: It’s gotta be Charlotte Flair.

Corrigan: Twenty-seven years after her father won the Royal Rumble, Charlotte will do the same, also entering at No. 3.

Mahalis: Going to go slightly unconventional here. The Man is going to lose to Asuka, then she will subsequently enter the Rumble and win. She will then go on to challenge Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania, and we will get the match that we were robbed of at Survivor Series.

Wagner: Name one of the few things that Charlotte hasn’t done yet. Yes, there are a few, but I think she crosses Rumble winner off that list Sunday. I had Becky winning once she dropped the title at TLC, but when they announced her against Asuka, the Rumble was just given to “The Queen.”

Gibb: Bayley. With Sasha, Becky and Charlotte all figured into top spots down the stretch, it only makes sense for the fourth horsewoman of NXT to assert herself.

Gelfand: My guess would be Charlotte Flair wins and that’s how we eventually get to a Ronda Rousey/Becky Lynch/Charlotte triple threat match.

Jackson: Zelina Vega is my pick for the women’s Rumble match. Again, an unexpected winner, but she deserves her moment of glory in the WrestleMania main event.

Goodwillie: The women’s match is the less predictable one and while I think everyone has a similar destination in mind, the journey is very much up for debate. I will say, though, there is precedent for wrestlers usurping Rumble spots and even competing in multiple matches in the same night. For that reason, I’m sticking to what I have thought since November: WrestleMania NEEDS to be Ronda vs. Becky and Charlotte vs. Asuka II. And for that to happen, THE MAN will need to win the Rumble to necessitate the move to Raw.