While Wrestlemania will always be the biggest WWE pay per view of the year, for me the Royal Rumble is always the most exciting. Not only is it focused around two (starting this year) giant matches- breaking up the format of the plethora of WWE’s other forgettable pay per views- it also officially kicks off Wrestlemania season. Let’s take a look at these matches and see who’s going to win!

From last year’s “Remeber the Rumble” ads. I try to remember the excitement going into the Rumble, not the feeling afterwards.

The Usos vs. Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the WWE Smackdown Tag Team Championships
I think Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin have got this one in the bag, not only because of Gable and Benjamin’s in ring work, but also (and mostly) because of Jay Usos’ DUI arrest. I think it’s time for Gable and Benjamin to have their turn as champions though because the division has been revolving around the Usos and The New Day for so long it’s about time someone else had a chance.
Who will win: Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin

Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan vs. Cesaro and Sheamus for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships
I’m thinking Rollins and Jordan are holding those belts until Elimination Chamber where they will officially break up. I don’t know if they’re going to get a match against each other at Wrestlemania or anything, but it still seems too early to end this storyline between them and without the tag belts holding them together Seth won’t have any reason to put up with Jordan.
Who will win: Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan

AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship
I’ve loved the story so far of Owens and Zayn gleefully being the weapon that Shane and Daniel Bryan fight each other with, but even so I just can’t imagining “Kami” winning here. For one thing, I don’t think WWE even knows how they’d handle co-champions, but for another I think Owens and Zayn are going to be in a match with Shane or for Bryan’s career at Wrestlemania, and I don’t think the championship would add to that.
Who will win: AJ Styles (I’ll be happy to be wrong though!)

From my Patreon exclusive comic “What You Missed in Wrestling”, recapping wrestling shows four times a week for only $1 a month! Check it out, won’t you?

Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane for the WWE Universal Championship
When this match was first announced I knew Lesnar would pin Kane for the title, just as I still know it now. I don’t think there’s a chance of WWE changing the title holder this close to Wrestlemania, no matter how badly they want to get Strowman over. Hopefully Strowman at least gets taken out in an interesting way, like Triple H or a rogue ambulance attacks him.
Who will win: Brock Lesnar

2018 Women’s Royal Rumble match
Ronda Rousey! There’s been so much hype surrounding her and so many secret meetings with Triple H I can’t imagine her not coming out at 30 and winning it. Of course I want Asuka to win and I’ll be screaming my head off for her, but I think that WWE wants her defending at Wrestlemania against Ronda, so she’ll pick up the title at Elimination Chamber.
Who will win: Ronda Rousey

2018 Men’s Royal Rumble match
As unpredictable as the Rumble is billed as, you know it always comes down to two or three people who could win (unless Triple H sneaks in there) and I think those men are Roman Reigns and Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura may just be wishful thinking since he and AJ had their face off back at Money in the Bank, but it would still be great to see. Roman Reigns is the safest bet though, and looking back at the past Rumble winners it’s usually a safe bet who wins.
Who will win: Roman Reigns

So I guess I went pretty safe on my predictions, but when you know that Wrestlemania is coming up and you just think about what they want in their main events it pays to be safe. I’m hoping to see some fun surprise entrants though (even though we probably just saw most of them at Raw 25) and maybe even some upset wins. And as much as I’d love to see Bryan run out there, win the Rumble and go on to face AJ at Wrestlemania, I just can’t get my hopes up like that! I just can’t! I’ll happily settle for him interfering in the World Title Match.

The Daniel Bryan Fan Support Group

From way back in 2014 (though I guess it worked out okay for Bryan fans at Wrestlemania).