THE ROYAL RUMBLE IS JUST OVER A WEEK AWAY AND, OF COURSE, THE PRE-RUMBLE EXCITEMENT IS RIFE THROUGHOUT PROFESSIONAL FANDOM.
Growing up, the Rumble was always my favourite PPV due to the unpredictability of it all. It was the night where (to a degree) anything can happen. Legends could return, wrestlers could debut and someone could defy all the odds and book themselves a one-way ticket to the main event of Wrestlemania. Over the last couple of years, however, the surprise factor has somewhat been depleted from the Rumble, well, unless you consider Reigns coming in at number 30 last year a surprise. Roman Reigns is the odds-on favourite for this year’s Rumble so, with that in mind, let’s set our minds free, get a bit crazy, have a bit of fun and look at five Wrestlers who could (but won’t) win the Royal Rumble this year;
Aleister Black
The WWE has a great resource for surprise entrants into the Rumble with NXT. The ‘development territory’ is as popular as both Raw and Smackdown and some of the wrestlers that currently fill the NXT roster are some of the most over in the entire company. One man who definitely fits that description is Aleister Black. Ever since his debut back at Take Over: Orlando, Black has been one of the, if not the most popular wrestler down at NXT. His Undertaker-esque persona, his undeniable skill in the ring and his simple yet effective finisher has propelled Black into the main event of NXT pretty much straight away. What if the WWE go one further? What if Black debuts at the Rumble and wins the whole thing? Highly unlikely I know but dammit this is what this article is! A bit of fun. Are you telling me you wouldn’t completely lose your mind if Black kicked Roman Reigns right in his head then threw him over the top rope? I sure would and it would make a huge change to give that big of a push to someone that, you know, could actually benefit from it.
The Undertaker
This is more a bit of a childhood infused fantasy pick here but, something that not only works creatively but would be a fitting end to perhaps the greatest performer to step foot in a WWE ring. I think we can all agree as fans, this should be Takers’ last run. He has been a constant figure in the WWE but all things must come to an end and what more fitting end could there be than capturing the WWE (Universal) title on the grandest stage of them all. This would work with Brock going into Mania as champ due to the history between Taker and Brock but, I have always been of the opinion that Taker’s last match needs to involve his greatest ally and his most mortal enemy, Kane. Both Undertaker and Kane deserve a big, big send-off when they decide to call it quits and, what better way than for the Brothers of Destruction to be facing off in the main event (well one of) for the World Title. Kane goes in as Champion, something he has always deserved and Taker retires a Champion.
CM Punk
Oh, Punk, how I miss thee! It is obvious the WWE wants him back, UFC hasn’t exactly worked out the way he’d hoped so is it time for the Straight Edge Superstar to return home? Well, of course, I think so and I bet a fair few of you do too! Just imagine the pop when Living Colour hits the PA system and outsteps Punk. I am getting goosebumps thinking about it. Mania needs a huge attraction, Brock is still arguably the most marketable worker they have but even that is starting to get a bit stale. Braun Strowman will get there in a year or two for sure but at the moment, the WWE needs a big name. What bigger match could they book for the main event than CM Punk vs AJ Styles for the WWE title? This one is obviously just pure fantasy but who knows? You never say never in this business, do you?
Chris Jericho
This pick is purely for cross-promotion fantasy. Imagine, the WWE champion vs the IWGP champion? Or, just the WWE Championship being defended in Japan. There is more chance of Punk returning than this little idea but it is intriguing. New Japan really wants to globalize their product and getting Jericho for the Dome was a work of genius. What better way can they truly introduce themselves onto the main stage than having some cross-promotion with the WWE. Why would Vince ever help the competition I hear you ask? Well, I doubt he would but, does Vince really view New Japan as competition? I wouldn’t think so. They offer a pure Pro Wrestling product, Vince does not. But what benefit would there be for the WWE to work with New Japan like this? Well, as much as Jericho undoubtedly helped some WWE fans to find New Japan, could the cross-promotion also bring back some old disgruntled WWE fans back to the product? This could be a win-win if you ask me.
Daniel Bryan
A bit like the CM Punk choice but, perhaps a tad more realistic? In the last few days, the odds of Bryan winning the Rumble have been slashed from 66/1 to 10/1. Sure, you cannot trust bookie odds when it comes to Pro Wrestling but it is an interesting statistic. Bryan himself has said for months he is good to go, he has been cleared by dozens of doctors and he wants to return to the ring. The escalating feud between Shane and Bryan is only intensifying our excitement that Bryan could return to the ring. Such a huge return cannot, in the greatest of respect, be wasted on a match with Shane McMahon. He needs to be wrestling where he can make the most impact and that is in the main event against AJ for the title. Imagine, number 30 and Bryan’s music hits. He has Shane and maybe even Vince trying to stop him. It writes itself really and what a match him and AJ could put on.