Choke's WWE 2015 Royal Rumble Predictions and Preview: Setting up your team for the most exciting PPV of the year!
Posted by: choke Jan 25, 2015 | 1893 views | 3 comments
Yes, this is by far my favorite of the WWE PPVs, even moreso than Wrestlemania. Unfortunately this year the undercard looks incredibly weak. I believe the 2 "main events" of the triple threat and the rumble itself, combined with hopefully a great Tag Title match could definitely make up for it.
Let's get on with the predictions
Royal Rumble Predictions
Pre-show: New Day vs Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and Adam Rose
I have no idea. I'm gonna go with the heels only because it seems they've lost 5 times in a row to the New Day. I'm all for giving a new team like New Day a push, but not at the expense of an extremely talented duo like Cesaro and Kidd. So New Day falls and the Cesaro/Kidd push begins officially.
The Usos vs The Miz and Damien Mizdow for the WWE Tag Titles
There's money in Miz and Mizdow right now, and outside fo the fact that I have the Usos on my league, I was disappointed they dropped the belts so quickly after winning them. It looks like the WWE is going to their breakup sooner than later and probably trying to, rightfully so, push the hell out of Sandow. I still think they should have gone with them as tag champs for a few months at least and slowly build the breakup more, but I've got to go with the Usos here. Adding more reasoning to my pick is that there simply arent any other teams for Miz and Mizdow to feud with if they win. Maybe New Day? Meanwhile Usos have Cesaro/Kidd, Gold/Stardust, Ascension. There's definitely a need for more faces in the tag division. Usos retain
Paige and Natalya vs The Bella Twins
What a bad match. I mean for Raw or Smackdown, this would be fine, but you have a title which should be defended which has been mostly ignored since Nikki won it, and this is the best you can come up with for the show? I can see this going either way. Paige and Natalya seem primed for a feud so I could see some tension developing there with a loss, but then where does that leave the Divas belt? I would hope they set up something with that, so I'll say Paige and Natalya win despite some tension, setting up one of them for a Divas title shot or maybe a triple threat or 4 way for the title soon.
The Ascension vs the New Age Outlaws
It makes no sense to have the Ascension lose here, so they should roll. Ascension win
Brock Lesnar vs John Cena vs Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
So there isnt one solo match at the entire PPV announced so far? I find that so bizarre. This sort of goes hand in hand with my Royal Rumble prediction, but everything I'm going to predict is solely on my feeling that it'll be Lesnar vs Bryan at Wrestlemania. So obviously I'm going with Lesnar to win. The best storyline I can think of, is Lesnar pins Cena, and then Rollins curb stomps him and attempts to cash in the MITB contract, only to be thwarted by a returning Randy Orton. The only piece of the puzzle I have no idea about is what Cena will be doing. Maybe Cena/Taker? Cena/HHH? It'll be something not involving the title IMO. Cena vs HHH for something somethign Authority, with Sting as the guest referree. Sure.
The Royal Rumble
I sort of spoiled my pick above. Daniel Bryan should win to set up the match we all want, Bryan vs Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Outside of some crazy surprise, the one man who stands in Bryan's way? the other "Logical" choice? Roman Reigns of course. Prior to the season starting, I was convinced it'd be one or the other, and may have even leaned Reigns at some points. Why have I completely shifted? BECAUSE NO ONE CARES ABOUT ROMAN REIGNS ANYMORE. Havent you heard what used to be a deafening roar whenever he showed up to any event because less and less deafening? It's not his fault, it's whoever is writing for him, and more importantly, it's the awful, awful feud he's had with the Big Show. I'm sorry but the best way to deflate your returning superstar faster than Tom Brady's Ball boy deflates a football, is to put him in a feud with the Big Slow. And that's the thing, the WWE is still selling us that feud like we should care, and Reigns and Show haven't had that culmination to it yet. With that being said, I think Reigns gets eliminated with/by the Big Show, or as a result of Big Show doing something to cause him the loss.
Other random predictions & notes for the Rumble:
I expect Randy Orton and maybe Sheamus to return and have a nice impact on the Rumble itself. Maybe a Sheamus heel turn that we've all been expecting finally happens?
Other potential returns which are more of longshots: Jericho, Batista, and the Rock
Most eliminations: Reigns easily. Ambrose, Bryan, Wyatt, Kane also with good showings
Trade Thoughts
So all that said, here are some thoughts on some wrestlers to consider trading for, or dropping
Pick up
1. Randy Orton: Just in case. I could see there being a league or two where Orton slipped through the cracks. But yeah, probably not
2. Sheamus: Go with your gut, but my gut says he returns, especially since he had that otherwise meaningless promo interview thing this week
3. Kane: Usually has a good showing in the Rumble
Drop
1. Nikki Bella: A complete reveral on my usual tactic. a) she has a belt and b) Divas are sorely underutilized in this game. But this season, Nikki has been a complete disappointment thus far, and not having a title match tonight seals the deal for me. I dropped her for Sheamus. Now, will I regret it when she has a triple threat tomorrow night on Raw and retains? yes, yes I will.
2. Adam Rose: There was a point in time where Rose was
3. Erick Rowan: Okay, I dont think you should drop him just yet. But wow what a bad season thus far. 1 point to date, out of the Rumble match, and with very little reason to believe it will turn around SOON. If you're in a deep league with a lot of wrestlers per team, he's probably worth holding and seeing what happens.