The Road to WrestleMania begins in St. Louis, Missouri.
World Wrestling Entertainment’s annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view takes place on Saturday at The Dome at America’s Center, former home of the St. Louis Rams. The annual event, considered one of WWE’s “big four,” will lay the groundwork for April’s WrestleMania 38, the company’s grandest show of the year.
The featured event is the PPV’s namesake, a 30-wrestler battle royale in which participants must eliminate their opponents by throwing them over the top rope and onto the ground outside the ring. The winner earns a shot at a world title match at WrestleMania.
The match begins with two wrestlers in the ring and every two minutes, a new participant comes out to join the match. In past installments, there have been a bevy of surprise entrants, from stars of yesteryears to . Since 2018, the WWE has feature both a men’s and a women’s Royal Rumble match.
Here’s a look at the card and predictions for the show:
How to watch
Date: Saturday, Jan. 29
Time: 5 p.m. MT
Location: The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, Mo.
TV: Peacock
Colorado connections
- Bobby Lashley: The Parker resident, billed out of Denver, is taking on Brock Lesnar for the WWE championship.
- Otis: A former collegiate wrestler at CSU-Pueblo he is one half of the the Raw tag team champions along with Alpha Academy teammate Chad Gable. They are not defending their belts, but both have been announced for the men’s Royal Rumble match.
Main card
Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz and Maryse
Mixed tag team match
Who should win: Edge and Phoenix.
The stars of “Miz & Mrs” are incredibly good at getting their opponents’ skins in the ring, but it’s hard to see Edge — last year’s — and his wife, The Glamazon, lose in this match.
Who will win: Edge and Phoenix.
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Singles match
WWE Universal championship
Who should win: Rollins.
If this was six years ago, it would be like a game of Shield rock-paper-scissors. Dean Ambrose — now Jon Moxley in All Elite Wrestling — beats Rollins. Rollins beats Reigns. Reigns beats Ambrose.
Who will win: Reigns.
The Tribal Chief isn’t heading into WrestleMania without the title around his waist.
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
Singles match
WWE championship
Who should win: Lashley.
Call it hometown favoritism, but seeing Colorado’s own Lashley come out at Ball Arena on Feb. 7 as the world champion would be amazing. But it goes beyond that. Lashley was effectively one of WWE’s MVPs last year, particularly with his run with The Hurt Business (please bring this back). Having him march into ‘Mania as the champion set him up as the final boss for whatever challenger steps up to the plate.
Who will win: Lesnar.
It’s hard to bet against Lesnar, particularly when he’s having one of his more entertaining runs in recent memory. Regardless, look for these two to break everything in and around the ring during their match.
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Doudrop
Singles match
WWE Raw women’s championship
Who should win: Lynch.
Before relinquishing her title after WrestleMania 36, Lynch was brightest star in the WWE. She’ll have a prominent spot on the card in April with title in hand. Sorry, Piper Niven.
Who will win: Lynch.
Women’s Royal Rumble
30-woman Royal Rumble match
Winner receives a world championship match at WrestleMania 37.
Announced participants: Aliyah, Nikki A.S.H., Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Dana Brooke, Carmella, Charlotte Flair, Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Lita, Michelle McCool, Liv Morgan, Natalya, Naomi, Summer Rae, Rhea Ripley, Sasha Banks, Shotzi, Sonya Deville, Tamina, Queen Zelina.
Already announced “surprises”:
Former WWE stars Brie and Nikki Bella, Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool, Summer Rae and Mickie James have been announced for the Rumble. James is the current Impact Knockouts World Champion.
Who else could return:
The women’s division has some injured wrestlers — namely Bayley, who’s been out since July with an ACL tear, and Asuka — who would immediately jump to the top of the potential Rumble winners shortlist. Who knows, maybe someone rowdy could come back and make their claim to exact revenge on a loss from a couple years back.
Who should win: Baszler.
This is based purely on the names that have already announced. Entering 2020, she was by far one of the most dominant wrestlers in NXT with a vicious demeanor and in-ring skills to boot. Her shine has faded since, having been relegated to the tag-team division and, of late, intermittent appearances. But a win here would lift her back into the main event scene where she belongs and provide a viable threat to either champion. Other compelling names include Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Nikki Bella, Rhea Ripley and Sasha Banks.
Who will win: Flair.
She has the pedigree to win it. She’s the current Smackdown women’s champion and she already won in 2020, so why again this year? If she wins, she chooses her opponent and Flair vs. Lynch to unite the women’s titles would be amazing. And heck, if Banks and Bayley are fully recovered by ‘Mania, let’s do a proper fatal Four Horsewomen battle.
Men’s Royal Rumble
30-man Royal Rumble match
Winner receives a world championship match at WrestleMania 37.
Announced participants: Happy Corbin, Angelo Dawkins, Big E, Montez Ford, Chad Gable, Kofi Kingston, Johnny Knoxville, Madcap Moss, Dominik Mysterio, Rey Mysterio, Omos, Randy Orton, Otis, Kevin Owens, Damian Priest, Rick Boogs, Ricochet, Riddle, Robert Roode, Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Sami Zayn and Dolph Ziggler.
Already announced “surprises”:
Johnny Knoxville, of “Jackass” fame, will be in the Rumble — his new movie, “Jackass Forever” opens Feb. 4. Look for him to be eliminated in a painful manner.
Who could return:
Whoever loses in the either of the men’s world championship matches should probably be expected to show up. Keep an eye on NXT stars such as current champion Bron Breakker to possibly make an appearance.
Who should win: Big E.
As with the women’s match, this is based purely on the wrestlers who have been announced. Big E winning his first world title in September was a feel-good moment. Losing it at “Day 1” was disappointing, but getting another opportunity should give renewed momentum for the powerhouse of The New Day. Other compelling names include AJ Styles, Kevin Owens and Damian Priest.
Who will win: Big E.
Results
- Seth Rollins d. Romans Reigns (c) via DQ. Reigns retains WWE Universal championship.
- Ronda Rousey wins women’s Royal Rumble match, earning world title match at WrestleMania 38.
- Becky Lynch (c) d. Doudrop to retain WWE Raw women’s championship.
- Bobby Lashley d. Brock Lesnar to win WWE championship.
- Edge and Beth Phoenix d. The Miz and Maryse.
- Brock Lesnar wins men’s Royal Rumble match, earning world title match at WrestleMania 38.
