The first PPV of the year is here and it is definitely the most exciting time of the year for wrestling fans. The Men’s Rumble match is basically fully set, but the Women’s match isn’t quite fully set. While there aren’t many women that are confirmed for the match, we do know who to expect for the most part. There currently aren’t any expected title changes, but I think we could actually see one or two. It will be fun to see what happens on Sunday, but for now, we can predict what will happen. At the bottom of the article, I will also attach The Sports Chief staff predictions. It’s always fun to see what everyone else is thinking.

*Predicted winners are bolded

*Match card is likely not in exact order

- Women’s Singles Match: RAW Women’s Championship

Becky Lynch (C) vs. Asuka

I’m pretty confident that this will kick off the PPV again this year. Last year, Asuka and The Man started the show and put on a really solid match. This time, they don’t have to worry about either competitor getting over in the Rumble match, so they should really put on a show here. I don’t see Lynch dropping the title, but anything can happen. Asuka is a more than worthy competitor to take it from her, but right now, I just don’t think it happens. Unless the winner of the Rumble match is Sasha Banks, expect the Rumble winner to go after Lynch at WrestleMania 36.

- Men’s Singles Match

Shorty G vs. Sheamus

I think this will be a show-stealing match. It certainly has that potential, but it will be overlooked due to the fact that the card is pretty stacked as it is. Sheamus is making his in-ring return after being out of action for over 9 months. Although I think Shorty G takes the loss, Sheamus is going to make him look great here. It should be a great back and forth match and like I said, I think it could steal the show.

- Men’s Singles Match: United States Championship

Andrade (C) vs. Humberto Carrillo

While it was interesting to see Carrillo pop back up on RAW this week, I just don’t think there is enough build for him to take the title against Andrade. El Idolo is on a roll as of late and I can’t see him dropping the title this quickly into his reign. I could see Andrade keeping the title for a solid few months and I think Carrillo’s time will come, but I don’t think it will be Sunday night.

- Women’s Singles Match: SmackDown Women’s Championship

Bayley (C) vs. Lacey Evans

I’m going out on a limb here, but I think it is time for Lacey Evans to have a title. Her character is stronger now than ever before and I think there is a lot more potential in this feud. Evans has turned into a fan favorite and a lot of fans would like to see her as champion. A lot of people still like Bayley and Sasha, but they don’t really have the momentum at the moment. I don’t know what would be next for the title picture if Lacey wins here, but I’d say Sasha Banks’s odds to win the Rumble match would rise. This feud is one of the best on TV at the moment and I’d hate to see it squashed before it reaches its full potential. If Lacey Evans loses this match, I think she could have a big run in the Rumble match.

- Men’s Falls Count Anywhere Match

Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin

I expect there to be a lot of interference in this match and I think it will be the main reason Roman Reigns takes the L in this particular match. Both superstars are confirmed for the Rumble match and it just feels like Corbin will pull some kind of trick to get the win in this match and Roman’s entry in the Rumble match will be in doubt. This is likely the way it will go, but of course Roman’s status in the Rumble match won’t be in doubt. Reigns is the current favorite by a large margin and him winning both matches don’t make that much sense, because the two wouldn’t have as much heat if Corbin loses here, but if Corbin wins the Falls Count Anywhere match, he can gloat about how he knocked Roman out of contention and then Roman swoops in to eliminate him. It makes too much sense.

- Strap Match: Universal Championship

“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (C) vs. Daniel Bryan

Although the build for this match makes it seem like Daniel Bryan has a reasonable chance in this bout, I don’t think he wins. The buildup has been awesome for this feud and the fact that it is a strap match makes it even more interesting. Strap matches are awesome if the right people are in them and these two are some of the best. I don’t think it will be a squash, but I don’t think a title change is imminent either. Wyatt should be on the path to WrestleMania and Bryan should find himself in a nice feud by April, heck, it could be still involving Wyatt somehow. We’ll see I guess.

- 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match

WINNER: Shayna Baszler

FINAL FOUR: Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, Shayna Baszler

SURPRISE WINNER: Io Shirai

I think the Women’s Rumble will go on before the Men’s match, but I think it will involve a lot of intriguing things. The fact that there are only a handful of entrants that have been announced is interesting, but to be honest, they really haven’t given us a reason to think something unexpected will happen in this match. The fact that Shayna Baszler hasn’t really been talked about in the last couple of months just screams that she will win. I’m not really going out on a limb, but Baszler winning makes a lot of sense. She and Becky Lynch had a good feud at Survivor Series and a continuation of that seems to make the most sense right now. Baszler is currently the heavy favorite, but if she doesn’t win, there are only a couple of other women that I think have the potential to win. Those couple of women are Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair. If I have to pick a surprise winner, I will go with Io Shirai, because it seems like they’re in a weird spot with her possibly on the way out and, plus she has somewhat of an injury designation going into the Rumble, so this could be another way to fake out the WWE Universe. Also, if Ronda Rousey makes an appearance in the Rumble, she will win the Rumble and face Becky Lynch at WrestleMania. Mark. My. Words.

- 30-Man Royal Rumble Match

WINNER: Roman Reigns

FINAL FOUR: Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, King Corbin, Roman Reigns

SURPRISE WINNER: John Cena

Again, I’m not really straying away from the favorites here, but Roman winning makes too much sense. If there was ever a time to push Roman back into the title picture, it is now. If Roman wins, there is no chance that he goes after Brock Lesnar. He will face The Fiend at WrestleMania. It just feels like they’ve been subtly dropping hints of a Roman win on SmackDown and I don’t feel like they’re doing that for any superstar. Brock Lesnar entering the Rumble in a non-title capacity lazily sets him up for a WrestleMania opponent and the person to eliminate him will get a shot at him at WrestleMania. My guess is that it will be Cain Velasquez, but they could surprise us with someone like John Cena, Ricochet, Drew McIntyre, Big E, Keith Lee, etc. If John Cena is going to break Ric Flair’s record, this would be the perfect opportunity to push him into a title shot, but I’m not really expecting it. If Cena is in the match, I think he and Randy Orton will have a solid back and forth to set up a match at WrestleMania. The fact that there are 27 entrants already confirmed doesn’t set up for many surprises, especially without any NXT confirmations, but a name that could be a fun surprise to enter the match is Booker T. Booker is from Houston, which happens to be the venue of the event and it definitely would be a fun surprise. Roman seems like too much of sure thing here, but the Rumble is the perfect time to hit the fans with a swerve. I’m not saying he has to defeat The Fiend at WrestleMania, but that match seems to be writing itself at this point.

Yacs

Here are our Sports Chief Staff Predictions.

2020 Royal Rumble Predictions