Kickoff Match
Fatal 4-Way Tag Team Match, Winning Team Earns the Right to Compete in the Royal Rumble Match
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) vs. Damien Sandow and Darren Young vs. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger vs. The Ascension (Konnor & Viktor)
This match consists of two experienced tag teams, two men that have been teaming together recently and two men who are teaming together for the first time. The WWE Universe knows how well The Dudleys and The Ascension can work together, Mark Henry & Jack Swagger have been working well together despite only teaming together for a short time and the WWE Universe will find out how well Sandow and Young will be able to work together. In the end, I hope The Dudleys win and go onto the Royal Rumble Match because D-Von has never competed in that type of match before and I feel that he deserves that opportunity. As long as The Ascension does not win, I will be satisfied.
Pay-Per-View Matches
WWE Divas Championship Match
Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch
These two women were once good friends until Charlotte stabbed Becky in the back. While Becky was cheated out of winning the championship the first time, I think that this time will be different. Becky will overcome Charlotte’s potential underhanded tactics and walk out as the brand new Divas Champion.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match
The New Day (Xavier Woods/Kofi Kingston/Big E) (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey)
The New Day not only have the advantage of choosing which two of their three members to defend the championships under the “Freebird Rule”, in which past teams like The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy & Buddy “Jack” Roberts) and Demolition (Ax, Smash & Crush) have used to their advantage as well, The New Day has also been using the numbers game to their advantage. Come Royal Rumble, I hope that all changes when The Usos’ second cousin Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson makes a surprise appearance to even up the odds and The Usos walk out 3-time WWE Tag Team Champions. I also hope that after The New Day loses the championships that Kofi will grow tired of The New Day’s juvenile antics and leave The New Day and go back to being a face where he belongs.
United States Championship Match
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Kalisto
A couple of weeks ago on Monday Night Raw, Kalisto pulled off one of the biggest upsets in history when he defeated Del Rio for the U.S. Championship. Unfortunately, three days later on Thursday Night Smackdown, Kalisto got screwed out of the championship when Del Rio’s fellow League of Nations cohort Bad News Barrett assisted Del Rio in regaining the championship. At Royal Rumble, Kalisto gets his opportunity to regain the championship. While Kalisto’s Lucha Dragons tag team partner Sin Cara is currently recovering from injury, Kalisto should definitely find some backup to keep the other members of The League of Nations at bay. In the end, I think it will all pay off when Kalisto once again defeats Del Rio to regain the championship.
Last Man Standing Intercontinental Championship Match
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Ever since Ambrose beat Owens for the IC Championship back at TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs) last month, Owens has made it his mission to regain the championship. Ambrose offered to put his championship on the line in a Last Man Standing Match at Royal Rumble, which Owens has accepted. In this match, there are no pinfalls, no submissions, no countouts and no disqualifications; the only way to win is by taking your opponent off his feet and not being able to stand up before the referee’s 10-count. In the end, I think Ambrose will prevail and be the last man standing and still IC Champion.
Royal Rumble WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
In the main event, for the first time in Royal Rumble Match history, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion must defend his championship against 29 other superstars. While the championship has been on the line in the Royal Rumble Match one time in the past, the only difference was that the championship was vacant at the time. The McMahon Family (e.g., WWE Chairman and CEO Vincent K. McMahon and his daughter and WWE Principal Owner Stephanie) continue their vendetta against current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and continue to throw bogus obstacles in his way. In addition to forcing Roman to defend his championship in the Rumble Match, The McMachon Family has also named Roman the #1 entrant into the match. Two superstars start the match, every 90 seconds another participant enters the match, the only way to be eliminated is when a superstar goes over the top rope and both feet hit the floor, the last man standing in the ring after all 30 participants have entered will walk out as WWE World Heavyweight Champion and go onto the main event of WrestleMania 32. Thus far, the superstars listed below will be entering the Royal Rumble Match:
– Roman Reigns (c)
– Brock Lesnar
– Sheamus
– Chris Jericho
– Stardust
– Bray Wyatt
– Erick Rowan
– Luke Harper
– Braun Strowman
– Dolph Ziggler
– Ryback
– Big Show
– Curtis Axel
If I had to choose between all the superstars listed above, I would be hoping that Ryback would win, since he is the only face listed above that has never held a World Championship from WWE. I might change my pick once I see the match, but we will just have to see who else ends up entering the match. As long as a face wins, I will be satisfied.
