Match Predictions and Heat Index Anticipation Levels
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Bobby Lashley
Heat Index = Scorching
Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins.
Thoughts: I’ve wanted to see this match, so I’m glad they’re finally doing it. I’m also really curious who is going to win, cause I just imagine WWE wants to do Reigns vs. Lesnar at WrestleMania. That means one of those two drops their title here and wins the Royal Rumble, or both retain and it’s title for title with the Royal Rumble being utterly useless. Rumor has it, WWE wanted Seth Rollins to win the WWE Championship at Day 1 and Lesnar would have beaten Reigns. In that case, it makes sense for Lesnar to retain here.
UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Seth Rollins wins.
Thoughts: As stated, I don’t think Lesnar is dropping the belt. While it’s hard to imagine they’ll do all of what Rollins said, he DID put it out there that he’ll make the universal title’s strap red again, bring it to Raw, and then Lesnar will switch over to SmackDown with the WWE Championship by proxy, of course. I think Lesnar interferes here and costs Reigns, who already surpassed Lesnar’s title reign length. That way, Reigns can lose the title through shenanigans that keep him looking strong and he can win either Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber, then beat Lesnar at WrestleMania.
RAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Doudrop
Heat Index =Â Temperate
Prediction: Becky Lynch wins.
Thoughts: I’ll give WWE credit in that they didn’t just go with Liv Morgan in yet another rematch like I thought they would. A heel vs. heel match is a bit different. However, there’s no way in Hell Doudrop actually wins the belt. That takes a lot of the intrigue out of it. I’m curious enough to see how the match goes that I’ll give it the middle of the road option instead of something colder, but I can’t exactly say I’m anticipating this with eager breaths.
30-MAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Heat Index = Scorching
Prediction: 50% Roman Reigns wins. 30% Kevin Owens wins. 20% Brock Lesnar wins.
Thoughts: Royal Rumble matches are always Scorching, no matter what the championship situation is going into it. These are among my most favorite things of the year, so I’m always hyped for them. As far as the winner of this year, I’m particularly intrigued. WWE either has no fucking clue what the plan is, or it’s a roundabout way to get to Lesnar/Reigns and maybe Owens/Rollins. Ultimately, this all depends on what they want to do with Elimination Chamber, too. If Reigns or Lesnar drops their title, they either enter the Royal Rumble and win it or DON’T enter the Royal Rumble, and win Elimination Chamber, while Owens wins Royal Rumble. If you’re looking for a fourth option, Big E, but I don’t think he has even 10% of a chance to win compared to those three.
30-WOMAN ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH:
Heat Index = Scorching
Prediction: Bianca Belair wins.
Thoughts: I have just as much confusion for the women’s match as the men’s. Realistically, nobody is set up to challenge Becky Lynch or Charlotte Flair. They could go with Raquel Gonzalez as a surprise to fight Flair, but since she’s competing in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in February, I think that rules her out. I’m starting to think they’ll just take the easy repetitive route and go with Belair, despite how we’ve already seen her fight Lynch multiple times. WrestleMania might be a “seen it before, but if you complain, you’re a bad fan” one. Nevertheless, I love Royal Rumble matches, so I’m sure all the way up until at least the finale, I’ll enjoy this.
MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH:
Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz and Maryse
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Edge and Beth Phoenix win.
Thoughts: As soon as The Miz started feuding with Edge, I was hoping they’d go in this direction. Some people may not be the biggest fans of it, but I dig it. Let’s see Edge and Beth team together for the first time. That’s fun, right? And there aren’t any other married couple duos they can do this with, since Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan is off the table, for instance. Look. It’s not going to be the best match of the night. It’s essentially guaranteed to be the worst. But the concept is still overall interesting and I’ll give them that.
OVERALL PPV:
How excited am I for the event as a whole?
Heat Index = Scorching
Thoughts: This could be a total train wreck that immediately makes everyone sour on the next few months and WrestleMania. It could also be so off the walls crazy that we can’t help but to be excited. Some of the matches have potential to be really good, and the Royal Rumble itself is always fun. With all that intrigue, I can’t not be excited for it, even if I look back immediately after the show and I’m beyond annoyed. We’ll see!
What do you think is going to happen at WWE Royal Rumble? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
