Sunday night is The Royal Rumble. The winner of this 30-man match will go on to fight for the title of his choice at WrestleMania XXVIII. In addition to giving you my predictions for this event, I am also going to give you my predictions as to what we will be seeing in a few months at the "Showcase of the Immortals".
As is always the case, you can let me know what you think will be happening by clicking on the "Leave a Comment" link below. I just ask that you help me keep this site non-spoiler and avoid writing about anything that happened at Tuesday night's SmackDown taping until that show airs on Friday night.
John Cena vs. Kane - As we all know by now, John will be fighting the Rock in the main event of WrestleMania XXVIII. Lots of people are speculating that John will turn heel so one of the men will be the bad guy during that match. I don't buy that for several reasons. First off, both the Rock and John Cena have been in the final match of a WrestleMania where both they and their opponent were fan favorites. The other reason is because of John's enormous popularity which makes the company lots of money in merchandise sales as well as garners them some positive publicity. Earlier this week, John Cena was recognized for his work with the Make-a-Wish Foundation and is the biggest wish granter in the history of the organization. While I don't see John becoming a heel, I see him flirting with unleashing the hate that Kane wants him to. At this show, due to what Kane did to his friend Zack Ryder a few days ago, I think that John won't be able to rise above hate and will get disqualified. Predicted Winner: Kane via DQ
Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show vs. Mark Henry - As readers of my newsletter know, WWE is speaking to Shaq about fighting Big Show at WrestleMania XXVIII. Because of that, I don't see Big Show winning the title. Due to the rules of the match, I can see Daniel Bryan retaining the title with a fluke victory by escaping the cage while the two giants are focused on one another. As far as this title goes, I have to believe that Randy Orton will be in the title hunt come time for WrestleMania. I'm just not sure who he will face for the belt. My gut feeling is that no one in this match will have the title after Elimination Chamber is held next month. Predicted Winner: Daniel Bryan
WWE Championship Match Featuring John Laurinaitis as the Special Guest Referee: Champion CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler - I find the subplot involving Punk and Laurinaitis very intriguing. While I don't think Dolph Ziggler will enter WrestleMania XXVIII as champion, I think that he will shock the world by winning the title at this show due to some shenanigans by the Interim General Manager of RAW. It has already been announced that Triple H will appear on RAW on Monday night to evaluate John's job performance. Predicted Winner: Dolph Ziggler
The Royal Rumble - While the company has been relatively quiet about who will enter the Rumble this year, they have been very vocal about pointing out that wrestlers that are participating in other matches can enter the Rumble. Because of that, I think that someone who fought earlier in the evening will win this match and earn a title shot. That wrestler will be CM Punk. Predicted Winner: CM Punk
Bonus Prediction - The Card at WrestleMania XXVIII
- John Cena vs. The Rock
- Celebrity Match: Big Show vs. Shaq
- Streak vs. Career: Undertaker vs. Triple H
- WWE Championship: Champion Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk
- World Heavyweight Championship: Champion Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan
- Money in the Bank Match: The Miz vs. R-Truth vs. Wade Barrett vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Christian
- Sheamus vs. Mark Henry
- US Champion Jack Swagger vs. Zack Ryder
- Battle For RAW GM Position: Mick Foley vs. John Laurinaitis
- Divas Battle Royal
Photo of WWE Champion CM Punk: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Comments
No Kane in WrestleMania?……
CJ,
I have a feeling that when Cena unleashes the hate over the next few weeks that he will injure Kane and cause him to miss WrestleMania.
Eric
i just don’t see Ziggler winning the title hes not main event material,plus ziggler has got the better of punk the last few weeks,punk needs to look strong going into mania and him losing the title does nothing for him,the rumble will be won by either orton or y2j.
also news going around that matches may be changing for mania with undertaker v jericho and triple h v punk now being discussed.
Hi Eric
Are there any predicted returns to the WWE in the Rumble, similar to the return of Booker T and Kevin Nash last year?
If CM Punk loses the title then Laurinaitis gets fired on Raw by Triple H and Foley vs Laurinaitis at WrestleMania doesn’t happen. CM Punk will keep his title due to Laurinaitis not wanting to get fired by Triple H. CM Punk will hold onto the WWE Title until he loses it to Dolph Ziggler at SummerSlam.
John Cena will get disqualified. John Cena will put Kane on the shelf at The Elimination Chamber. Kane will come back and end the career of The Undertaker at Survivor Series in a Career vs Career Match. The Rock will pass the torch to John Cena at WrestleMania just like Hulk Hogan passed the torch to The Rock at WrestleMania 18.
Daniel Bryan will escape the cage while The Big Show and Mark Henry battle it out with each other. Daniel Bryan will win his match at The Elimination Chamber. Randy Orton will win The Royal Rumble and go on to beat Wade Barrett at The Elimination Chamber. Randy Orton will beat Daniel Bryan for the World Title at WrestleMania and will hold onto it until he loses it to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.
I agree that Ziggler will win the title from Punk, but I see Randy Orton winning the Rumble in his hometown, then going on to challege Ziggler for the belt. Daniel Bryan has had a surprisingly good run as champion, but no way he is fighting for a championship at Wrestlemania.
I see a heel turn for ryder. he will come back and say he has seen the light and feels the hate and joins up with Kane.. just a thought
I can’t see HHH putting career on the line..this match has been taken place already I mean why replay a old match…Raw would lose a major piece of the roster…the G.M REALLY SUCKS..I would rather see a guy the Undertaker never faced…I would like a Mysterie Wrestler face the Undertaker example Mason Ryan….someone that can bring a buzz to the WWE
Does anyone know anything about the Undertaker. he’s been very quiet since last wrestlemania. will he ever return or is his career over or has the surgery on his shoulder taken longer to heal than expected.
Wow. Lotta good opinions this week! As for Ziggler not being main event material…I disagree. Strong Charisma, takes real good falls, and is quick as a cat. I think he’d make a great face. And talk about professional, remember he took a TRUE cheap shot to the face and still played his role out without a hitch.
Eric, can you see Show helping Bryan to win, feeling bad for AJ? And if the AJ storyline is kept alive, the celebrity bout would be awkward.
WM28; Batista vs Brock (or not)
I agree about Daniel Bryan. My first thought when this match was announced is that Show and Henry are going to make the ring collapse. Bryan will climb out while both are “unconscious” in the ensuing mess.
I don’t think we will see the heel turn of John Cena, but i do think that he will win the elimination chamber and we will have a triple threat for the title at wrestlemania Cena vs. The Rock vs. the winner at the royal rumble (who by recent history will probably be an upcomer and not an established superstar). I think that Jerico will screw Punk at the rumble and declare his old catch phrase of being the best in the world to be him and not Punk.
Just few changes :
1.World Heavyweight Championship: Champion Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett instead of Daniel Bryan and Bryan could be in Money in the Bank
2.Only Streak on line: Undertaker vs. Triple H vs. Kane
Laurinaitis is a complete moron. Where did they drag this loser up from?
CM Punk will get screwed but HHH will order the title returned.
Ziggler……wtf? Just a middle card hack.
Comebacks for the rumble….Batista or Undertaker.
I dont see Cena turning heel because he’s to much of a role model, but I do see Ryder turning heel and helping Kane beat Cena!!!
After Laurinaitis loses his GM position & Foley gets the job, he will ask for a match with Foley to get his GM position back! Punk will be the special referee and Punk will screw Laurinaitis for revenge & then he’ll leave WWE or become a ring announcer!!