4 Things that must happen at the Royal Rumble (2020)

The Royal Rumble is now only four days away. Always one of the most anticipated nights on the WWE calendar, featuring the most purely fun matches of the year (and since 2018, two such matches), the Rumble is a huge occasion. WWE always stacks the card as best as it can. This year is no exception. With WrestleMania at stake, it's crucial that WWE gets the Royal Rumble results right. Otherwise, we could be in for a long few months.

There are currently eight matches announced for the Royal Rumble card. We'll probably get a few more before showtime, but the most important ones are already there. Of the eight, only four feel like more than filler. We all know that Daniel Bryan will lose against The Fiend, for example.

WWE needs to make the most of the four bigger ones and it can do so by making the following booking decisions.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the piece are the author's own and does not necessarily represent Sportskeeda's view on the same)

---

#1 Roman Reigns must crush Baron Corbin

It's safe to say that most people regard the Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin feud as a disaster. From doggy poop bags and dog food, the whole storyline has had several cringeworthy moments, which weren't taken well by the audience. It's also the latest in a string of underwhelming feuds involving last year's King of the Ring winner.

And all it's done is undercut Roman Reigns, who has finally benefitted from goodwill with fans after returning from his cancer scare close to a year ago.

If Roman Reigns is to have a title match at WrestleMania, and that still appears likely, he'll need to look better than he has against Corbin. That means that Reigns should defeat "the king" with little trouble at the Royal Rumble this Sunday.

Take advantage of the falls count anywhere stipulation, but don't make this into too much of a contest.

#2 Bayley must defeat Lacey Evans

Bayley's time with the SmackDown women's championship hasn't exactly been the most exciting period in that title's history, but there might be something better on the horizon just in time for WrestleMania season.

Believe it or not, Bayley has never had a feud with Sasha Banks on the main roster. They've had matches, but never a full blown rivalry. WWE simply never pulled the trigger on it. While we shouldn't expect a new feud to measure up to their 2015 brilliance culminating in the first TakeOver: Brooklyn, it would nevertheless be a breath of fresh air.

To get there, though, Bayley needs to beat Lacey Evans first. This seems likely, but Vince McMahon's obsession with her means that one can never be sure. With a long string of title shots already behind her, will this be the time that she finally succeeds, especially with a match with Sasha Banks having been held off this past week?

Almost no one would rather see it, but unfortunately, it's the audience of one that matters the most. Let's hope that one makes the right call.

#3 Shayna Baszler must not win the women's Royal Rumble match

While this rivalry was anticipated by many, the preview of it in November turned out to be a complete disaster. The promos were awkward and the match at Survivor Series went over like a wet balloon.

Yet, with Baszler finally dropping the NXT Women's Championship to Rhea Ripley a few weeks later, it looked like the match was going to be on, anyway.

The problem here is that both Lynch and Baszler are dependent on others to lead them to a good match. They aren't performers that "can carry a broomstick to a good match" in the way that Sasha, Charlotte, or Asuka can. Without the right opponent to play off of, the matches can fall flat.

There were already ample warning signs at Survivor Series that a Becky vs. Shayna match at WrestleMania wasn't the best idea. Let's hope they're heeded and the favorite to win the women's Royal Rumble this year doesn't wind up winning.

Specifically, Iet's all keep our fingers crossed for a surprise appearance from a certain former Raw Women's Champion that has unfinished business with the current one.

#4 Brock Lesnar must not win the men's Royal Rumble match

Is there a bigger albatross in WWE than Brock Lesnar? Although his appearance in the Royal Rumble match is more interesting than a meaningless filler title match, there's a chance that he could win and throw WrestleMania into a storm of uncertainty. That chance is less likely than likely, but it's still possible, given how many times we've already seen things get turned on their head for the benefit of Brock Lesnar.

Might it even be possible that he wins and challenges the Fiend to a title unification match? That would be interesting, but it would come at the expense of everyone else on the roster.

Brock Lesnar's presence adds a new angle to the Royal Rumble match this year, but that's where it needs to remain. Done smartly, WWE can make two title contenders out of the match, with eliminating him and winning the Rumble being two separate major events.

Brock Lesnar will probably make it to the final four, but to make the most of it, he mustn't go beyond that.