3 Early favourites to win 2015 Royal Rumble

The Royal Rumble is one of the 4 biggest PPVs in the WWE calendar year and is the event that sets the fans and the performers on the ‘Road to Wrestlemania’. With not a lot of individual storylines heading into the Royal Rumble this time around, the door is wide open with possibilities as to who could win the Rumble and go on to book a main-event showdown with the champion at WM 31.However, for the main-event to be a draw and have a certain level of intrigue, the Rumble has to yield the correct winner who makes sense heading into the biggest event of the year.Unlike last year, where the eventual winner earned a staggering amount of brickbats from passionate fans, this time around the WWE may not want to go too off-base in their pick for the winner of the 30-man battle royale and while the main-event seems like an opportunity for all, the winner usually is the one who has some sort of momentum heading into the PPV or a big-name surprise returnee.With the ‘smartening up’ of fans and demand for realistic storylines, it is very unlikely that the WWE would decide to go for the latter route, after the bust last time around, so a case of the former makes the most sense.Also, considering the fact that we are pretty much confirmed to have a heel champion(Lesnar/Rollins) heading into WM 31, it would make sense to have a popular babyface as the last man standing in the ring. Having said that, let’s look at the 3 early favourites in the running to win the upcoming royal rumble :

#1 Dean Ambrose

The Lunatic Fringe is on a fast-track to superstardom and while his push to the main-event has been well-deserved and for the most part well-done, he still is that one step away from being considered a money player.

A great showing at the Rumble capped by winning it would be something that would put the missile on his back that will propel him to being a worthy opponent to both Lesnar & Rollins. While the feud between him and Rollins was done recently, the conclusion was not definitive and the fans wouldn’t mind seeing the two fantastic workers go at it again.

On the other hand, Lesnar has quickly run out of credible opponents and given the kookiness and unpredictability that Ambrose’s character displays, their match-up would make for an interesting dynamic.

Plus, there is the added bonus of seeing some terrific verbal duels between Ambrose and the ‘Advocate’ of the beast – Paul Heyman. It would be an interesting alternative for the WWE to go with, considering how thin the roster is at present with popular stars and the rising popularity of Dean Ambrose.

#2 Randy Orton

In the tradition of big names timing their return around the Rumble, this would make a lot of noise (as would the crowd in attendance when ‘Voices in my head’ starts blaring over the speakers).

Randy Orton is one of the most over guys on the roster, but has been missing in action since the attack on him by the heel authority regime. What better way to avenge that send-off than to return, make a splash and take out all the cronies at the same time, in the course of the rumble match!

In the eventuality that Rollins cashes in his briefcase and sneaks out with the title, you have the storyline written in itself given the history between Orton and the authority’s ‘Golden Boy’. On the other hand, if Lesnar holds on to the title till WM, then you have a credible face challenger in Orton who is a fresh opponent for the dominant beast. The tag-line being : The Beast vs The Apex Predator....I like it!

#3 Roman Reigns

The WWE superstar of the year slammy winner has to be the favorite to win the upcoming rumble, if the indications are anything to go by. Coming off a break owing to an injury and fresh of his record eliminations from last year, Reigns looks ready to carry his momentum towards winning the main event this time and step up to challenge Lesnar in the main stage of WM 31 and become the top dog in the WWE.

It has been in the works for Reigns to be anointed ‘The Man’ ever since the shield broke up and while the continued push for him had gotten a little stale before he got injured, the WWE brass must be hoping that absence would have made the audiences’ hearts grow fonder.

If the voting for the slammy awards were genuine, maybe the time is right to pull the trigger on the young stud to begin his reign at the top of the WWE mountain. Believe that!