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Royal Rumble might be an exciting pay-per-view even in isolation but what makes the annual show more relevant is It’s crucial association with the granddaddy of them all, WrestleMania.Over the course of history, Rumble was always seen as the official start to the road to Mania and this in turn means that all the company’s lead storylines must sprout from the January fiesta itself.This year’s event will be no different and comes in with some added pressure.Vince McMahon is clearly feeling the heat thanks to NXT’s superiority in various aspects and the chairman would bring out his party to Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in three weeks’ time with a point to prove. So here is a look at the possible storylines that could sprout out from this year’s Royal Rumble.
#5 Second coming
Charlotte’s main roster debut sucked big time since Vince McMahon decided to bury her in a two minute match against Natalya. The reigning NXT women’s champions have been giving better matches than most of the main roster including male superstars and she deserves a better second coming.
With AJ Lee out of action due to injury and Paige being an outside option because of being a heel, Charlotte should be the one facing Nikki Bella for the title at WrestleMania.
The Bellas are most likely to have a match with Natalya at Rumble this time around and if Charlotte can come out and make her intentions clear, the credibility of the Divas division is going to reach some well-defined heights.
#4 Heymans money in the bank
Brock Lesnar’s WWE run is all set to come to an end after this year’s WrestleMania. Even if Lesnar is out of the company, WWE needs to invest Paul Heyman in some kind of angle because he is someone who cannot be just wasted like that.
Letting Heyman be at Lesnar’s side all the way to WrestleMania would not help in making this happen but if Heyman turns on the Beast at Rumble, then that would be a storyline worth following.
The handshake than Heyman and Seth Rollins had a couple of weeks back still makes waves around the WWE Universe and WWE could easily cash in on this. If they make Rollins the new Heyman guy and leave Lesnar alone at Rumble, then it would be easier to keep the wrestling genius on the payroll even in Lesnar’s absence.
#3 The new boys in tag team division
The Ascension dominated the NXT tag team division for nearly two years and Vince McMahon finally decided to call them up into the main roster amidst the WrestleMania preparations.
WWE has been airing vignettes of Ascension for the past couple of week and though they might look a big goofy, the in ring work of the duo would certainly be a big boost for the stale tag team division. With teams like New Day and Masters of the WWE Universe in place at the moment, Ascension wouldn’t find it hard to fit in unless Vince thinks of something stupid.
They are sure to make their debut before or at the Rumble and what this will lead to is a possible championship win for the team on the road to WrestleMania.
#2 A score that needs to be settled
The feud between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins was arguably the best one of 2014. Both the superstars gave out every inch of energy they had to make it a success and at the end of the day, it turned out to be something more than expected.
One thing that the feud clearly missed was a proper climax. It was supposed to take place at Hell in a Cell but thanks to Bray Wyatt, we ended up getting an unfinished story.
WWE needs to close the angle while Rollins and Ambrose are hot and WrestleMania provides the ideal stage. Both men could reignite their feud at Royal Rumble with some kind of angle. A Rollins – Ambrose final clash at WrestleMania is big draw for sure and the seeds need to be sown at Rumble itself.
#1 Samoan Superman out to slay the Beast
There are numerous rumors out there of Roman Reigns being reconsidered as the potential Royal Rumble winner. However, from where we stand, he is the only credible chance that WWE has making it almost impossible to replace him.
Reigns getting a win at the Rumble will set up a Lesnar vs. Reigns clash at this year’s WrestleMania for the championship, which would be the company’s best opportunity to transform the Samoan Superman into a big time player.
Lesnar has been unbeaten for a whole year now even if he hasn’t wrestled that much and Reigns being the chosen one to end that streak would clearly turn the landscape of WWE upside down. The alternative to this is a Cena win at the Rumble but that is unlikely since the PPV is not big enough to let Lesnar lose.
