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WWE Royal Rumble matches are some of the most exciting matches in wrestling. Every year, fans tune in to watch the hour-long match where 30 Superstars fight for a chance to compete in a World Championship match at WrestleMania.
Last year, the Royal Rumble match was dominated by Brock Lesnar. Lesnar had some dream face-offs during the match and ended up eliminating 13 Superstars in the process. This did not allow many of the initial Superstars to meet more than one man in the ring.
However, the 2021 Royal Rumble could be different as the dominant Lesnar will likely not be a part of the match. Fans could end up watching some top Superstars come face to face during the match and share some great staredowns.
WWE will be looking to build some future rivalries during the men's Royal Rumble match. This article will look at 10 face-offs we could potentially see.
#10 Dabba-Kato and Braun Strowman could have a massive encounter at the W Royal Rumble
Dabba-Kato didn’t quite have the debut he’d liked to have had in WWE. The Superstar competed for WWE NXT for some time but did not get many on-screen appearances. He was made part of RAW Underground by Shane McMahon, and it seemed like the Superstar would do well from there-on.
In September 2020, Dabba-Kato lost a match to Braun Strowman on RAW Underground. Since then, fans haven’t seen much of the massive Superstar. WWE could plan to relaunch the Polish star at this year’s Royal Rumble and have him face-off against The Monster Among Men.
The company could give him a massive push by allowing him to eliminate Strowman from the match, and give him a chance to ignite a full-blown rivalry against the former WWE Universal Champion.
#9 WWE could bring Otis and Tucker face-to-face at the Royal Rumble
Otis and Tucker, formally known as Heavy Machinery, were two great friends who dominated WWE NXT and SmackDown for some time. Both Superstars enjoyed a lot of success together, before Tucker decided to turn on his best friend at WWE Hell in a Cell.
While it seemed like WWE would create a major rivalry between the two Superstars, it did not happen in 2020. Both men are on opposite brands at the moment, but The Blue-Collar Solid must still be angry with his former best friend.
At the 2021 Royal Rumble, fans could end up watching the two men come face to face at some point in the match and exchange a few blows. The WWE Universe could even end up watching one of the two men eliminate the other. This would allow WWE to build on the tension between the two Superstars and sow the seeds to a full-blown rivalry later on.
#8 WWE could book a face-off between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt/The Fiend at the Royal Rumble
Randy Orton and The Fiend had an interesting rivalry at the end of 2020. At WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 20, Orton defeated The Fiend in a Firefly Inferno match before setting his body on fire.
On the first episode of WWE RAW in 2021, The Viper announced that he’ll be entering the Royal Rumble match. While Orton will be looking to win the Royal Rumble and get another World Championship shot, fans could end up seeing Bray Wyatt return at the show.
Wyatt could either return as himself or as his alter-ego and attack Orton. Wyatt’s only aim could be to take out The Viper and eliminate him from the match before disappearing again. This face-off would help WWE extend the rivalry between the two Superstars heading into WrestleMania 37.
#7 Big E and The New Day could have some enjoyable spots at the Royal Rumble
WWE decided to split up The New Day in late 2020. While the move did not sit well with some fans at first, it gave Big E a chance to push forward as a singles competitor. Big E ended up winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship on the final episode of SmackDown in 2020.
Now that Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston are part of WWE RAW, the company could book a big face-off between Big E and the other two members of the New Day in the Royal Rumble. Fans could watch the three men work together, before Big E decides to eliminate his other two friends to get closer to victory.
#6 Keith Lee and Riddle could have an interesting face-off at the Royal Rumble
Keith Lee and Riddle were seen as the best of friends and greatest of rivals on WWE NXT. The two Superstars are currently competing on RAW, and fans have seen them have some fun exchanges backstage.
However, it’s every man for himself at the Royal Rumble, and that’s exactly what will be on both Superstars' minds during the men’s match. During the show, fans could watch the two men face-off before beating each other down in an attempt to eliminate each other.
Riddle is one of the few men who can match Lee in the ring and possibly eliminate him single-handedly from the Royal Rumble.
#5 WWE could reignite the rivalry between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio at the Royal Rumble
At WWE Survivor Series, Seth Rollins sacrificed himself for the greater good and was the first Superstar to be eliminated from the men’s traditional elimination match. Since then, Rollins has been away from the ring.
Rollins had an extended rivalry against Rey Mysterio and his family before Survivor Series. At Royal Rumble, Rollins could return and have a face-off against the veteran to reignite their feud.
While Rollins and Mysterio have already had several matches against each other, a face-off at the Royal Rumble could end up getting a huge pop from the WWE Universe.
#4 WWE could bring Finn Balor and AJ Styles face-to-face at the Royal Rumble
Finn Balor and AJ Styles have had some interesting face-offs in WWE. While the two haven’t competed in many matches against each other, the WWE Universe usually goes wild when they come face-to-face.
The two former leaders of The Bullet Club are on different brands at the moment, and the last time they met was during the build-up to WWE Survivor Series 2019 on NXT.
At Royal Rumble, the NXT Champion could enter the Royal Rumble match and immediately have a staredown with Styles. The two men could trade some blows before one of the men ends up eliminating the other.
The angle could help WWE build on a future rivalry between the two top Superstars and possibly open the doors to an appearance by Styles on NXT.
#3 Omos and The Big Show facing off could light up the Royal Rumble
AJ Styles’ bodyguard Omos is yet to have his debut wrestling match on WWE RAW. However, WWE could look to have him enter the Royal Rumble to show his dominance and help Styles come close to a victory in the match.
WWE loves to have big men and legends compete during Royal Rumble matches, and this could drag The Big Show back to the ring. Fans could get an epic face-off between The World’s Largest Athlete and Omos during the men’s Royal Rumble.
Show has usually given Superstars a push in their careers, and he could allow Omos to eliminate him from the squared circle to make an impact during the Royal Rumble match.
#2 Daniel Bryan and Kane could face-off at the Royal Rumble
In January 2020, Daniel Bryan and Kane had a brief reunion on WWE SmackDown where The Big Red Machine helped Bryan get the better of ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt. The two men could have another reunion in the ring a year later at the Royal Rumble.
WWE loves to have some legends appear during the Royal Rumble match, and Kane could enter the match to have a brief face-off against his former tag team partner. The two men could end up trading blows, or team up instead, to go after certain Superstars.
Bryan could then end up eliminating his former friend and have a short celebration, before getting eliminated himself.
#1 WWE could be planning to put Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso head-to-head at the Royal Rumble
Jimmy Uso has been out of the WWE ring with an injury for some time now. This has allowed Jey Uso to work with his cousin Roman Reigns and have a great end to 2020. Jey is now playing a great heel character and could have an impressive showing at the 2021 Royal Rumble.
While Jey has gone full heel, his brother could return during the Royal Rumble match to have a face-off with Jey. Jimmy could try to talk some sense into Jey and try to turn him back into a babyface, before getting eliminated by Jey.
Jimmy Uso is expected to return to competition around January, and the Royal Rumble could be the perfect way to have him return to the WWE ring. Jimmy and Jey could end up having a rivalry following their face-off, where Reigns could look to manipulate both men on SmackDown.
