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Royal Rumble is the most unpredictable pay-per-view of WWE. Not only is it the perfect onset for the Road to Wrestlemania but also shows the WWE creative's brilliance in engaging the fans for over an hour in a single match.
It would even be a tough job for fortune-tellers to predict the entry of various superstars and surprising moments. Nonetheless, here are 10 things that might happen at the men's Royal Rumble 2018.
#10 Cruiser-weights hanging not to get eliminated
Kofi Kingston every year pulls off a miraculous attempt to save himself from getting eliminated. This year we might see the cruiser-weights doing so too.
It would be a great opportunity for the fans to witness the ability of them which otherwise haven't been utilized properly. The 205 live contestants too can show that they are good enough to compete with the likes of the main roster.
By hosting the Cruiser-weight Classic tournament, it looked as if WWE had serious plans with them. Alas, they haven't done justice to their in-ring talent and Royal Rumble should be the place where Vince can correct his mistakes.
#9 Pete Dunne enters the Royal Rumble
Every year an NXT Superstar enters the Royal Rumble. Last year it was Tye Dillinger and the year before was Sami Zayn. This year might be Pete Dunne and here's why.
The 24-year-old has given a show of his in-ring ability to the NXT Universe by winning the United Kingdom Championship against Tyler Bate at NXT Takeover: Chicago. He needs to do the same with WWE Universe and the Royal Rumble would be a perfect place to start with. He has already defeated Enzo Amore and can step up on the main roster.
We don't expect him to last more than 10 minutes in the Rumble. However, if there is someone from the NXT locker that is entering then it better be him.
#8 Big Show returns
Big Show needed a hip surgery after Braun Strowman put him through the steel cage at Raw. He is out of action since then but is hitting the gym. Royal Rumble should be the perfect place for him to return.
2018 might be the last Royal Rumble for the World's Largest Athlete given his age. WWE used him in pushing other 'Big Men' like Big Cass and Braun Strowman. He can surely be a mentor to other superstars and be a producer backstage in the WWE. If he needs to give one more push, then it should be Baron Corbin and it can all begin from Royal Rumble.
#7 Kurt Angle enters the Royal Rumble
Kurt Angle has shown up for TLC and Survivor Series and WWE might pull up a surprise by letting him in the Royal Rumble match.
Ever since his in-ring return, he is the most cheered Superstar in Raw after Braun Strowman and this is enough reason for Vince to put him in the match. However, if he does, then the Miz should be the most to benefit from it...
If Miz wins the Intercontinental Title from Roman Reigns at the 25th Anniversary of Raw which is most likely the case, he could look forward to defending it against the Olympic gold medallist at Wrestlemania. This would only increase the prestige of the Intercontinental title and Royal Rumble can plant the seeds of this rivalry.
#6 Dolph Ziggler returns in the ring
Just when you thought WWE had lost its interest in building up Ziggler, he won the United States Title. To strengthen his character, he left his title less than 48 hours after winning it.
He can once again walk with no music and video on the titan-tron but this time with more purpose. He can even eliminate the then United States Champion to tell him that no one could do what he does in the ring.
WWE can pull up a major surprise by letting him be one of the final four contestants though making him would be too over. Ziggler's character in WWE is the best till now and returning him in the Rumble is the need of the hour.
#5 Jeff Hardy returns in the ring
Jeff got injured in September 2017 after he had torn his Rotator Cuff. He had undergone a surgery in the first week of October and was scheduled for another one. The WWE doctors told him that he would be out until Wrestlemania but the same had been told to John Cena and he became fit after four months.
If he returns, then he will have two options. Either to be in his Brother Nero form and help Matt take out Bray Wyatt or feud with Matt and set up a WWE version of Total Nonstop Deletion.
WWE's booking of Woken Matt Hardy has been peculiar till now. Whichever path the creative chooses for Jeff, it will only bring more life into the Woken storyline.
#4 Jason Jordan eliminates Rollins and Reigns
If Jason Jordan wants to continue his solo run in the WWE, he and Vince know very well that it is better to turn him heel.
Miscommunication between the so-called Champions Club had started to show when their lack of unity cost them their match against the Balor Club. Tensions might escalate at the 25th Anniversary of Raw where he would cost Reigns his inter-continental title and later his rematch as well.
All these things point only at one thing that is him turning on Rollins and Reigns and the Rumble may be the perfect place for that to happen. Moreover, to protect Reigns for his match against Lesnar this is the best option. Reigns' feud with Jordan can be a filler feud until he goes on the Beast for the title.
#3 Triple H and Braun Strowman have a face-off
Brock Lesnar will mostly retain the title at Royal Rumble. If that happens, the 'Monster Among Men' can enter the Royal Rumble and have a face-off with the Game.
Triple H hasn't been in the ring since his India tour and Royal Rumble can be the perfect place for him to come back. Their altercation at the Survivor Series was the only positive thing of the underwhelming main-event. If that feud has to continue, then Royal Rumble would be the perfect place to start the unfinished business.
If we don't see them facing again, then their brawl at Survivor Series becomes meaningless. The King of Kings has done a marvelous job till now by setting up the careers of Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in the WWE. Braun Strowman should be the next one in line to benefit from him
#2 Daniel Bryan returns at the Royal Rumble
The doctors have cleared you to fight. You want to fight. The fans want you to fight. This should be enough reason for any pro-wrestler to be in the ring unless you are in the WWE and their doctors don't allow so.
Who knows maybe the WWE is just doing that so he finally returns at Royal Rumble. If he does, then expect Shane McMahon to be involved and cause his elimination and finally leading to a match between them at Wrestlemania.
This can also officially be the heel turn for Shane McMahon whose actions right now is somewhere that between of a face and heel. Shane and Daniel were showing differences in their opinion before Survivor Series and Royal Rumble should be the perfect place to escalate it to indicate a match between them at Wrestlemania.
#1 Finn Balor wins the Royal Rumble
If Vince wants Reigns and Lesnar to go again at Wrestlemania, then it would be better not to let Reigns win. That leaves the winner going after the championship of the blue brand. WWE hasn't made the winner challenge the World Title of another brand for a long time and Wrestlemania 34 should be the perfect place to do so.
Even before their match started fans chanted, 'This is awesome!' This all happened without them having a storyline in the WWE. Fans definitely wanted a part two of it with a better background.
From the storyline and in-ring point of view, there is no better opponent for Finn Balor than AJ Styles. It will also be interesting to see how Gallows and Anderson turn up for this inter-brand feud.
Finn Balor hasn't been booked properly in 2017. 2018 is starting to be a promising one for him and facing 'The Phenomenal One' at Wrestlemania for the World Title would be an icing on the cake for him.
