'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Royal Rumble PPV is just 3 weeks away, this means we are just weeks away from the most unpredictable match of WWE, the Royal Rumble match. 30 superstars compete in a time interval battle royale to place their bid to main event WrestleMania.
A lot of new superstars and legends take part in this match, along with the regular TV superstars, and it is one of the favourite matches of the WWE Universe.
As of now, 19 superstars have entered the match, and the list goes as follows -
R-Truth, Drew McIntyre, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, Jeff Hardy, Dean Ambrose, Bobby Lashley, Samoa Joe, John Cena, Elias, Baron Corbin, Jinder Mahal, Apollo Crews, Andrade Cien Almas, Mustafa Ali, and Rey Mysterio.
With 19 superstars already announced, the WWE may reveal none of the further entries in the match, as the surprise element is one of the key reasons behind Royal Rumble’s success.
So without further ado, lets look at the 11 superstars who may fill the remaining empty slots of the match.
#1 Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman has a Universal Championship match scheduled for the Royal Rumble PPV, but seeing the segment WWE booked this week on RAW, the fans now know the chances of Braun winning the title are very slim. So, given that the Monster loses the match, he would enter the Rumble match and try to earn one more shot at the title.
WWE booked Roman Reigns the same way in 2017, as he lost his title match earlier on the show, just to enter at #30 in the Rumble match. So expect WWE to book the Monster in the same way.
#2 Heath Slater
WWE always provides the fans comic relief during the 30-man match which almost lasts an hour. In the 2018 edition of the Royal Rumble PPV, we saw Heath Slater perform this role when he spent almost 10 minutes outside the ring after entering the match.
Slater was beaten up by every superstar who entered the match after him, and the fans enjoyed every moment. Heath Slater later entered the ring and even eliminated 'the Celtic Warrior' Sheamus from the match.
Slater is a former SD Live tag team champion, and he has been with the WWE for quite a while now. Vince McMahon has promised Heath Slater that 2019 will be his year in the WWE, so there is no shadow of doubt we will see Heath Slater in the 30-man match once again in the year 2019.
#3 E.C 3
The NXT graduate made his TV debut on WWE Main Event this week. It is baffling to see the former TNA wrestler make his debut on WWE Main Event, as the show attracts few viewers, and it seems like the WWE are waiting till the Royal Rumble PPV to launch him in front of the WWE Universe.
EC III did not have a run with the NXT Championship in the developmental territory, but he impressed the wrestling fans with his in-ring work. Given his macho look and cool personality, EC III will be a valuable addition to the main roster. The former NXT Superstar could even enter the match at #3, as his on screen name is EC III.
#4 Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt, a former WWE Champion and a multi-time WWE tag team champion, has been missing from WWE TV since his tag team partner’s exit. The Eater of Worlds was gaining momentum on the main roster with Hardy, but the tag team was ended.
Bray Wyatt had appeared at WWE Starrcade where he defeated Baron Corbin in a singles match, but has not appeared on RAW yet. With the Royal Rumble match just 3 weeks away, the WWE would like to have Wyatt make his surprise return during the match, as wasting his much-awaited return on a random TV appearance ahead of the Royal Rumble PPV makes no sense.
With Seth Rollins done with Dean Ambrose on RAW, Bray Wyatt can emerge as the next challenger for the IC title if he eliminates Ambrose from the match.
#5 The Rock
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has transformed from a WWE Superstar to a Hollywood Superstar, and the Brahma Bull has been away from the ring since WrestleMania 32. He has quite a busy schedule because of his movie projects which kept him away from appearing on RAW 25 and SmackDown 1000 as well in 2018.
The Rock is one of the biggest names in the wrestling industry, and seeing him back in the WWE ring is one thing every fan wants. The ratings of WWE shows have been poor of late, and this could force Vince McMahon and Co to bring the Great One back to the squared circle.
A full-time return may not be possible for the Rock, but a one-off Rumble appearance is something the Hollywood superstar can pull off.
#6 Titus O' Neil
If there’s one thing Titus O’ Neil achieved in his WWE career in 2018, it is the fame he earned after the Great Fall of Titus in Saudi Arabia. During the first-ever 50-man Royal Rumble match on the Greatest Royal Rumble PPV, Titus O’ Neil entered the match at #39, and pulled off one of the greatest entrance botches of all time.
Titus went beneath the ring hilariously while entering the match, and everyone had enjoyed that botch. As I mentioned earlier, WWE wants comedy in the Royal Rumble match, they could name Titus O’ Neil in the match, and can have the Titus brand pull off something unimaginable during the match.
In case you did not know, WWE even launched a special ‘Rumble Stumble or Slide’ t-shirt after this incident.
#7 Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens has been away from the ring because of his knee injury, but WWE has aired vignettes of the former Universal Champion’s return on RAW. It would be no surprise if Owens make his emphatic return during the 30-man Royal Rumble match.
Kevin Owens is one of the best in-ring performers in the WWE, and he also has brilliant mic skills. Looking at the deteriorating quality of Monday Night RAW, Kevin Owens will be a welcome addition to the show.
Maybe feuding with Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship or feuding with Bobby Lashley (the man who wrote Kevin Owens off TV) seems to be the way WWE will book Owens after he returns.
#8 Lars Sullivan
Lars Sullivan had a stellar run in the developmental territory, NXT, and the WWE Universe also expects the Freak to dominate on the main roster. While there is a lot of speculation that Lars Sullivan will attack Brock Lesnar after the latter successfully defends his Universal Championship against Braun Strowman, it would be better to have Lars Sullivan debut in the Rumble match.
The Freak could enter the match early and eliminate 5-6 superstars before being eliminated in the final stages of the match. Or maybe the WWE could book him to win the entire thing and battle Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 35.
Lars Sullivan seems to be the next Brock Lesnar of the company, so having him make a statement at the Royal Rumble PPV will solidify his position as the Freak.
#9 Randy Orton
Randy Orton is one of the greatest WWE superstars of all-time, and the Viper had won the Royal Rumble match in 2017 after eliminating Roman Reigns. Orton also won the WWE Championship that year at WrestleMania, but the chances of the same thing repeating in 2019 are very slim.
However, the WWE would want to have the future Hall of Famer in the Royal Rumble match, as he is not competing in any other match on the card.
Also, his rivals Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio are in the match, so it makes storyline sense to have Orton feature in the Rumble match. The 13-time WWE Champion may well try to outlast 29 other men to battle for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 by entering the Royal Rumble match.
#10 Kenny Omega
Kenny Omega is one of the hottest free agents in sports entertainment, as he parted ways with New Japan Pro Wrestling after Wrestle Kingdom 13. The rumour mill has been wild with talk of Omega joining the WWE, but the only thing that can stop the Cleaner from joining the WWE is All Elite Wrestling.
AEW already has some high profile names on its roster like Cody Rhodes, the Young Bucks, and Chris Jericho, so it would be no surprise if Omega also lands up there.
But given the fact that WWE is down on ratings, Vince McMahon would do everything he can to get him to the WWE, and I expect him to join the WWE, but the deal would be kept secret just like AJ Styles’ WWE deal, as he shockingly entered the Royal Rumble match at #3 in 2016.
#11 Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn is on the verge of making his return to WWE, and the best stage for Zayn to make his earth-shattering return is the Royal Rumble match. Sami Zayn is a former NXT Champion who is yet to win any championship on the main roster despite making his debut on the main roster 3 years ago.
Also Read - 3 Superstars who could debut in the 2019 Royal Rumble Match
Zayn may return and attack Bobby Lashley during the match, as Lashley was the reason he got injured. Also, WWE could turn him face, as his heel run was lacklustre, and the fans enjoyed his face character on TV.
Which superstars do you think will take part in the Royal Rumble match of 2019? Share your answers and opinions in the comments box below.
