5 last minute predictions for the Royal Rumble 

The Royal Rumble is just a few days away and a lot has changed in the WWE programming due to the fall in ratings. It is a sign that WWE is trying their best to please their fan base who love the brand but are fed up with the current product.

The emergence of AEW has also perhaps pressured WWE to take steps to improve their product. While the tag division hasn't improved much, the mid card has started using talents who didn't even appear on TV a few weeks before.

The company has already pulled off some surprising changes on RAW by removing Braun Strowman from the Universal title match and inserting Finn Balor.

The show also saw Bobby Lashley winning the Intercontinental Championship in a triple threat match against Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.

R-Truth and Carmella are due to enter the Royal Rumble at the no. 30 spot after winning the Mix Match Challenge.

The company would be planning a few surprises for the first PPV of the year.

#5 Dean Ambrose wins the Men's Royal Rumble

Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental Championship at TLC last month after defeating Seth Rollins. The WWE Universe expected a lunatic heel champion in Ambrose, but WWE turned him into a generic heel.

Dean Ambrose defended his title multiple times during his one month title reign but ultimately lost the title to Bobby Lashley in a triple threat match that included Seth Rollins as well. While there was quite a lot of excitement for Dean's heel turn, his title reign wasn't particularly memorable.

At present, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre are favorites to win the Royal Rumble and since Ambrose was the IC champ until this Monday, nobody expects him to win the match. But the last RAW changed his priorities.

With Lashley and Ambrose, both being heels, there's very less chance of Ambrose chasing the IC title and the "no rematch rule" leaves him free to chase the top prize on the roster.

Dean earning a spot for the Universal Championship match at Wrestlemania might bring out the best heel work from him. He could eliminate Rollins as the last superstar to keep the swerve as a surprise until the very end.

#4 Sasha Banks defeats Ronda Rousey

The RAW's women's division is currently very stale and unspired as compared to its counterpart on the blue brand. It is particularly due to lack of worthy opponents for the champion. Ronda Rousey has already defeated each and every heel on RAW.

While Sasha and Bayley were the top superstars on the roster, but their on-off feud has brought them down the ranks. They are currently the favorites to win the Women's Tag Team Championship at Elimination Chamber.

Sasha would have an advantage with Bayley on her side, and an interference without Sasha's knowledge could lead to Ronda claiming that Sasha wasn't good enough to beat her single-handedly which could prompt a feud between Sasha and Bayley while also protecting Rousey.

Looking at the streak that Rousey is on, it's unlikely that Banks would walk out as the RAW Women's Champion. But Sasha winning the title would be better for the women's division both on RAW as well as Smackdown, and we'll find out why in the next slide.

#3 Ronda Rousey wins the Royal Rumble

Ronda Rousey

Ever since the Champion vs Champion match was announced for Survivor Series, Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch was the most anticipated match and had could have been the main event of Survivor Series. Becky's unfortunate accident caused the match to be cancelled, but it proved to be a blessing in disguise for Becky Lynch, as now there are chances of her headlining the biggest event on WWE's calendar.

While everyone speculated that Becky Lynch would be winning the Royal Rumble to challenge Ronda Rousey for the RAW Women's Championship, all the hopes dwindled when Lynch won the #1 contender's match for the Smackdown's Women's Championship. While it could still happen, the thought of Rousey entering the Royal Rumble and winning it would be mouth watering.

Rousey could explain her actions by saying that she already had problems with Charlotte and Becky Lynch, and now rest of the two horsewomen have screwed her out of the title picture.

It could kick off the WWE Horsewomen vs UFC Horsewomen dream feud. Rousey could blame Lynch for starting all of this and hence could choose the Smackdown's Women's Champion as her Wrestlemania opponent.

There have been instances when superstars have entered the Rumble after losing their title early in the PPV.

#2 Balor wins the Universal Championship

The world has come full circle with the Universal Championship this year. Balor was touted to face then champion Lesnar in last year's Royal Rumble, but was replaced by Kane and Braun Strowman.

Now, Lesnar has again regained his championship and in his first title defense, Finn Balor replaces Strowman to take on the Universal champion.

With reports of Seth Rollins eventually taking the title from Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania coming up, it's highly unlikely that Finn Balor is going to win the title at the Royal Rumble, seeing how protected Lesnar is.

However, if WWE wants to protect Lesnar from taking a clean pin, there's still a chance of Strowman interfering in and costing Lesnar the match.

The build towards this match has already indicated that Strowman is going to be involved in the match in some form or another.

Strowman costing Lesnar the title would also go along with all the build up that both of them had since Crown Jewel.

#1 Lars Sullivan attacks AJ Styles

AJ Styles is going to face the New Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship this Sunday. Although they have produced quality matches, their feud has already stretched way too long, and after a year long reign with the WWE Championship, AJ Styles needs to move back from the WWE title picture, but given his stature on the Smackdown's roster, he needs a solid reason to back away.

At present, five of the six NXT superstars have debuted on the main roster in some way or form. The only one left from all of the call ups is the one who has the most chances of getting a monster push from the get go - Lars Sullivan.

It was reported that he was slated to attack John Cena in a dark match which was going to be televised on the next episode to start off their feud for Wrestlemania, but Lars reportedlt suffered an anxiety attack.

Since there is still time for Wrestlemania, Lars could still get a high profile feud after costing AJ Styles the title. Styles would also help to cover up the comparatively green Sullivan in his first outing on the big stage while allowing Bryan to move to other contenders.