5 Matches WWE needs to book following the Men's Royal Rumble

The 2019 Royal Rumble pay-per-view was certainly a solid way for WWE to kick-start the year and despite the show being 7 hours too long, there were certainly more positives than negatives by the end of a historic evening at the Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

New champions were crowned and history was made when Becky Lynch won the second ever Women's Royal Rumble match. Whereas, by the end of the evening, it was none other than former WWE Champion, Seth Rollins who stood tall to close out a memorable evening after winning his first ever Royal Rumble match.

To some fans, the Men's Royal Rumble Match was seemingly a disappointment, however, me being a fan, I certainly felt that the Rumble match was a lot of fun to witness, given how the unpredictability factor played out simultaneously with the amazing in-ring action and product WWE managed to deliver on the night.

The main roster stars such as the likes Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, Drew McIntyre, Mustafa Ali, Randy Orton, and Braun Strowman had some amazing interactions not only with each other but with superstars from the NXT and NXT UK brand as well.

That being said, following the conclusion of a hectic yet amazing 30-man Rumble match, here are 5 matches I feel WWE could and should book within the upcoming few months if they are really determined to make his grand change on the WWE landscape.

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Special Mention:

Johnny Gargano vs Samoa Joe

A rematch between these two would be epic

Having won the NXT North American Championship off Ricochet in a classic match at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix the night before, Johnny Gargano made his main roster debut entering the Royal Rumble match at #6 and shocking the WWE Universe in Phoenix.

Gargano's surprise appearance in the Rumble definitely went down as one of the biggest mark-out moments from the pay-per-view and the new North American Champion also eliminated former WWE Champion, Jinder Mahal as well. Lasting well over 13 minutes, Gargano had some brief exchanges with the likes of Mustafa Ali, Seth Rollins, and Samoa Joe who entered at #8.

I for one definitely did feel that Joe and Gargano could very well produce an instant classic, considering how good Gargano has been in recent months. A showdown against the ever-versatile Samoa Joe in the later parts of 2019 promises to be another classic.

#5 Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle confronting Nakamura in NJPW

Shinsuke Nakamura and Kurt Angle have a lot of history with each other, considering the two men have previously squared off inside a New Japan Pro Wrestling in a match which is considered as an absolute classic.

At the 30-man Rumble match, Angle entered the match at #4 with last year's winner Nakamura having entered at #3. Prior to his second participation in the Rumble match, however, Nakamura won the WWE United States Championship for the second time defeating Rusev earlier in the night.

And, Nakamura eventually went on to ruin Angle's Rumble return, eliminating him inside four minutes. This could very well mark the beginning of a fresh feud between Nakamura and Angle and the two men could have a potential US Title match at this year's WrestleMania 35.

Angle, for one, has been billed as an American hero and has been presented to the WWE audience as a national hero for years. Nakamura, meanwhile, is the champion of the US, meaning that a title defence against Kurt Angle would surely make all the sense in the world right now.

#4 Aleister Black vs Dean Ambrose

Aleister Black could make his main roster debut against Dean Ambrose

Aleister Black has been a major part of the NXT roster for the last one and half year. Having gone undefeated on the NXT roster, to eventually winning the NXT Championship, Black has pretty much done it all and seen it all on NXT. Therefore, 'The Dutch Destroyer' making his main roster debut by entering The Rumble match I would say was indeed the right call on WWE's behalf.

On his first night on the main roster, Aleister Black sure did receive an outstanding reaction from the WWE Universe, as he entered The Rumble match at #21. Black managed to score one elimination on the night, getting rid of former WWE Champion, Dean Ambrose by connecting with a devastating Black Mass.

With Black yet to be a permanent addition on the main roster, the fair decision from here onwards would be to book a feud between 'The Dutch Destroyer' and 'The Lunatic Fringe' when Black eventually gets his initial call-up to the main roster.

Ambrose is a well-reputed worker on the roster and to make sure Black gets over on his first feud on the main roster, the former IC Champion could very well put the former NXT Champion over.

#3 Andrade vs Randy Orton

This needs to happen!

In recent weeks, former NXT Champion, Andrade has been on an absolute roll on SmackDown Live, where he has been competing at the very highest level against the likes of AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, and very recently against Rey Mysterio, whom the former NXT Champion defeated several weeks prior to The Rumble in an instant classic.

At this year's Royal Rumble, Andrade had another solid outing entering the match at #19 and lasting around 22 minutes and for his only elimination in the match, the former NXT Champion got rid off 'The Viper' Randy Orton.

Not only did Andrade dump Orton over the top rope but eventually went on to the final four alongside the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Braun Strowman, and eventual winner Seth Rollins. WWE surely did a good job with Andrade at this year's Rumble and the company needs to make sure that he is been booked properly on the Road to WrestleMania 35.

In my opinion, though, the perfect idea from here onwards would be to have Andrade and Randy Orton face off against each other and a match at 'Mania 35 would make all the sense in the world, with obviously, 'El Idolo' going over in this one.

#2 Shinsuke Nakamura vs Mustafa Ali

Mustafa Ali (left) mocking Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura and Mustafa Ali had a brief confrontation during The Rumble match with the latter eliminating last year's winner in what was well and truly one of the shocking eliminations' of the evening.

Ali, who was competing in his first Rumble match, lasted for around 30 minutes and had a great match, to say the least, eliminating Nakamura and also his arch-rival Samoa Joe.

However, one thing that definitely did catch my eye was Ali's back-and-forth with Nakamura, the two men had some brief exchanges in the ring and to be fair, the chemistry clicked off instantly between the two men.

Nakamura, having regained the US Title once again, could possibly defend his newly won title against Mustafa Ali in the upcoming weeks or at the upcoming Fastlane pay-per-view. Nevertheless, a match between Mustafa Ali and Shinsuke Nakamura needs to happen one way or another.

#1 Pete Dunne vs Drew McIntyre

Pete Dunne and Drew McIntyre in action during the Royal Rumble

Current WWE UK Champion, Pete Dunne is currently enjoying one of the finest championship reigns' one could ever hope for, with 'The Bruiserweight' being in possession of the UK Championship for well over 600 days.

Coming off a historic title defence over Joe Coffey at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Dunne entered his first Royal Rumble match this year and despite not managing to secure a single elimination, the WWE UK Champion did give every single one of his opponents a torrid time inside the ring.

In his Rumble debut, Dunne once again proved why he quite possibly the most versatile British wrestler on the planet today, thanks to his confrontation with the likes of Mustafa Ali (someone whom Dunne needs to face asap), Andrade, and Drew McIntyre.

McIntyre and Dunne have had quite the exchange during The Rumble match, with the latter targetting 'The Scottish Psychopath's' fingers from the get-go before being eventually eliminated by him. A singles match between the two men needs to happen in the near future, even if Dunne has to make another one-off appearance on the main roster.

Regardless, Drew McIntyre vs Pete Dunne is a match which has money written all over it.