5 WrestleMania matches the WWE should set up during the Men's Royal Rumble match 

The most exciting match on the WWE calendar, the Royal Rumble is just a matter of days away, and Sunday's event will officially start the WWE on their annual road to WrestleMania.

The Royal Rumble is often seen as a precursor to WrestleMania and the 30 man match itself is regularly used to give the WWE Universe several hints as to what the WrestleMania card is likely to look like.

With the rumour mill now well and truly churning as Sunday's event gets ever closer, let's take a look at 5 matches the WWE could set up in this year's Men's Royal Rumble match.

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#5 Shane McMahon Vs The Miz

The Miz and Shane McMahon's friendship is destined to fail

Shane McMahon and The Miz are highly likely to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at the Royal Rumble, but that doesn't mean that the duo won't pull double duty on Sunday night.

The Miz's relationship with Shane McMahon has been one of the most baffling storyline developments in recent months, and logic would now suggest that this storyline will culminate in a match between the two men at WrestleMania 35.

The seeds for that will likely be planted very soon, whether they win the titles or not, and one of the easiest ways for the WWE to do that is to have one of the men eliminate the other in the Royal Rumble match.

This would plant the seeds of mistrust that will eventually lead their break-up in the coming months.

#4 John Cena Vs Drew McIntyre

It is unknown as to whether Cena will be in the Rumble or not

John Cena's status for the Royal Rumble is still unknown, but if the 16-time World Champion does make an appearance in the bout, then we can expect to get an indication of the WWE's plans for him at WrestleMania.

The word online was that Cena was set to face Lars Sullivan at the event, but given the fact that Lars Sullivan is still yet to make his main-roster debut, there is every chance that those plans have changed.

One match that teased recently was a showdown between Drew McIntyre and John Cena. McIntyre is currently being pegged as the next big thing in the WWE, and a big WrestleMania match against John Cena would certainly go some way in helping to establish that.

Having Cena eliminate McIntyre, only for The Scottish Psychopath to come back in the ring and take him out should do a nice job of planting the seeds here.

#3 EC3 Vs Dean Ambrose

EC3 could make an appearance in the Rumble

This is another match that has been rumoured recently and given Ambrose's instantly forgettable run with the Intercontinental Title, it makes a lot of sense.

EC3 has yet to make his in-ring debut on the main roster, and it looks as though that may well happen in the Royal Rumble match.

Having an arrogant EC3 eliminate Dean Ambrose shortly after arriving in the ring would be an excellent way to set up a showdown between the two men, and would automatically circumnavigate any issues surrounding the heel vs heel dynamic for the match-up.

This would also instantly establish EC3 as somebody to watch on the main roster.

#2 AJ Styles Vs Randy Orton

AJ Styles hasn't appeared in the Rumble since his debut

AJ Styles is set to face Daniel Bryan earlier in the night on Sunday, but the chances of him coming out victorious seem slim to none.

Styles has feuded with virtually everyone on the SmackDown roster at this point, with Randy Orton being the only real big name he hasn't worked an extended program with.

There is every chance that Orton could cost Styles in his match against Bryan earlier in the night, especially given the unpredictable nature of The Viper's character, but even if that is the case, Styles is likely to want revenge in the Rumble match.

The two men will almost definitely come face to face at some point during the show on Sunday, setting the wheels in motion for their New Jersey showdown.

#1 Seth Rollins Vs Brock Lesnar

Most fans expect Rollins to win the Rumble

So of all the matches that should be set up on Sunday night, the rumoured Universal Championship match between Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar is easily the most exciting.

Rollins has become the clear favourite for the match in recent weeks, and given the fact that he is one of the few men on the roster who Lesnar has never defeated one on one, a WrestleMania showdown could have huge appeal.

The WWE should strike while the iron is hot on Sunday night though and have Lesnar come down straight after Rollin's victory, leaving the former WWE Champion lying in the middle of the ring as the show goes off the air.