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As the build-up to the 2018 Royal Rumble continues, we are getting closer to determining who might possibly win the men's Royal Rumble match and go onto Wrestlemania to compete for either the WWE Championship or Universal Championship.
There are so many options that could take this year's crown, but there is only a handful of realistic options that could go onto headline Wrestlemania. If booked and handled correctly, a Royal Rumble victory would solidify a superstar's status as a main event talent.
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Here is a list of 5 superstars who are the most realistic options to outlast 29 other men to compete for a world title at Wrestlemania 35.
#5. Mustafa Ali
If anybody had stated that Mustafa Ali would be in contention to win the Royal Rumble 3 months ago, then you simply would've been laughed at. However, on 11th December 2018, we witnessed the debut of Mustafa Ali on Smackdown Live as he confronted Daniel Bryan in a segment. Ali went onto face Bryan later on in that night, as they engaged in a thrilling match- but Ali was unable to get the win as Bryan went onto getting the victory, before attacking Ali later on.
But then the following week on Smackdown Live, we saw Ali team up with AJ Styles to take on the team of Andrade 'Cien' Almas & Daniel Bryan. Ali shocked the world to pin the WWE Champion in Bryan, and gain the victory for his team.
The fact of the matter is, Ali is looking very formidable right now and his chances of winning this year's Royal Rumble seem to be very strong. The WWE has already built a solid storyline between Ali & Bryan already despite it clearly being a side-story, but there is already so much heat to this rivalry which could be further explored at Wrestlemania 35.
Ali winning the Royal Rumble seemed impossible a few months ago, but WWE has proved that they see something in Ali that is very special. So don't be surprised if Ali shocks the world once again to defeat 29 other men to win the 2019 Royal Rumble.
#4. Bray Wyatt
The Eater of Worlds is the fourth option to take this year's Royal Rumble match. We haven't seen Wyatt appear on the television since WWE Starrcade, where he successfully defeated Baron Corbin. But it seems as if WWE has big plans for Wyatt due to the fact that they are clearly protecting him, and we have also seen various cryptic tweets from Wyatt himself- hyping up his eventual return.
Wyatt managed to rejuvenate his career by teaming up with his foe turned a friend in Broken Matt Hardy- as the two men went onto form a tag team that went onto becoming Raw Tag Team Champions. However, Wyatt would make a fantastic challenger for either Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman to challenge for the Universal Championship at Wrestlemania.
We have seen Wyatt have quarrels with The Beast before, and it seemed that Wyatt vs. Lesnar was being pegged for Wrestlemania 32- before the plans were clearly dropped for Lesnar to face Dean Ambrose in a No Holds Barred Match instead. This could easily be a match that WWE might be interested in doing for Wrestlemania 35, due to the fact that Wyatt has regained his mystique and aura. But a potential bout with Braun Strowman would also make a lot of sense, due to the history that the two men have with each other.
For those who don't know, Braun Strowman was one of the members of Wyatt's former stable called The Wyatt Family. However, Strowman was removed from the group after Wyatt had been drafted to Smackdown. There are so many directions that WWE could go with this rivalry, however with the WWE Championship at stake- it would feel so much more important.
It doesn't seem likely that Strowman will defeat Lesnar at Royal Rumble, but this is the WWE. Anything can happen, and having Wyatt win the Royal Rumble to face either Lesnar or Strowman for the Universal title would be an intriguing direction for the WWE to go in.
#3. Drew McIntyre
Third, on the list, we have The Scottish Psychopath himself. Drew McIntyre has been heavily protected ever since arriving at the WWE, and on the final Raw of 2018- we witnessed McIntyre defeat Ziggler in a Steel Cage match before pummelling The Show-Off in a vicious post-match beatdown. We've also seen McIntyre humiliate 'The Olympic Gold Medalist' Kurt Angle in a match on the November, 5th 2018 episode of Raw.
There is no denying that McIntyre is being booked to look very strong right now, and he would also make a very credible opponent for either Brock Lesnar or Braun Strowman to compete for the Universal Championship at Wrestlemania.
Strowman & McIntyre have been at each other's throats before after the two men had split up from the temporary stable which consisted of Strowman, McIntyre & Ziggler- formed to battle The Shield. A match pitting the two heavyweights could be a possibility for Wrestlemania 35, and having the Universal title on the line would prove that they are the main faces of the Raw brand.
But on the other hand, we have never seen Drew McIntyre & Brock Lesnar compete in a match together. This could be a fresh-match billed as The Psychopath vs. The Beast- and it would be a believable contest for the Universal Championship where anybody could win the match.
Neither men would have to switch alignments, and they would be more than capable of putting on a great match as tweeners- as we've seen Lesnar do before with Samoa Joe & Daniel Bryan. If McIntyre did win the Royal Rumble, it would be very deserved as he has been on fantastic form ever since his return to the main roster.
#2. Finn Balor
The leader of Balor Club pops up at #2 on the list. Finn Balor has had a very awkward run on Raw as of late. When he first arrived on Monday night's following the brand split, Balor earned the right to compete for the Universal Championship at Summerslam 2016. He then went onto win the match, to become the inaugural Universal Champion.
However, an injury that occurred during his match against Rollins put a dent into Balor's run as champion- as he was forced to relinquish the Universal title.
And ever since Balor made his return, he has yet to receive the one on one singles shot at the Universal Championship that he rightfully deserves. Maybe the WWE has forgotten about his title shot, or maybe they're saving it for later down the line- but the great ovations that Balor still receives despite the mediocre booking simply can't be ignored.
Whilst a match against Braun Strowman at Wrestlemania 35 for the Universal title wouldn't really make a lot of sense- the fans have been desperate to see Balor go one on one with Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship.
It has been a dream match for the entire WWE Universe, as Demon Balor, in particular, would make a fantastic opponent for Brock Lesnar. This match would feature the old school David vs. Goliath style- and we've seen that Lesnar is able to put on his best possible matches against smaller superstars such as Daniel Bryan & AJ Styles.
Despite the booking of Balor not being the best, a Royal Rumble victory for Balor would shock the entire world- but it would also give him the momentum that would be desperately needed if he was to go onto challenge Lesnar or Strowman for the Universal title.
#1. Seth Rollins
Finally, Seth Rollins comes in at #1 on the list. The Architect has arguably had the best run of his career in 2018, as we have seen Rollins put on one excellent match after another. He has had title reigns with the Raw Tag Team Championships, as well as the Intercontinental title as well. But now, a potential shot at the Universal Championship seems to be on the horizon for Rollins. As we previously saw on the December 31, 2018, edition of Raw- Triple H had come out to the ring, ordering for the "Old Seth Rollins" to make his return.
We then went onto see Rollins absolutely decimate Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush with a steel chair, and it seemed to be as evident as ever that Rollins was being pegged to be in a world title match at Wrestlemania 35. And the perfect way to execute that would be to have Rollins win the 2018 male's Royal Rumble match. There isn't anybody on this list who is as deserving as Rollins to contend for Universal title after the year that he has had.
A match against Braun Strowman could be great if it was pulled off well, however it's a match against Brock Lesnar that is the most appealing. We've seen the two men go head to head in a match before at Battleground 2015, where Rollins was the WWE Champion- but The Architect was a heel at the time, and the match had ended in a disqualification due to The Undertaker's interference.
But now, with Rollins being the hottest babyface of the Raw brand- there doesn't seem to be a better time for him to have a match for the Universal Championship. And whether his opponent could potentially be Strowman or Lesnar at Wrestlemania 35, there is no doubt that Rollins would burn the Metlife Stadium down.
