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The big PPV is just around the corner and this has to be the time when it all falls in place for WWE. After Backlash, Vince Mcmahon with his whole entourage had stepped into the WWE ring and announced that there were going to be some overhauls in the way things happened in the company and there were going to be some changes.
It's true that there have been changes and there has been a marginal improvement in the quality of product that WWE has produced in recent times but the Royal Rumble, probably the second most important PPV of the year after the WrestleMania will be the real acid test to see whether things are starting to become better or not.
The card is ready and everything is finalized so let's go through the full match-card, be the betting man and make some final minute predictions for the matches that are in store.
#1 Rusev vs Nakamura - US Championship
Well, it's almost sad to see stars of the caliber of Shinsuke Nakamura and Rusev relegated to pre-shows but it sometimes gives clear evidence of why WWE has faced such a massive decline in ratings.
They just don't put enough value on the US Championship and it's too evident now. If you yourself don't take things seriously, no one else will.
It's not too long ago these two closed out SmackDown Live in one of the best matches that Rusev has been involved in. Ever since, Rusev and Nakamura have been pretty much off the TV, and to such an extent that the feud has lost all the steam.
Talking about the match, it looks highly unlikely that Rusev would relinquish the title on his very first defense against the guy he had just won the title from.
My Prediction: Rusev defeats Shinsuke Nakamura
#2 The Bar vs Miz and Shane - SmackDown Tag Team Championship
You've got to admit one thing, the duo of Shane McMahon and The Miz are fun. And the most of the credit for that goes to The Miz because of the way he's transitioned from a dastardly heel (to a face?).
Currently, he's carrying the partnership on his shoulders (although Shane has done an admirable job himself) and doing a great job as the crowd is completely behind him now.
For the match, you've got to say it comes a bit out of nowhere that "The Greatest Tag Team in the World" gets to challenge for the tag team titles without really proving themselves.
But sometimes that's how things happen and this does bring a much needed breathe of fresh air to the division which was starting to get a bit stale.
My Prediction: The Miz and Shane defeat The Bar to become Tag Team Champions
#3 Balor vs Lesnar - Universal Championship
There aren't too many ways to put it. Finn Balor would be happy to have finally gotten a shot at the title after toiling away for a long long time but will WWE really be looking at a situation where they take the title away from the beast just before the Grandest Stage of Them All? It just doesn't add up.
And that is because it is just not going to happen. Finn will put up a great fight but in all likelihood, we're looking at a match similar to what AJ Styles had at Survivor Series around two years ago or Daniel Bryan had at Survivor Series last year against Lesnar.
It's going to be a great match to watch but in the end, you know it's the beast Incarnate that's going to prevail.
My Prediction: Brock Lesnar defeats Finn Balor
#4 Daniel Bryan vs AJ Styles - WWE Championship
Now this is a more interesting bout because things are just not that clear when it comes to deciding who will prevail. On one side you have Daniel Bryan who has grown tremendously and become a phenomenon of sorts in his new heel avatar. The "New" Daniel Bryan is certainly a hit.
On the other side, you have the darling of the crowd AJ Styles, the guy that the audience really adores and receives crazy support wherever he goes. Styles has lost twice against Bryan and the big question is whether he will lose for the third time as well.
Is this just an intermittent feud for the championship and the Royal Rumble winner is going to challenge Daniel Bryan next or is it going to be something else? It does look for now that Daniel Bryan will keep a hold of his title and AJ Styles will pick up another loss.
My Prediction: Daniel Bryan defeats AJ Styles
#5 Rousey vs Banks - Raw Women's Championship
This one is slightly easier. Sasha Banks is just an intermittent challenge put in front of Ronda Rousey and it's highly likely that Ronda will walk away as the champion and ultimately face the duo of Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch for the championship at the grandest stage of them all.
The question though is whether we'll see either of Becky Lynch or Charlotte Flair interfere in the match to cost Ronda in some way.
My Prediction: Ronda Rousey defeats Sasha Banks
#6 Asuka vs Becky Lynch - SmackDown Women's Championship
This one is on the similar lines as the Raw Women's Championship and it does look highly likely that Asuka will hold on to her title and Becky would not be able to regain it.
What would be interesting to see is how Asuka will keep the title, whether it would be an interference by Charlotte or will it be Ronda doing the dirty work.
One thing is clear though, even though the results of both these matches seem to be set in stone they still carry a tremendous amount of intrigue with respect to what is actually going to happen in the matches and how the storylines are going to intertwine.
My Prediction: Asuka retains her title against Becky
#7 Men's Royal Rumble match
Smart money would point at Seth Rollins as he has been built up for a while to be the guy who would challenge Brock Lesnar. But then it makes you think, wouldn't that be too obvious and maybe make it all a bit of a dud?
Seth would still have time to become the No.1 contender even if he doesn't win the Royal Rumble (Roman Reigns did it last year) but for that to happen the winner of the Royal Rumble should challenge Daniel Bryan (or AJ Styles) for the WWE championship.
Which actually falls in line with the absence of a challenger, could we be looking at a shock Royal Rumble winner again? Well...it would be a shock but smart money points at Seth Rollins taking this one.
My Prediction: Seth Rollins wins the Royal Rumble match
#8 Women's Royal Rumble match
It's highly likely that the winner of the women's Royal Rumble match would go on to challenge Asuka for the SmackDown Women's title.
What remains to be seen is how WWE plays this one out because Asuka herself would need a credible competitor for WrestleMania and currently looking at the roster, the two names that do shine the brightest from the crowd are Alexa Bliss and Ember Moon.
Ember Moon has a history with Asuka (from NXT) while Bliss will be coming back after a long layoff (but is loved by everyone).
If one has to pick from the two Bliss would get the nod as she already has main event experience and could hype the match in a much better way which would be important for the WrestleMania matchup.
My Prediction: Alexa Bliss wins the Rumble Match
A WWE Hall of Famer called out AEW fans HERE
