WWE Royal Rumble 2020: 8 last-minute predictions for the PPV - NXT star wins the Rumble, The Fiend's next challenger

The 33rd annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view will take place at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas in just a couple of days, on 26th January.

It goes without saying that the two biggest matches on the card are the men's and women's Royal Rumble matches. These are the most exciting bouts of the entire calendar year, bar none.

While there has not been much of a build for the 30-woman match, the field for the men's match is almost complete. Nevertheless, Sunday night will bring us some exciting moments in both Rumbles.

Elsewhere on the card, we have a couple of Royal Rumble rematches from previous years. Becky Lynch will defend her RAW Women's Championship against Asuka, 12 months after tapping out clean to her.

Also, Daniel Bryan will challenge 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt in a Strap Match for the Universal Championship. Other matches include a Falls Count Anywhere match between Roman Reigns and King Corbin, as well as a couple of other title and non-title matches.

So without further ado, let's try and predict the outcome of all eight scheduled matches at Royal Rumble 2020.

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#8 Sheamus vs Shorty G

This is likely to move to the kickoff show.

Out of every announced match so far, this one is the likeliest to move to the kickoff show. WWE does need matches for before the actual pay-per-view starts, and Sheamus vs Shorty G has the least on the line.

It will be a solid match and a decent choice for Sheamus' first one since last April. Shorty G is a tremendous worker, just saddled with this ridiculous name, and he will do a tremendous job in selling for the 'Celtic Warrior'.

The result of this match will be fairly straightforward and predictable, but that is not always a bad thing. A good win over the former American Alpha for Sheamus, before he moves over to bigger things.

Prediction: Sheamus defeats Shorty G handily

#7 Andrade vs Humberto Carrillo (United States Championship)

Some good potential here

After an excellent Ladder Match for the United States Championship between Andrade and Rey Mysterio, Humberto Carrillo made his return to RAW to confront El Idolo. After all, it was Andrade who took him out with a DDT on the concrete around a month ago.

These two will face off for the US Title, in another match which could possibly move to the kickoff show. If it does, Andrade and Carrillo should ideally get a good chunk of time to do what they do so well. Wrestle a compelling match.

The former 205 Live man scored a few victories over Andrade in December, including on the TLC kickoff show. But Zelina Vega's client has had a new lease on life since then. He is as strong as ever right now, so he should retain the title, but not before Carrillo puts up a good fight.

Prediction: Andrade defeats Humberto Carrillo after some great action

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#6 Bayley vs Lacey Evans (SmackDown Women's Championship)

This feud will likely continue

It seemed like Friday Night SmackDown was desperately short on female babyfaces after Bayley and Nikki Cross wrapped up their rivalry. So, Lacey Evans gradually turned face and now, she has a match against the SmackDown Women's Champion at the Royal Rumble.

The Sassy Southern Belle won a match between the pair last week and earned the title match for Sunday, where she will probably put up a good fight. However, it is not her time yet. The money for WrestleMania lies elsewhere.

Everybody knows that the biggest match WWE could book for the SmackDown Women's Championship at 'Mania is Bayley vs Sasha Banks. And while there is a possibility that Evans wins the belt and then loses it later, a longer reign for Bayley would be more beneficial to the story. Lacey's time will come.

Prediction: Bayley defeats Lacey Evans possibly with help from Sasha Banks

#5 Roman Reigns vs King Corbin (Falls Count Anywhere Match)

This could be wild

This match should open the main card of the pay-per-view, especially because both men will be in the Royal Rumble match. Roman Reigns and King Corbin have been at odds for what seems to be forever. And after all the shenanigans involving dog food, dog mascots and whatnot, it has come to this.

Fortunately, WWE added the Falls Count Anywhere stipulation to this match so that makes it a tad more exciting. We will likely see interference from Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode and The Usos, so expect an all-out brawl.

What is unique about this match is that it will take place in a baseball stadium, so seeing Reigns kick Corbin's ass all over the Minute Maid Park may be pretty cool. These two should go backstage, at the very least.

As for the winner, it's got to be the Big Dog. He has gone through enough with this lumbering feud with Corbin. WWE needs to finally end this story and move on to the next one, which might just begin on this very night.

Prediction: Roman Reigns defeats King Corbin after fighting all over the stadium

#4 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt vs Daniel Bryan (Strap Match for the Universal Championship)

Does the stipulation offer Bryan a chance?

The biggest non-Rumble match on the entire card is a toss-up between this one and the next one. 'The Fiend' will face Daniel Bryan for the second time on pay-per-view, this time in a Strap Match. Bryan's reasoning for this stipulation was so that Bray Wyatt could not run away from him.

While that may backfire on him, Bryan has shown some real courage ever since he sported his new (old) look at TLC. He would be a fantastic choice to end Wyatt's dominant run, but it is too soon for that to happen.

And while a Strap Match may be designed to give Bryan a win without actually beating 'The Fiend', the Universal Championship should remain on the host of the Firefly Funhouse. The match will be interesting at the very least, although it will be difficult to match their spectacular effort at Royal Rumble 2014.

After Bray Wyatt's dark alter-ego retains the Universal Title, WWE could set up his next defence. Kane could make his presence felt, possibly to save Daniel Bryan from a post-match beatdown, and stake his claim for a shot at 'The Fiend' for the rumoured Saudi Arabia pay-per-view in February.

Prediction: 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt defeats Daniel Bryan before Kane comes out to challenge him

#3 Becky Lynch vs Asuka (RAW Women's Championship)

A compelling story

WWE has told a masterful story between Becky Lynch and Asuka, dating back to their history from 12 months ago. At last year's Royal Rumble pay-per-view, The Man fell short to Asuka, who was flying high as the SmackDown Women's Champion.

Becky ended up winning the Rumble that night, but Asuka stood still. She did nothing and ended up losing her title to Charlotte Flair, in the build-up to the first-ever women's WrestleMania main event. It has taken her this long to return to the main title picture.

The two inaugural female Royal Rumble winners will do battle once again, with Becky very much being the underdog. She has not beaten Asuka in WWE, making this a mountain for The Man to climb before reaching the promised land of WrestleMania.

We cannot see past Becky Lynch winning this, as it completes her story arc with Asuka and moves her on to the Show of Shows, where she will meet the winner of the Women's Royal Rumble Match. If this match comes close to their encounter last year, we are in for a treat.

Prediction: Becky Lynch defeats Asuka after an incredibly hard-fought contest

#2 30-woman Royal Rumble Match

Less than one-third are confirmed so far

The build to this year's women's Royal Rumble match has been non-existent, with only a handful of women confirming their entry into the contest. WWE has not put any importance in this match and a new viewer would not even know that the women have their own Royal Rumble.

The lack of focus on this match is likely because the winner will probably be a surprise entrant. Who that surprise entrant will be, though, is a different question. There could be up to ten surprises, from NXT, their UK counterparts, and the injury list.

Stars like Naomi, Nia Jax and Ruby Riott could return from lengthy absences, giving RAW and SmackDown some much-needed depth to their female divisions. From the current roster members, Charlotte Flair might be the favourite. But there are two names which stand out.

Ronda Rousey has been expected to be the ultimate surprise of the match, creating all the buzz for the women's Royal Rumble after the match instead of before it. But it is nowhere near a lock whether she is returning to face Becky Lynch. Instead, her fellow MMA Horsewoman, Shayna Baszler, could go on to win.

She has done everything possible in NXT and looks set on dominating the WWE main roster. And if Rousey does not return, the Queen of Spades is the next best option.

She, like Rousey, has some unfinished business with Becky Lynch, which could be tended to at WrestleMania. Baszler has got to be the overwhelming favourite to win the 2020 women's Royal Rumble match unless Ronda Rousey shows up of course.

Prediction: Shayna Baszler wins the Rumble, unless Ronda Rousey is set to return

#1 30-man Royal Rumble Match

This could be one of the most interesting Rumble matches in recent memory

In contrast to the women's match, WWE has done a pretty good job in promoting the 30-man Royal Rumble match this year. We all know that Brock Lesnar will be entering the match at number 1, despite being the WWE Champion.

He could go on a massive tear and come close to breaking the all-time eliminations record in a single Rumble match. But a win is not very likely for Lesnar. The Beast will likely get eliminated by a future opponent, either for WrestleMania or the rumored Saudi Arabia show.

The field itself is almost complete, with a handful of potential winners. There is room, however, for three names to make a surprise appearance. NXT stars like Matt Riddle and Keith Lee are likely, as is Cain Velasquez. Then there are the never-ending rumors of Edge making a shocking return to the ring.

Whether these surprises take place or not, there are two prime candidates to win the whole thing. One of them will have already wrestled earlier in the night, Roman Reigns. Him winning the Rumble could cause a lot of backlash and undo the goodwill that Reigns has built for himself over the past year.

Nevertheless, he remains a favourite along with Drew McIntyre. WWE seems like they are finally going all-in with the Scottish Terminator. He has gradually become an over babyface and will continue to prosper in the role. McIntyre would be a popular winner and that is the key here. The way he has been built, it is seemingly pretty likely that Drew McIntyre will win the 2020 men's Royal Rumble match

Prediction: Drew McIntyre wins the Rumble, with Roman Reigns being a close second