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The 2021 Royal Rumble is set to take over Tropicana Fields in just over a month's time, and it will kick start the Road to WrestleMania 37. Before WWE begin planning their first pay-per-view of 2021, the final show for 2020, TLC, will take place on December 20th and could have some impact on what will happen at Royal Rumble on January 31st.
There are several feuds that are happening at present that could flow over into Royal Rumble, but there are others that will end at TLC so that WWE's top stars can focus on new feuds in the new year.
At present, there are several matches that have been teased for the first show of 2021, and here are five that could happen at Royal Rumble.
#5. Bobby Lashley vs. Riddle for the United States Championship could take place at Royal Rumble
While this match has only recently begun building, it's likely that WWE could give these Bobby Lashley and Riddle a lengthy story since both men have an MMA background.
It's likely that Riddle will come out on top at TLC, and then the former Champion will be looking to cash in his re-match at Royal Rumble. The Hurt Business could help Lashley retain, so there is a rematch where they are banned from ringside next year.
Lashley has been looking for a challenge for the United States Championship in recent months and could finally meet his match in the form of Riddle. This feud could be one worth watching heading into 2021.
It's unclear what part The Hurt Business will play a role in this feud since Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander are currently feuding with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods for the RAW Tag Team Championship.
#4. Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan for the Universal Championship could take place at Royal Rumble
Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan have had their issues on SmackDown in recent weeks since the former World Champion isn't a fan of the way Reigns has been handling his business with Jey Uso. It is likely that things could come to a head between Reigns and Bryan at Royal Rumble 2021.
Uso attacked Bryan to prove his loyalty to Reigns, and it feels as though that feud is far from over. Right now, Bryan and Sami Zayn look as though they are heading towards a match at TLC, while Kevin Owens will be the man occupying Roman Reigns time until after the pay-per-view on December 20th.
If Reigns is able to find a way past Owens at TLC -- which in all likelihood he will -- then Daniel Bryan could be the man to step up to The Universal Champion at Royal Rumble next year.
Reigns and Bryan have collided many times in the past but under very different circumstances. On the night that one star will win the chance to challenge the Champion at WrestleMania, Reigns will need to make a huge statement at Royal Rumble to any challengers who are looking to step up.
#3. Shayna Baszler vs. Nia Jax could take place at Royal Rumble
Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax are the current Women's Tag Team Champions, but it's likely that the two women will lose the titles to Asuka and Lana at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs in a few weeks. If that happens, the two women could be on a collision course for Royal Rumble next month.
The issues between Nia Jax and Baszler seem to have been brewing throughout their feud with Lana, with The Submission Magician blaming Jax for their first loss to the duo a few weeks ago.
This week on RAW, it was Baszler who took the pin from Lana, and it's obvious that she won't be happy about it. If the two women do lose their Championships at TLC, then it could be the end of their current run as "friends."
Baszler and Jax should be challenging Asuka for the RAW Women's Championship. The only way this can happen is if they drop the Championships at TLC and then face off at Royal Rumble with the winner stepping back into the Women's title picture.
Baszler has been wasted in this storyline with Jax for long enough. Hopefully, this all changes at Royal Rumble.
#2. Randy Orton vs. The Fiend could take place at Royal Rumble
Randy Orton and The Fiend are expected to face off at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs in a few weeks, after the two stars have teased some kind of confrontation in recent weeks. Given that there is a lot of history between the two, the rivalry could well spill into Royal Rumble and maybe even beyond.
Orton and Wyatt have their own history from back in 2017 when The Viper was a member of The Wyatt Family. After winning the Royal Rumble, he opted to challenge Wyatt for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
Orton also burned down the Wyatt Family compound before the two men collided at WrestleMania, where The Viper emerged victorious. Orton and Wyatt then faced each other in a House of Horrors match, which interestingly wasn't a rematch for the WWE Championship since both men were drafted to different brands following WrestleMania.
The Fiend has targetted many stars who wronged his alter-ego in the past and has now set his sights on Randy Orton. This feud will definitely not be settled with one match at TLC, so it's expected to boil over into Royal Rumble, where these two men could have another interesting cinematic match.
#1. Drew McIntyre vs. Braun Strowman for the WWE Championship could take place at Royal Rumble
Drew McIntyre hasn't been short of challengers since gaining the WWE Championship, and after dethroning Randy Orton, he now has AJ Styles to look forward to at TLC. If he's able to see a way past Styles at the end of the month, then there could well be a Monster of a challenger waiting for him at Royal Rumble.
It has been rumored that the original plan for TLC was for Braun Strowman to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship, but after The Monster Among Men suffered a knee injury at Survivor Series, that plan was put on the backburner.
Styles will now step in to challenge McIntyre instead, and it's believed that Strowman will return in the coming weeks after his suspension is lifted and become McIntyre's first challenger of 2021.
Royal Rumble already looks as though it could be a stacked card, but it could also be the place where Strowman wins his first WWE Championship.
