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As one of the 'Big Four' pay-per-views on the WWE calendar, Royal Rumble has always featured more marquee matches. This year is no exception. Goldberg is still one of the most talked-about Superstars in WWE today, as he is set to challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship.
As is the case with any Goldberg match since his return to WWE in 2016, there is no predictable outcome. This is because of the way the WWE Hall of Famer has been booked since then. For better or worse, Goldberg matches are always intriguing. This Sunday's contest is no different.
Multiple variables may come into play here, with WWE possibly trying something radical to boost the viewership numbers of Monday Night RAW. There are several possible ways Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg could end, with either Superstar leaving Royal Rumble as the WWE Champion. Or will it be none of them?
Here are five possible finishes for Drew McIntyre's WWE Title defense against Goldberg at Royal Rumble 2021.
#5 Goldberg defeats Drew McIntyre clean at WWE Royal Rumble
This is the big concern of Goldberg challenging for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble. Every match that the WWE Hall of Famer has, he stands a substantial chance of winning. That was evident in his two Universal title challenges against Kevin Owens and Bray Wyatt.
Goldberg could continue his streak of defeating younger Superstars to win the world title at Royal Rumble by taking down Drew McIntyre. It would be a crying shame, considering the roll McIntyre has been on in the past year. However, this is a booking decision that isn't beyond WWE and Vince McMahon.
RAW needs a severe ratings bump, but have focused more on short-term fixes to maintain viewers instead of telling better stories. Goldberg winning the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble would fit right into that line of decision-making. It would also clearly indicate the very reason why RAW has been struggling recently.
This is the worst-case scenario for Royal Rumble. Drew McIntyre losing clean to Goldberg would undo the good work WWE has done in building The Scottish Terminator up as a major star, but it, unfortunately, is not out of the question.
#4 Sheamus turns heel and costs Drew McIntyre the title at WWE Royal Rumble
In this scenario, Goldberg still wins the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble. But at least Drew McIntyre does not lose clean. That is the one improvement over a straightforward Goldberg victory. It still is something that cannot happen at any cost, as the 54-year-old absolutely should not win the title.
The friendship between McIntyre and Sheamus has been showcased on RAW over the past couple of months, with The Celtic Warrior even turning face in the process. However, he has been put in unfavorable situations against the WWE Champion's opponents.
Sheamus lost multiple matches on RAW against the likes of AJ Styles and Keith Lee. He even faced defeat in a Handicap Match this week, with McIntyre nowhere in sight. These instances could all add up to Sheamus turning back into a heel and costing his best friend the WWE title at Royal Rumble.
If the company is adamant about putting the WWE title on Goldberg, one of the better ways to do it would for Sheamus to lay Drew McIntyre out with a Brogue Kick and leave him for the WWE Hall of Famer to pin. However, with that being said, they must not book Goldberg to go over.
#3 Drew McIntyre pins Goldberg with a Claymore Kick at WWE Royal Rumble
Out of every possible outcome for this match at Royal Rumble 2021, a simple Drew McIntyre victory would be the best one. The current WWE Champion should retain his title over Goldberg and move on to the road to WrestleMania. That would make this entire feud worthwhile.
McIntyre and Goldberg could have a fun and explosive match - one that barely lasts five minutes. However, in the end, it must be the Claymore Kick that decides the match. WWE has invested far too much time and effort in protecting the Scotsman and his finisher for this match to end in any other way.
A victory over a WWE Hall of Famer at Royal Rumble would only serve to boost McIntyre's stock and make him a bigger star. No current full-time star has beaten Goldberg except for Braun Strowman, who was a last-minute replacement for Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 36.
Drew McIntyre winning at Royal Rumble is a big possibility, simply because he may be too big to take a full-blown Jackhammer from Goldberg. Anyway, that way, The Scottish Terminator can get whatever rub the WCW legend is able to still give at this stage in his career.
#2 The Miz cashes in Money in the Bank at WWE Royal Rumble and wins the title
What if neither Drew McIntyre nor Goldberg left Royal Rumble 2021 with the WWE Championship?
Yes, The Miz cashing in his Money in the Bank contract is a very real possibility. He and John Morrison have been goofing up Monday Night RAW for a while and they desperately need a character shift. If Miz becomes WWE Champion, it would instantly make them a little more serious than they normally are.
The A-List Superstar did cash in during Drew McIntyre's last pay-per-view title defense but it was reversed on a technicality, as it was Morrison who cashed in for him. However, at Royal Rumble, Miz could hand in the briefcase by himself and sneak his way to the WWE title.
He could take advantage of McIntyre and Goldberg tearing each other apart, similar to how Seth Rollins committed the 'heist of the century' at WrestleMania 31.
The Miz is good enough to hold the WWE Championship and a successful Money in the Bank cash-in at Royal Rumble could flip a switch in his character. He could very easily drop the belt back to Drew McIntyre at either Elimination Chamber or Fastlane.
#1 The Miz cashes in Money in the Bank at WWE Royal Rumble and takes the pin
Of course, if The Miz cashes in his Money in the Bank contract during the Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg match at Royal Rumble, there is every chance that he fails to win the WWE Championship. That is what happened when he inserted himself in McIntyre's TLC Match with AJ Styles last month.
It seems too far-fetched for The Miz to become WWE Champion, after the way he and John Morrison have been booked on RAW. Their bad comedy does not fit in the main event scene. Therefore, WWE might simply want to get the Money in the Bank briefcase out of the way.
The Miz could cash-in mid-match but instead of coming away with the victory and the WWE title, he would take the pinfall. This scenario is likely because WWE might insist on protecting both, Drew McIntyre and Goldberg for the finish. This way, neither of them would be pinned.
Even if he isn't the WWE Champion, Goldberg would remain protected heading into WrestleMania if McIntyre pinned The Miz at Royal Rumble. Similarly, and more terrifyingly, this idea could lead to Goldberg winning the WWE title without pinning Drew McIntyre. If Miz does fail his cash-in on Sunday, it better be the former and not the latter.
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