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WHO WILL COME OUT ON TOP AT THE RUMBLE - THE 2021 ROYAL RUMBLE TIP SHEET IS NOW ONLINE

WWE presents the Royal Rumble PPV this Sunday, live from Thunderdome in Tampa, FL.  Here is our take on what will take place at the show.

Men's Royal Rumble match.

Dave: Mike and I talked a lot about this on the show this week.  This is one of those years that they haven't built up anyone to be the person that you are clamoring to see fight either champ.  That says a lot about the booking.  The best idea, from an ongoing storyline standpoint, that popped in my head is to have Jey Uso win and then they have a few months to build up the drama between Uso and Roman Reigns.  I could also see them having Edge win, after the great promo that he did on Monday.  On the one hand, it would be really cool to see him go for the Title.  On the other, it would be an indictment on how bad they have been over the past year at getting a full timer to the point where he ascended to the main event of Mania.

Mike: There are a few things they could do here.  I really love the idea of Edge winning and then facing Drew or Roman at Wrestlemania.  It's important to note Edge said he was coming back for the title he never lost but that belt - the World title - doesn't exist anymore.  So he could challenge either.  I love the idea especially of Drew vs. Edge with the idea that each needs the win to legitimize themselves in their own eyes.   With 19 or 20 men officially announced at this point, they have lots of room for surprises.  We could always see a Brock Lesnar return or Bray Wyatt pops up and throw things out of whack or someone doing double duty that we aren't expecting but I am hoping we see Edge go the distance and maybe even toss Randy Orton out to get a little vengeance for his injury.

Richard:  I agree with Mike that there are a lot of ways they can go with this match, but I hope they do something that makes sense.  With the ImpromptCeption match on Smackdown, we found out that Braun Strowman was likely going to be in the Royal Rumble on Sunday.  Does he suddenly jump to the front of the line to win and get a main event spot?  I like Mike's idea of Edge winning, but do you have him run the gauntlet and start early or come in around 25?  I see Randy Orton having a 'supernatural' elimination when The Fiend returns (whether he is part of the match, I don't know) so they can have another Wrestlemania 'classic'.  Since we will find out who will start off the match on the FS1 special, I am hoping it will be a tag team.  The way they were talking during stage one of the main event segment, I would not be surprised to see Nakamura and Cesaro start things off.  I would like to see Miz and Morrison as the first two and see them fight over who was #1 and who was #2, only to be eliminated by #3.  Do you go with an 'underdog' pick or try for the chalk?  I would love to see Bryan win, but since I think 2021 will be his year, I am going with Big E.  He is from Tampa and since the big 3 sports signed a deal with the Tampa Devil, put a local kid in the main event who deserves a championship.

Women's Royal Rumble match.

Dave: The old stand by is Charlotte Flair!  But since she got beaten down this week, and will have to defend her tag titles earlier in the show, they can definitely let someone else win this year.  My choice is Rhea Ripley.  Have her debut and then they can decide who she takes on at Mania.

Mike: I am with Dave here.  Rhea debuts officially in the Rumble and goes all the way.  Rhea against Asuka sounds like a nice Wrestlemania attraction.  Unless they throw us a huge curve ball with Ronda Rousey or Becky Lynch returning out of nowhere, if it's me, I go all the way with Rhea or it's all Bianca Belair.  They need to go all the way with a new, young talent in my opinion but with only about half the field of competition announced as of this writing, there's lots of ways this could go.

Richard:  It is the day before the pay per view and TWELVE of the thirty spots have been announced (of course there are only 23 women listed on the Raw and Smackdown rosters, including Becky, Sasha, Carmella, and Maryse) so I am expecting some NXT talents in the match or some 'surprise' entrants.  We know that #30 is going to be Tamina or Natalya on the FS1 special on Saturday night, but I want to see where Nia and Shayna are placed in this.  If this match happens after the tag title match, I want them 1 and 2 since I think they will continue the team implosion storyline during the match.  I agree that there is always the Charlotte wins this mindset, but I think we could see Bianca Belair win this, based on her promo after her win over Bayley on Smackdown.  I would like to see Shayna get the win because I am looking forward to Shayna/Asuka, no matter how Shayna has been booked.  Rhea Ripley, if she is going to be in the match, needs a strong performance.  If they pull the trigger on Edge winning the Men's Rumble, there is only one logical choice for the Women's Rumble . . . BETH PHOENIX.  I want the first husband and wife to win the Rumble in the same night (only to piss off Gargano and Candice 'bump into' Beth at NXT)

Drew McIntyre defends the WWE Championship against Bill Goldberg.

Dave: I have such a bad feeling about this, for obvious reasons.  There is no world where Goldberg should beat Drew, but he shouldn't have taken the Title from Kevin Owens in the past either.  This will probably be fast, due to Goldberg being 54 years old and, well, being Goldberg.  Drew HAS to beat him, has to, has to, has to.

Mike: My fear is Goldberg gets the win in like three minutes and/or Miz cashes in, all of which would be asinine because the last year has been about building Drew McIntyre as a star.  The guy has carried Raw, despite some horrible booking all over that show, on his shoulders and has come out stronger and with some great matches under his belt.  The match should only end with Drew avoiding the spear, rebounding off the ropes with a Claymore and pinning Goldberg 1-2-3.  Anything less and they've ruined a year of work.

Richard:  This match should be as follows: 1. Goldberg goes for a spear 2. Drew kicks Goldberg to stop him in his tracks 3. Claymore 4.  Three count.  This won't happen and we will get about 4 or 5 minutes with Drew fighting from behind.  If we see Goldberg win, then there is only one choice for the Men's Rumble . . . Shane McMahon.  We are having a rain deficit in Tampa and if Bill and Shane are sweating in Florida, it means we might not need any rain for years.

Roman Reigns defends The Universal Title against Kevin Owens.

Dave: The storyline between these guys has been great, and the highlight of all the main roster feuds.  I think we will see KO get close, but not win.  And, he shouldn't.  They need to keep the Title on Roman for a while, for a few reasons.  One, he's the best thing going on either of the main brands and two, whoever beats him finally, it will really matter.

Mike: All of this has been nothing short of phenomenal and it's been a rare storyline within WWE where the challenger keeps getting elevated and watching his profile raise even without getting the win.  Roman and Owens and everyone else who has been involved in this should be extremely proud of themselves.  That said, Owens getting the belt here only serves to undercut Roman's momentum.  The Champ retains.

Richard:  I agree that Roman should win the match, but based on the last two week's promos from Kevin Owens (awesome shirt this week), I want to see Kevin win the title.  I hope this is not the 'typical' Last Man Standing Match where it is pummel opponent, stand around for a month, he gets up, pummel again, stand around, rinse, repeat for 20 minutes.  Will Owens be able to neutralize the likely interference from Jey Uso?  Will Jey not do what Roman wants so we can get 2 months of Jey under the proverbial table?  Does Jimmy Uso come back to redeem himself?  Is there another member of the family waiting to join?

Asuka and Charlotte Flair defend The Tag Team Titles against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.

Dave: I wouldn't have changed the Titles here anyway but after Nia dumping Dana Brooke on Raw this week, there is no way I would put the Title on her.  She has been careless too many times now and really needs to go back to the PC and hone her craft more.  I hate to say it, I really do, but I would hate to see someone really get hurt from one of her spots even more.  If it's me, I have the challengers lose and then they go at it in the Rumble to break them up.  Shayna deserves a singles push and it's time to give it to her.

Mike: I don't see the point in Asuka and Flair having the titles.  Baszler and Nia could use them far more, especially if they drop the silly "we don't get along" deal that every tag team of late seems to have.  WWE seems to be pushing Lacey Evans vs. Flair as we head towards Wrestlemania (perhaps with Ric as the referee?) and they could easily further that along with Lacey showing up and drilling Flair with the Woman's Right.  I predict new champs.

Richard:  I think this match will accelerate the flame that blows up the team of Baszler and Jax on Sunday.  I would have Asuka and Charlotte win and then you can have Charlotte point out to Asuka that she can still win the Rumble and face Asuka for her title (and does that force Asuka to enter the match or do something to stop her in the Rumble?).  All I want is a new feud for this title.

Sasha Banks defends the Smackdown Women's Championship against Carmella

Dave: Mella has been great on her return, she really has.  I don't think they will change here but if they do, here's how I would do it.  Reggie gets involved and cheats Sasha out of the belt.  Then, Sasha enters the Rumble (at one or two would be great).  She goes the distance and as soon as she wins she looks at Mella and says, "See you at Mania, bee-yotch."

Mike:  Carmella has done an excellent job during this feud, but I don't see a title change here unless it's a short story to set up a Mania rematch.

Richard:  After Sasha's win over Carmella's Cirque du Sommelier, Carmella gets another title match?  There are only two other legitimate challengers on the Smackdown brand right now based on the booking and they are busy recreating Season 1 NXT games.  Sasha has done a good job since she beat Bayley for the title.  I don't see her title reign ending after Sunday because I think the big match for this brand is Sasha versus Bianca.  Sasha retains, but I would not be surprised if this is the best match of their feud.

Bobby Lashley defends The US Title against Matt Riddle (if added)

Dave: Lashley has been really good in the role he has.  I like Riddle and all, but I want to see them keep the focus on Lashley as champ and continue to elevate him.  The guy is a beast and there's money there.  I have him retain the Title.

Mike: If this match is added, Riddle has been booked to look like a student wearing a dunce hat.  No way he should win.

Richard:  Riddle beat the other three members of The Hurt Business on Raw so that should mean that Lashley retains.  As long as Cedric doesn't do anything, I think that is the result.

 

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