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Although the betting odds provided by bookmakers are not a guarantee of what is to follow, they can usually be considered a useful guide to what to expect from an event.
But the 2024 Royal Rumble proved to be a real curveball that went against the grain, with CM Punk – the odds-on favourite with the bookies – going on to taste defeat in the 30-man battle royal.
Such was the shock surrounding Cody Rhodes’ victory at the January extravaganza, it makes you wonder if the WWE’s creative team has another trick up its sleeve for 2025.
Given his exploits at WrestleMania 40, perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised that Rhodes was given the win at the Royal Rumble, too.
But it was certainly unexpected, with sports betting UK operators making him just a 9/2 chance before the off: an implied probability of just 18.2%.
The betting tips columns were far more infatuated with Punk, who with odds of 9/10 enjoyed an implied probability of winning the Rumble of some 52.6%. Even Gunther, the 2/1 hopeful, had a 33.3% chance of outlasting the field as per the odds.
So the writing team were able to pen a surprise underdog story in the men’s battle royal, even if Bayley’s win in the women’s version came as less of a shock – she went off as a heavy odds-on favourite.
CODY RHODES WINS THE ROYAL RUMBLE FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW ???? pic.twitter.com/LS4KN6ia8C
— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) January 28, 2024
This is the time of year when all of the machinations ahead of the PPV begin to play out, with contenders emerging to win the Rumble and then, in time-honoured fashion, go on to main event WrestleMania.
Punk and Seth Rollins will likely be written into a collision course, precluding them, while the case for Sami Zayn is obvious; however, he will likely be overlooked in favour of a few other big hitters.
John Cena’s retirement announcement would suggest that he’s in line for a huge 2025 – winning the Rumble would be a great start to the sign-off year of one of the WWE’s most popular superstars.
BREAKING: @JohnCena announces retirement from in-ring competition, stating that #WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas will be his last. pic.twitter.com/TB6U3QtO1h
— WWE (@WWE) July 7, 2024
And then there are the bloodline protagonists – Roman Reigns and The Rock, either of whom could easily be written into a rematch with Rhodes at ‘Mania.
In the women’s Royal Rumble, it might well be worth keeping an eye out for Becky Lynch. The Irishwoman has been out of the ring since May, but – despite her free agent status – is expected to sign a long-term deal with WWE.
The Rumble would be a fitting place for her to return, especially as she could become the first woman in history to win the battle royal twice. But for now, only time will tell what WWE creative are plotting.
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