wrestling / Columns

411 Roundtable Preview: WWE Royal Rumble 2015

January 25, 2015 | Posted by Sean Garmer

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Introduction

This year’s edition of the WWE Royal Rumble, is really a two match show, but they are two big time matches. Of course, we have the match that officially starts the “Road to Wrestlemania” in the Royal Rumble match. 30 Superstars compete to try to be the last one standing and gain an opportunity to be in the main event of Wrestlemania 31. Then there’s also the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat match where Brock Lesnar defends his title against not only John Cena, but a Money in the Bank briefcase wielding Seth Rollins as well. Although the remaining portion of the card is the definition of filler, at least there is a Tag Team Title match in there too. As if you need any convincing to watch this PPV or WWE Network special event, but the 411 staff are going to try to do their best.

The Staff

Dino Zee, Wrestling Article Writer

Kevin Pantoja, WWE NXT Reporter, Video Reviewer

Derrick Cannon, WWE Superstars Reporter

Michael Weyer, Shining a Spotlight

Gary Vaughan, Wrestling 2 the MAX Podcast

Mike Hammerlock, The Wrestling Zone 8-Ball

Paul Leazar, Wrestling 2 the MAX Podcast

Sean Garmer, Wrestling 2 the MAX Podcast, WWE Roundtable Organizer, Games Top 5 Organizer, Co-operative Multiplayer Podcast, Quizmaster for Four Player Co-op

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The New Day vs. Tyson Kidd, Cesaro, & Adam Rose
Pre-Show Kick-off Six-Man Tag Team Elimination Match

Dino Zee: It’s the swimming pool match, as every one of these guys is either treading water or slowly drowning in WWE at this point in time. All six men are talented wrestlers, so at the very least, this should be a fun outing. The New Day probably takes it, but as the last remaining Rosebud, I’ll pull for the heels to pull it out and get a much needed win.

Winner: Adam Rose, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro

Kevin Pantoja: I’m not sure how many people watched Main Event on a weekly basis, but a few weeks back, these six guys had an absolute barn burner there. It wasn’t elimination, which will be the difference here, but I completely expect this to be a damn good match. While it will be really good, it’s not going to take either set of guys anywhere as they will all stay in the same basic spot. My heart goes with any team that has Kidd and Cesaro, but my head picks New Day.

Winners: The New Day

Derrick Cannon: This is a great way to get the crowd going for the rest of the night. If given enough time this should be one of the best pre/kick-off show matches in a while. Both teams are loaded with talented individuals just ready to get themselves noticed. With the New Day still fairly new as a unit, I expect them to pick up the first W of the evening.

Winners: The New Day

Michael Weyer: Not a bad kick-off, a fair mix of guys and fun seeing a good old six-man battle. I’ll give it to the New Day to continue their push, not memorable but still fun seeing what Kofi does before stealing the show at the Rumble once more.

Winners: The New Day

Gary Vaughan: This mini-feud has been good when it comes to in-ring performance. I’ve enjoyed the work all six of these guys have done in the ring; despite a limited storyline. The New Day should get the victory.

Winners: The New Day (After Kofi pins Tyson Kidd)

Mike Hammerlock: Adam Rose’s no good, very bad day starts here. He’ll eat the pin and then get tossed almost immediately from the Rumble. The New Day guys might have a sneaky good night. Kofi Kingston has become a Rumble highlight film and Big E is built for a battle royal. Seriously, Big E is about as close as a real human can come to being Ram Man. New Day wins here, setting up bigger moments for them (or at least Kofi) later in the night.

Winners: New Day

Paul Leazar: It’s all about the New Day here, but this match could really be something special if they give it 10 to 15 minutes to work. Kofi pins Adam Rose after his & Big E’s finisher puts him down for the three count.

Winners: The New Day

Sean Garmer: I recommend exactly what Kevin said, go watch their Main Event six-man tag from a few weeks ago. This one could be equally as good, if they are given the time to work that is. I’d say Big E eliminates Cesaro with the Big Ending to finish this one off.

Winners: The New Day

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Natalya & Paige vs. Nikki & Brie Bella
Divas Tag Team Match

Dino Zee: Hmm, a Divas match featuring the Champion in action, but without the title on the line? Yeah, that seems easy enough to call. Paige and Natalya win, and then go on to lose separate Divas Championship matches to the incomparable Nikki “Hercules” Bella.

Winners: Paige and Natalya

Kevin Pantoja: Being a huge Paige fan, it’s pretty obvious which way I’m going here. Although even without my undying affection for Paige, I’d go with her and Natalya. The title isn’t on the line and I expect them to win before losing a Triple Threat match or something at Fast Lane.

Winners: Paige and Natalya

Derrick Cannon: I might be a huge fan of Paige and Natalya, but I also realize that the WWE booking team worships the Bella Twins. That said the Bellas have actually been improving as an in ring act and Nikki has made a champion that is fairly easy to find reasons to hate. I expect those reasons to grow until she faces a challenger to her coveted Divas Championship.

Winners: The Bella Twins

Michael Weyer: Sigh….wake me when it’s over? The Twins lose but neither Paige nor Natalya are able to unseat Nikki so things continue as was.

Winners: Paige and Natalya

Gary Vaughan: I might be going out on a limb here, but I think the Bella Twins will lose. The reasoning behind that statement lands in the possibility of a future feud for the Divas Championship. Someone is going to pin Nikki and set her off on a quest to get payback on the person responsible. I really think this will spark a new feud for the Divas most coveted prize around Nikki’s waist. My best guess is AJ Lee will make a return to cost the Bella’s a victory.

Winners: Paige and Natalya (After Paige pins Brie with Roll-Up)

Mike Hammerlock: Paige is a face again? I don’t get it. Maybe it has something to do with Total Divas. I fear this match, along with the Ascension-Outlaws affair, is where the crowd will start to let the WWE know just how little it cares for the crap the company is flinging against the wall. I say “fear” not because I don’t want to see the crowd turn on the show. I’m positively counting on it. I say “fear” because these women have been put in an impossible situation and the problems with the WWE aren’t their fault. They don’t deserve the blame for things that are beyond their control.

Winner: Paige and Natalya

Paul Leazar: While I am somewhat interested in seeing this match, the challengers portion of Paige & Natalya have to win here to keep the feud going. So, I’m going with one of them to pin Brie

Winners: Paige and Natalya

Sean Garmer: Well, at least WWE has planted the seeds for the eventual triple threat at the next PPV. This is here to continue the story and that means Paige and Natalya get the win. I’d say Paige pins Brie after hitting the Rampaige.

Winners: Paige and Natalya

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The Ascension vs. New Age Outlaws
Tag Team Match

Dino Zee: Ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh. Poor Ascension, just completely buried from the get go. Well, for all those people saying “You’re not better than ______!” this will be the first step of The Ascension proving you wrong! Yeah!

Winners: The Ascension

Kevin Pantoja: There is nothing on the card I’m looking forward to less than this. Yes, I’m even more excited about Miz and Mizdow vs. The Usos fro the 400th time more than this. The Ascension are a tag team that I never really saw much in and the New Age Outlaws are a team that I have never been impressed by. This is my piss break, but I pick the Ascension.

Winners: The Ascension

Derrick Cannon: I feel that this match has one of the most predictable outcomes of the evening. Billy Gunn and Road Dogg know that their role for the evening is to try to get the Ascension over in any way possible. The Ascension will need to target a mainstay WWE tag team if they are to be relevant in the WWE after this match is done.

Winners: The Ascension

Michael Weyer: Welcome to the Ascension’s big coming-out party. After being buried from their debut, finally time to step up and trashing a former multi-tag champion pairing is the way to do it. Even WWE is smart enough to know it’s time to let the burial end and finally let these two cut loose and this should be it. A fair battle but the Ascension crushes the Outlaws in the end to finally be the bad-asses they were meant to be.

Winners: The Ascension

Gary Vaughan: After what happened to the Ascension on Monday Night RAW, I don’t imagine the Outlaws will have much of a chance at a victory. Plus, I think the Outlaws losing to The Ascension will give the Ascension a great rub, but it will also help create a new storyline for this young tag team. Let’s just say the Outlaws maybe the first of many veteran tag teams to face off against The Ascension.

Winners: The Ascension (After the Fall of Man)

Mike Hammerlock: I never imagined they could botch the Ascension so fast, but they did it. No matter how viciously Konnor and Viktor rip through the Outlaws it’s not going to make up for the emasculation they suffered on Monday night. They were made to look like the local jobbers they’d previously been squashing. I feel bad for them. I also think they make a perfect case for why the WWE needs to employ more managers.

Winner: The Ascension

Paul Leazar: I really hope this is a way of building the Ascension back up as their time on the main roster so far has been disappointing. Sure, this makes sense. The Ascension bragging (poorly bragging at the that, but still bragging) about being the greatest tag team since forever has ruffled some feathers, and the old timers are about to find out that they are right. Hopefully this lasts no longer five or six minutes, with The Outlaws only getting brief flurries of offense. The Ascension nab the victory with a Fall of Man to the Road Dogg in match that displays how dominant they really are.

Winners: The Ascension

Sean Garmer: I know many of us complained about the way The Ascension were used on Monday’s RAW, but it can also be the start of a domination storyline if done correctly. However, WWE has shown that we shouldn’t have faith in them doing any storyline justice. However, this is the beginning and I think we have to give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Ascension start their road to show they “are” better than those tag teams of yesteryear with a five minute victory over The Outlaws. Konnor will get the pin on Road Dogg after a Fall of Man.

Winners: The Ascension

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(Champions) The Usos vs. The Miz & Mizdow
Tag Team Championship Match

Dino Zee: This should be another fun outing between the four, but with Miz and Mizdow so obviously heading towards a breakup, this kind of lame duck title match does nothing for anyone, really. Maybe we’ll see an upset win for the challengers, so that when they split it’s shocking because they’re champs or whatever, but I think this is a pretty simple vehicle to get the split going, somewhat like Bret/Owen vs. The Quebecers back at the 1994 Rumble. A fun match will be had, and I see the champs retaining, and the challengers finally breaking up.

Winners: And STILL WWE Tag Team Champions… The Usos!

Kevin Pantoja: I highly doubt that anyone is going to pick The Miz and Mizdow. They had their run and the Usos are clearly the team to take the belts into WrestleMania again. I expect the match to be fun since these four have faced off so many times in so many match variations that they’ve developed some solid chemistry. I sense another tease towards the eventual Miz/Mizdow split, but my biggest worry there is what Mizdow does when that time comes.

Winners and Still Champions: The Usos

Derrick Cannon: This should be an incredibly fun encounter between two of the top tag teams in the WWE today. The Miz and Mizdow are starting to face serious friction within their team, while the Usos remain solidly united. It would be great to see The Miz get pinned by Jimmy or Jey, with The Miz later in the night getting eliminated by Mizdow, what would be even greater is if Mizdow yelled hallelujah during Miz’s elimination.

Winners and still WWE Tag Team Champions: The Usos

Michael Weyer: This feud has nicely sparked the tag division again and that should continue here. Tempting to see the belts change but I think the friction hinted at between Miz and Mizdow will finally come loose with a loss here and later in the night, one eliminating the other in the Rumble. The Usos are still over big time and should carry the belts into Mania so they retain here in what should be a nice throwback to classic Rumble tag battles of the past.

Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: The Usos

Gary Vaughan: It’s been an entertaining tag team, but it’s most likely the start to the countdown clock for the split of Miz and Mizdow. It may just be a crack in the team’s partnership but it will be a result of a loss in a championship match. I look for this match to be pretty good with plenty of exciting moments in between. The biggest issue for Miz will be when Mizdow does something to make him look bad in the match and they lose the match.

Winners: The Usos (After Usos Tag Finish)

Mike Hammerlock: This should be an entertaining tag showcase. Probably ought to say something nice about Miz, because he’s doing his best ringwork in years. He’s wrestling tag matches essentially by himself, teasing the fans with a hot tag to Mizdow that never comes. I think the story for the Rumble will be that Miz fails to get the job done in the championship match and that Mizdow eliminates him in the Rumble match. Jimmy and Jey will be their usual frenetic selves. I figure this jerks the curtain and gets the show off to an entertaining start.

Winner: The Usos

Paul Leazar: The feud has started to tread water some since Dem Usos won the titles at the end of 2014. All the steam the feud had has died off since then, so the only reason to have this match is so that Miz & Mizdow can finally split. I see Miz doing most of the work again, as usual, until he finally tags Mizdow in. Mizdow goes on roll, and just about the time he looks ready to put one of the Usos away, Miz tags himself in. The two get into argument, leading Mizdow to walk away from the match. Miz gets beat, and we get some more tension added to their inevitable confrontation during the Rumble match.

Winners and STILL WWE Tag Team Champions: Dem Usos

Sean Garmer: This is one of those feuds that proves WWE has a very hard time booking midcard feuds for then one month. Once that happens they have killed the match so much that no one cares once you get to the end of it. With two opportunities (the other being The Rumble match itself) for Miz and Mizdow to finally break-up. I have to agree with the rest of my colleagues and say that this is prime territory for the feud of Miz vs. Mizdow to begin. Mizdow will do something to cause Miz to get pinned and then in return Miz will eliminate Mizdow from The Rumble match. These two teams have shown they can put on something entertaining and I’m sure that will happen here. However, this is more about furthering a storyline than putting on a memorable match. Usos to retain after a roll-up by Jimmy Uso on Miz.

Winners AND STILL WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Usos

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(Champion) Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins
WWE Championship Triple Threat Match

Dino Zee: While I normally hate seeing a big match watered down with a third entrant (like, say, Austin vs. Angle vs. RVD), I think this was absolutely the smart move. We’ve seen Brock and Cena. We know how it goes. Seth Rollins, on the other hand, still needs a huge moment to really put him all the way over, in my opinion. His interactions with the champ and Cena have been good thus far, but let’s see how he handles himself in the match. I think he’s going to be a brilliant participant in there, adding athleticism in areas that Cena and Lesnar just can’t reach. In all honesty, I think this match will be a starmaking performance for Rollins, where he starts his final walk towards cashing in and winning the title. But that title win ain’t happening at the Rumble. And John Cena ain’t taking the belt here, either. Brock wins, because Brock smash. And, besides, he has to tap out to the Yes Lock at WrestleMania, anyways.

Winner: And STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion… BROCK LESNAR!!

Kevin Pantoja: The prospect of Seth Rollins as WWE World Heavyweight Champion is a beautiful thing. The decision to add him to the match was a stroke of brilliance because I, and a lot of other people, had zero interest in Brock/Cena again. Seth has not looked out of place at all in the build to this match and fit right in come bell time. I don’t see him winning though because he still has the briefcase. I also don’t see John Cena winning, even though that followed by a cash in is intriguing. I smell Brock Lesnar retaining before bowing out at WrestleMania 31. Bryan conquering the beast? Why not?

Winner and still Champion: Brock Lesnar

Derrick Cannon: The addition of Seth Rollins instantly adds a new dimension to a match that has been seen repeatedly within the last year. Seth Rollins could plan something with Paul Heyman leading up to the match and if he should lose the match and especially if Lesnar forces Cena to submit or Cena pins Lesnar, Seth Rollins still has a second chance to win big. That said I feel that the Royal Rumble could start a journey that will lead to a triple threat match between the members of the Shield.

Winner of the match: John Cena

Winner after cashing in Money in the Bank: And New WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

Michael Weyer: The stories here are intriguing. Folks may hate Cena but at least he’s around to defend the belt or at least give the champion TV time as is needed. Rollins is the wild card in this, pushed big and is clicking with the crowds. But Brock is still Brock and having him lose at Mania is a much bigger deal. It’s very tempting to pick Cena beating Brock but Rollins immediately cashing in to get the belt himself with aid from Heyman and the Authority. That’d be a good story but not convinced. No, I think it’s going to be Brock taking advantage of the battle to escape with the belt as him losing at Mania is the smarter play. A great match to be sure but just not seeing a title change yet with the big show of the year coming at us.

Winner and STILL WWE World Champion: Brock Lesnar

Gary Vaughan: This match is exciting, just cause it could go any way and those results will have its own set of possibilities. This match should be very good and I expect an abundance of near falls. If you ask me, I think Rollins will have plenty of help from J&J Security; while Cena and Lesnar hold their own. To summarize my prediction, Lesnar will pin Cena and Rollins will cash in unsuccessfully.

Winner: Brock Lesnar (After F-5 to Cena)

Mike Hammerlock: My head says no way Brock Lesnar loses. It would be a waste of him breaking the Streak and then annihilating John Cena at SummerSlam. You just don’t give that away. You ride it all the way to WrestleMania and get the maximum payoff from it. I just can’t wrap my brain around the WWE punting on Lesnar this close to the endzone. Yet my heart says Seth Rollins would be a fantastic surprise here. Rollins winning the title against two of the business’ top legends would be a wow moment. Holding the title and the MITB briefcase would be unprecedented. For sure, the introduction of Rollins into the mix makes this match a lot more compelling than the Lesnar-Cena clash at Night of Champions. The kid changes the calculus in all the right ways. However, I’ve got this gnawing sensation in my gut insisting that only a fool bets against John Cena. He’s got no business winning here. He’s the only wrong option, but the WWE’s balance sheet has been running in the red and that means Vince McMahon is likely to lean on his meal ticket. On the upside, the crowd will erupt with fury if Cena wins.

Winner: John Cena

Paul Leazar: A match that has been made all the more interesting by the addition of Seth Rollins, the tease with the MITB Briefcase, and some solid build on the last episode of RAW. I see the match shaking out as Seth & Brock sometimes working together to take out Cena before one of them blind sides the other, and going back and forth between that formula. Cena takes the fall after eating a Curb Stomp, which sees Seth Rollins ceremoniously tossed from the ring, Lesnar puts Cena down for the F-5, and gets the pinfall. Seth teases cashing in, but think better of it as Lesnar dares him to do so. Either way, Brock walks out with the strap once again.

Winner and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Brock Lesnar

Sean Garmer: This match certainly has tremendous potential to be great. Seth Rollins adds a huge amount of intrigue because he holds the MITB briefcase and could just cash-in it on whoever wins after the initial match is over. Since there isn’t anything really going on in the undercard I’d expect this one to go very long and have all sorts of shenanigans to keep things at a fever pitch. I think at the end of the day, WWE is not going to vary from the plan. Cena winning would create a huge amount of hatred from a lot of people, but would also seemingly waste everything Brock accomplished in 2014. I just think they have done so much with Lesnar recently that this is cementing the fact that Lesnar will walk into Wrestlemania WWE Champion. This will be packed with near falls and stuff happening on the outside. Somehow Lesnar after a F-5 to Cena is able to get the pin. Then Rollins doesn’t cash-in because Lesnar is ready and waiting for him.

Winner AND STILL WWE WORLD CHAMPION: Brock Lesnar

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30 WWE Superstars
The Royal Rumble Match

Dino Zee: So, I’ve had this thought for a while, and I can’t stop laughing whenever I think about it. I see a 3 guys in the ring, with #30 yet to enter. Daniel Bryan. Seth Rollins. Roman Reigns. The clock ticks down, and out comes BATISTA!!! He immediately tosses Bryan and Rollins, before ducking the Superman Punch and tossing Reigns! Then we get Brock/Batista at WrestleMania, and Batista gets the hero’s welcome he wanted last year. I’d really, really, really like to see that happen.

But, of course, it’s not. If it *does,* I’m claiming I called it though. However, I’m taking Daniel Bryan in this because I always take Daniel Bryan in any match. I see Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose as your Final Four. I see Dolph Ziggler being the Marathon Man. I see Reigns again eliminating the most people. I see Kane getting the necessary eliminations to take the all time record from Shawn Michaels. For the fastest elimination? That could be Adam Rose if he pulls double duty, sadly. If not him, then how about Enzo Amore showing up and getting tossed immediately? That’d be a nice surprise. I think this is going to be an entertaining Rumble, with a crowd as ready to pounce and get angry as last year’s, which should make the booking choices even more fun to watch unravel. But yeah, Daniel Bryan. Come the fuck on.

Winner: The Uncrowned WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan

Kevin Pantoja: Before Daniel Bryan made his big announcement, this was going to easily be Roman Reigns. However, with Bryan making that announcement it throws a wrench into the plans. I think the WWE badly wants to have this be Roman, but I don’t think they want to risk the fans in Philadelphia turning on him if Bryan doesn’t win. For the Final Four, I predict Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler and Bray Wyatt. Reigns will have the most eliminations again and I see one of Los Matadores being eliminated the fastest. For the surprise entrants, I can see DDP, Adrian Neville and maybe even the Dudley Boyz.

In the end, I’m picking with my heart this time.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Derrick Cannon: The month of January officially rings in the Road to WrestleMania, and few events signify that more than the Royal Rumble match itself. Daniel Bryan announcing that he is in the Royal Rumble sets up an intriguing story which is ironically somewhat similar to Triple H’s 2002 Royal Rumble win. Roman Reigns should once again have the most eliminations if he builds momentum throughout the match. Rusev might be tough competition for Reigns to once again have that statistic as I expect him to eliminate several individuals as well. Dolph Ziggler is my pick for longest stay in the rumble lasting almost to the final four. For the Final Four I predict Rusev, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and Danial Bryan. I also can predict surprise entrants from NXT such as Sami Zayn and possibly Adrian Neville , surprise returns from the Dudleys, and an announcer such as Booker T or JBL getting involved with the match. The quickest elimination will probably be either one of Los Matadores or Adam Rose. The Royal Rumble should always have a sense that it is unpredictable so I’ll use a wildcard for the win.

The winner of the 2015 Royal Rumble is Dean Ambrose

Michael Weyer: After the wild stuff of last year, this should be interesting. Expanding it to 40 risks watering it down but we should still get great stuff. Expect a couple of surprise entrants, Kofi to once more defy physics in a big spot and some good excitement to go around. As for the winner, I know must are picking Reigns to win it but his poor promo reactions are showing his weaknesses with the crowds. No, I think WWE is going to make up for last year and have Bryan win to set up a Mania showdown with Brock that will have fans going wild. Either way, it should be a fantastic Rumble, always a highlight of the year and remind us how damn fun the show is.

Winner: Daniel Bryan
Most Eliminations: Roman Reigns
Final Four: Bryan, Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler
Fastest elimination: Fandango
Surprise entrant: Scott Hall

Like most fans, I’m hoping for a great Rumble and for some exciting highlights. I’ll say we have surprise Rumble entrants such as ; DDP, Bo Dallas, and the Dudley Boyz. If my expectations hold true, we will see Kofi Kingston do something insane, Sami Zayne will make a splash, and Heath Slater will be the first elimination. The Rumble will shake out to the final four being Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, and Daniel Bryan. Only one man can win and that man will be Roman Reigns after he eliminates Daniel Bryan. If I can add a side note, my choice is based on what Vince McMahon wants and not what I think is best for business.

Most Eliminations: Titus O’Neal
Final Four: Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, and Daniel Bryan

Winner: Roman Reigns

Mike Hammerlock: I figure there’s five guys who stand any real shot of winning here: Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt, Sheamus and Daniel Bryan. I expect Randy Orton will make his return, but he’s not winning. Sheamus is a long shot, but I’m guessing he’ll be a surprise entrant and he could be a wild card. Sting’s surely popping up sometime during this PPV, but I don’t think they put him in the Rumble match. You can make cases for Rusev, Ryback and Dean Ambrose, but I expect their Rumble stories will be played out by the time we hit the final selection. Ziggler is the new underdog. He’s red hot on the heels of his big win at Survivor Series and stealing the show at TLC. He might be in line for the third #1 Rumble entrance of his career because he’s just about the best in the business at 40+ minutes of action. Bray Wyatt is coming in with a head of steam and I think he’s going to make a mark in his first Rumble appearance since he became Bray Wyatt (my pick for wrestler with the most eliminations). I think we’re going to feel like he’s controlling the match. Roman Reigns supposedly has been slated to win this Rumble for the past year, but he has taken a wrong turn and I’ve got to believe the WWE sees the folly of putting forth Reigns as the new megababyface in front of a Philly crowd that’s going to slaughter him. Seriously, Philly is going to make last year’s Rumble hijack in Pittsburgh feel like a gardening club luncheon. Reigns will be the focal point for that because he’s what the WWE supposedly wants to jam down our throats. Anyway, regardless of who wins the three-way championship match, Daniel Bryan makes an ideal opponent. DBry wins on Sunday and you send Philadelphians home happy, and we all get the promise of an entertaining WrestleMania. Bryan, Ziggler, Wyatt and Sheamus for the final four. AmDrag with the win. I’ll take Adam Rose for quickest elimination.

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Paul Leazar: While I’d like to make the argument that their are more than two possible winners for this match, I laugh out loud every time I try to weave a case for some of the underdogs like Dean Ambrose, Bray, Wyatt, or Dolph Ziggler. It comes down to the guy they spent all of last year building in Roman Reigns, or the perpetual underdog and person who never really lost the championship in Daniel Bryan. While I’d love it to be Daniel Bryan, I just don’t see it happening. I think the WWE is all in on Roman Reigns being that next guy, and I don’t see the push for him stopping here. Like it or not, I’d much rather WWE take a shot with Reigns here, but I won’t be crying if D-Bry stands tall at the end of the show.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Sean Garmer: This should be the fun filled 60 minutes or so that it usually is every year. Hopefully, we get a few nice surprise entrants, I’d love to see Bubba and D-Von make a return in Philly. This Royal Rumble will do one of two things. It will either prove that WWE has had one set course for most of the year with Roman Reigns, or perhaps that WWE listens to their audience when it comes to big things and possibly goes with Daniel Bryan to give us a match they also had in the cards at one point. I’m sure we will see a few dark horses like Bray Wyatt and Dean Ambrose, perhaps even a Randy Orton comeback and make an impact. I just think this comes down to two guys in the end. I wanna go with my heart here, even though I’m probably going to be dead wrong.

Most Eliminations: Roman Reigns
Fastest Elimination: Adam Rose
Final Four: Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose

Winner: Daniel Bryan

Overall Thoughts & PPV Interest Level (from 1 being the worst to 5 being the best)

Dino Zee: My interest level for this PPV is a 5: On a scale of 1-5, of course. It’s the Rumble! What kind of heartless cretin doesn’t want to see this?! I’ll be watching, and I’ll be cheering along my favorites and booing those I dislike. I know, real groundbreaking stuff. Hopefully I’ll get that Batista scenario because I love when WWE trolls the audience, but I’ll gladly settle for D-Bry getting the win. Anyone but Roman. Sorry, Mr. Reigns. You just ain’t there yet. B’lee dat.

Kevin Pantoja: My Interest Level for this PPV is a 5: The Royal Rumble is pretty much always a 5 on the 1-5 scale of interest for me. The match itself is always a fun one. The Tag Title and Outlaws stuff don’t interest me, but I can always enjoy Paige and the KickOff match sounds cool. The WWE Title match is finally something I’m interested in thanks to Seth Rollins. This show usually makes me feel like a kid again and I look forward to it again.

Derrick Cannon: My interest level for this PPV is a 5: Anything is possible at the Royal Rumble event, and it is the most historic form to signify what is to come in the months and days leading up to WrestleMania. The match is usually entertaining even if it is an off year and the WWE World Heavyweight championship match can end in so many ways as well. It looks like it should be an intriguing show from top to bottom with many possible winners of the name sake match.

Michael Weyer: My interest level for this PPV is a 5: Look, it’s the Royal Rumble. That’s always a must-see to set up Mania big time. The undercard looks good with the triple threat, some fun tag bouts and more but it’s the Rumble we all want to see and with 40 guys and the promise of a Bryan/Reigns show-down, it’s more interesting than ever. It’s hard to totally screw up and with a big push for Mania, time to sit back and enjoy a hell of a battle that kicks off 2015 in style.

Gary Vaughan: My Interest for This PPV is a 5 I love the Royal Rumble and I always go into it having high expectations. The lower card doesn’t pack the biggest punch but I believe most of the matches will deliver. The Rumble and the Triple Threat WWE World Championship match should provide enough excitement to make up for any short comings on the rest of the card if you ask me. However it all shakes out, I think WWE fans will judge this entire event based on who wins the Rumble and how they do it.

Mike Hammerlock: My interest level for this PPV is a 4.5: One of the coolest things that happened in 2014 was the crowd mutiny at the Royal Rumble. I’m not sure the WWE thought it through all the way when they booked this year’s Rumble for Philadelphia, the most wrestling crazy city on the planet. A couple thousand of the attendees will have gone to the ROH event the night before or the Chikara event that afternoon, or both. There may be more than a thousand ECW shirts in the audience. Old ladies and kids are smarks in Philly. This is going to be the most explosive crowd you can imagine, one that will blast every single thing the WWE does that it doesn’t like. The chants will be rude and sometimes vile. It may feel like an audience that’s on the cusp of rioting. Philly’s going to push the envelope. No way Philly goes mild a year after Pittsburgh shook the WWE’s foundations. Forget about wrestling. You dare not miss this crowd. There’s been widespread discontent with the WWE’s product for the better part of the past year and Philly is the town to vent all of that anger and frustration on Vince McMahon’s carefully laid plans. The filler matches will have derision heaped upon them. John Cena and Roman Reigns might as well wear targets on their backs. Surely the WWE has figured out that it’s stepping into a cauldron on Sunday and it will attempt to placate the angry mob. It won’t be pretty, but it could be the most spectacular wreck of a wrestling show in history. And more power to them if they can pull off a show that sends the natives home happy. That would be quite an accomplishment.

Paul Leazar: My interest level for this PPV is a 4: This show is carried by the two main events, with a mostly poorly booked undercard to fill out the rest of the time. I’m sure there will be plenty or surprises, but it’s the Royal Rumble ladies and gents. If you’re not pumped for it, something is wrong with you.

Sean Garmer: My interest level for this PPV is a 4: That’s 2 points for the World Title match and 2 points for the Rumble match. The undercard is severely underwhelming on paper, but we have a few matches that could surprise us at least. However, none of us are really here for a bunch of tag team matches. We are watching this PPV to see who walks out World Champion and to see who will main event Wrestlemania 31 after the Rumble match is over. I’m always excited for that to happen and this show should provide that.

Well, that’s all the time we have today. Let us know what you thought of our predictions in the comment section and don’t forget to share your picks for the PPV as well. See you all again in February for WWE Fast Lane.

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article topics :

Royal Rumble, WWE, Sean Garmer