WWE Royal Rumble 2017: Predicting the Full Match Card

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WWE Championship Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. The Undertaker

AJ Styles isn’t out of the clear for defending the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble, as he still has to face Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler in a title defense on the December 27 episode of SmackDown. By presuming that he will walk out as champion, especially since he’s probably not going to lose on TV, we can look at who he should face in January.

Why the Undertaker, though?

On the final episode of SmackDown before Survivor Series, the Dead Man warned the Blue Brand team to not lose their 5-on-5 match. They didn’t so his words meant nothing. However, he did say he’s back “taking souls and digging holes.” That has to lead to something important, right? If it’s only heading toward a WrestleMania 33 match, then his early return would render pointless.

By bringing in Undertaker to face Styles, they could contend for the WWE Championship in the biggest non-Royal Rumble match of the evening. The 60,000-seat Alamodome needs to sell some tickets and has some drawing power. The over-the-top-rope bout does that on its own, but other attractions need to be there for the fans to take in. Undertaker remains a big draw, even after crossing 50-years-old, that the WWE Universe wants to see. So, if the company can get him for the show, then they’re likely on their way to selling a few extra tickets.

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As for the championship match, this could be the way of leading to an Undertaker vs. John Cena match at WrestleMania 33 with a career and title on the line. It would be the main event and potentially the most important one we’ve seen in a handful of years.