Credit: WWE.com
At WWE Royal Rumble 2018, 30 superstars will vie for the chance of a lifetime at a main event match at the granddaddy of them all, WrestleMania 34.
WWE Royal Rumble 2018 is just over two weeks away and the event will see the first-ever all-women’s Royal Rumble match as well as the traditional 30-man Royal Rumble match. This match has given the WWE universe some of the most unpredictable moments in WWE history over the years.
What does the WWE have in store for the 2018 edition of this event? Which men would make the most sense to win the Royal Rumble match? Let’s take a look at the top five best options to win the men’s Royal Rumble match.
5. John Cena
There has been one superstar in the history of the WWE to win the Royal Rumble match three times and the guy goes by the name of Stone Cold Steve Austin. But in just over two weeks, John Cena can reach that plateau with a win.
Cena’s WWE schedule has been on a part-time basis over the past year or two, but every time Big Match John is around, things get exciting. The years of fans resenting Cena are seemingly a thing of the past and now, it’s impossible not to respect what he has done for the WWE.
And if you look at the grand scheme of things in the WWE right now, Cena actually could make sense to get a Royal Rumble win. As a free agent, Cena can operate on either Raw or SmackDown depending on which brand needs him. That opens the door for a couple possibilities heading into WrestleMania 34. Keep in mind Cena is just one world title win away from breaking Ric Flair’s all-time record of 16 reigns as world champion.
The last major program Cena was involved in was with Roman Reigns, so it could actually be fitting if Cena wins the Royal Rumble match and involves himself in the likely Universal Championship match at WrestleMania with Reigns and Brock Lesnar to try and get a measure of revenge on Reigns. Cena could just as easily get involved in the WWE Championship picture at WrestleMania because honestly, who would be that upset with another potential classic between Cena and AJ Styles?
It’s not likely Cena will win the Royal Rumble match, but unlike many others in the match, a Cena win would make sense and could lead to something big at the granddaddy of them all.
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
4. Samoa Joe
From day one of his main roster debut, Samoa Joe has been an impactful superstar on Monday nights. But one way to make his presence even more impactful would be have him win the Royal Rumble match and go on to WrestleMania.
For as much great work as Joe has done over the past year or so, he has yet to win a championship on the main roster. He has been involved in programs with the likes of Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, and Seth Rollins over the past few months and has proven his main event-level presence on the roster.
It would make sense to have Joe as a leading candidate to win the Royal Rumble match. With how the Universal Championship picture is expected to look at WrestleMania 34, throwing Joe in the mix makes sense on all fronts. He has had beef with Lesnar and Reigns over the past few months, so a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania would work perfectly.
However, with Joe’s apparent foot injury on the Jan. 8 edition of Raw, that could greatly affect his Royal Rumble plans and beyond. Hopefully the injury is nothing serious, but if it is, that would certainly halt any potential Royal Rumble win plans. It could also halt any potential plans to battle John Cena at WrestleMania 34, which Joe teased on the Jan. 8 edition of Raw.
If Joe is healthy and able to go, he is definitely a great option to win the Royal Rumble match and have big plans at WrestleMania 34.
WWE.com
3. Finn Balor
Everyone loves a good underdog story, especially in the WWE where the story being told is outstanding. And the WWE can give fans a similar experience at WrestleMania 34 if the company finally gives Finn Balor the breakthrough he has needed.
Balor was the first-ever Universal Champion for a minute, but unfortunately has never gotten back to that level since returning from injury the night after WrestleMania 33. In fact, his direction has been pretty nonexistent throughout much of 2017. But 2018 has given The Demon King a glimmer of hope and direction so far.
Since reuniting with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Balor has been in a better position than he has been in months. But one way to give him an even better direction would be having Balor get an upset win in the Royal Rumble match. Balor was never pinned or submitted for the Universal Championship and has yet to get a rematch for the title he was forced to relinquish.
This presents the WWE with an opportunity to right the wrongs the company has done with Balor since his injury at SummerSlam 2016. A Balor win at the Royal Rumble would set up the perfect David vs. Goliath battle at WrestleMania 34 with Brock Lesnar. It would be even better with Roman Reigns in the picture as well, which is expected.
The Demon King has put up with endless lackadaisical booking for months, so he deserves a chance to prove how over he truly is on the grandest stage of them all.
Photo Source: WWE.com
2. Roman Reigns
Sometimes, despite how predictable something is, the WWE just goes with it no matter what. And a glaring example of this would be how the company books Roman Reigns heading into WrestleMania 34.
It’s no secret, Reigns is the new chosen one in the WWE. And despite many fans not being on board with this, you can’t deny that The Big Dog is a great wrestler. It’s easy to nitpick some of his qualities, but the one that means the most is wrestling and he is great at it.
Reigns’ WrestleMania 34 plans seem to be headed towards a Universal Championship match with Brock Lesnar. That has been the consensus for months and there are no signs of that changing. Maybe the WWE will throw a wrinkle or two in the picture, but it seems obvious that Reigns and Lesnar are headed towards a Universal Championship encounter at the granddaddy of them all.
So, by default, having Reigns win the Royal Rumble match is a safe and logical decision. It’s too predictable, but it’s hard to change the WWE’s mind often times. But having Reigns win the rumble in the same building he won it in just three years ago, to an unprecedented chorus of displeasured fans, likely wouldn’t go over well. And with Raw having the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view before WrestleMania 34, the Universal Championship plans could just as easily be decided there.
It might be too easy, but The Big Dog definitely has a chance to win the 2018 Royal Rumble match and go on to WrestleMania to battle for the Universal Championship.
Photo by WWE.com
1. Shinsuke Nakamura
A superstar that’s due a big 2018 is The King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura. Since debuting on the main roster the SmackDown after WrestleMania 33, Nakamura has had a mixed bag of success and poor booking.
The King of Strong Style started out very well on Tuesday nights, winning several high-profiled matches against the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton. He was also in the WWE Championship picture for a couple months, which is where his problems began.
Poor booking coupled with a lackluster feud with then-WWE Champion Jinder Mahal slowed down Nakamura’s momentum and since his program with Mahal, he has seen little to no direction. But even while dealing with poor booking, Nakamura has still remained one of the most popular stars in the WWE. Putting an up and down 2017 aside, it’s time for Nakamura to finally get his chance.
Nakamura is the clear-cut best option to win the Royal Rumble match. Fans have fantasized about a possible Nakamura vs. AJ Styles match at WrestleMania for the WWE Championship and now the WWE can make that happen. And when looking at the main event scene on SmackDown and who could challenge for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, there’s no doubt Nakamura is the guy to fill that role.
Next: The Case For/Against Finn Balor Winning The Royal Rumble
No superstar on the WWE roster is better suited to win the Royal Rumble match than The King of Strong Style and Nakamura vs. Styles at WrestleMania 34 could be a monumental, all-time great showdown.