WWE Royal Rumble 2019: Pre-HIAC Predictions For Women’s, Men’s Winner

Women’s Royal Rumble Winner: Charlotte Flair

This prediction won’t be well-received, but putting everything else aside, this is the most likely result at the Royal Rumble. Although WWE went against the trend of going with established picks last year when Nakamura won the Men’s Rumble, he’s more of the exception to the rule.

Nobody is more established in the WWE Women’s Division than Charlotte Flair, even if she isn’t necessarily the best performer overall. Charlotte is a seven-time Women’s Champion, the breaker of Asuka’s undefeated streak, and the owner of some of the greatest women’s matches in WWE history. She’s positioned as WWE’s biggest women’s star besides Ronda Rousey, which means that the two are on a collision course to make history in the main event of WrestleMania 35.

Yes, on some level, I would prefer to see Sasha Banks in the main event of WrestleMania with Rousey, but you know what? I want to see the women main event WrestleMania. So if that means Charlotte wins the Royal Rumble to set up a bad-ass showdown between two bad-ass women, then I’ll take it.

At this point, I find it hard to predict anyone else, because Charlotte vs. Rousey is a huge match that we’re almost conditioned to expect at ‘Mania next year. Barring anything unexpected, Charlotte is easily the favorite here, even if the WWE Universe made it obvious at SummerSlam that she isn’t a “fan favorite”.

Then again, not being a “fan favorite” plays right into everyone’s hands. A  booed-out-of-the-building Charlotte against the naturally gifted Rousey, who remains a heavily-cheered babyface, in the main event of WrestleMania is a big story for sure.