WWE Royal Rumble 2019: Confirmed matches and full projected card

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Intercontinental Championship Match: Dean Ambrose (c) vs EC3

It’s certainly fair to say I’m going out on a limb with this one, but EC3 has been ready for the main event for years now. Since his time in Impact Wrestling, EC3 has been a spectacular talker who can handle any situation he’s given. His short tenure in NXT, when other big names like Ricochet and Adam Cole remain, is a testament to his readiness and potential on the main roster.

EC3’s debut in NXT came at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans during this year’s WrestleMania weekend. He was one of six men in a ladder match to determine the first-ever NXT North American Champion. EC3 came up short, but not without proving himself in a fast-paced barn burner of a ladder match that was reminiscent of the early Money in the Bank ladder matches. EC3 also performed well in losses to Johnny Gargano and Velveteen Dream, but that win-loss record no longer matters.

EC3 proclaims himself to be part of “The Top One Percent,” and he certainly dresses the part. His over the top ego and physique seem to fit Raw more than SmackDown, and this fresh start may be just the opportunity he needs to make his mark early. While Seth Rollins may be looking for a rematch thanks to his unfinished business with Dean Ambrose, Seth’s “mandatory rematch” is null and void. Seth may keep looking for revenge, but he’d be better suited turning his focus to the Royal Rumble match itself.

That would leave an opening for someone to challenge Dean Ambrose, and EC3 is the perfect choice. Whether the rivalry is sparked with a failed attempt at answering an Intercontinental Championship open challenge or EC3 simply plants a target on Dean’s back, the stark differences between these two superstars could lead to an intriguing, fresh rivalry and an equally interesting match. Can the new Dean Ambrose be stopped in his tracks by a well-timed TK3?