WWE Royal Rumble Match Card Predictions: A Full-Time Universal Champion
By Mark Justice
Rusev (c) vs. Lars Sullivan [U.S. Title]🔵
HAPPY RUSEV DAY! Rusev got his birthday wish and won the United States Championship from Shinsuke Nakamura on the Christmas edition of SmackDown Live. I’m hoping Nakamura won’t get a rematch clause against Rusev simply because these two probably had more matches against each other this year than John Cena and Randy Orton had over the past decade. Albeit an absurd exaggeration, it’s still time for someone new to be in the U.S. Title picture.
As the new United States Champion, the babyface Rusev would most likely announce a U.S. Title Open Challenge at the Royal Rumble for anyone in the SmackDown Live locker room who would be willing to step up to the plate. Since there has been repetitive promotions of Lars Sullivan making his debut on the main roster, I foresee him answering the challenge at the Royal Rumble and dethroning Rusev for a very memorable and dominant debut. Sullivan has never won a title in NXT, so I foresee him having a strong start on the main roster in order to be seen as a formidable star.
He’s got the size. He’s got the strength. He’s got the power. It will be too much BRUTE force for the Bulgarian BRUTE, and a debut title win would do just the trick for Sullivan to propel himself as a top star in the WWE.
Prediction: Lars Sullivan🔵