WWE Royal Rumble 2019: Full Confirmed Card and Match Predictions

Credit: WWE.com

Cruiserweight Championship Fatal 4-Way Match: Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Hideo Itami vs. Kalisto

There’s a disappointing possibility that this match gets pushed to the Kickoff Show, but it’s got all the pieces to steal the show. Since capturing the Cruiserweight Championship back at Super Show-Down, Buddy Murphy has been absolutely on fire as the leader of 205 Live. He’s taken on all comers, but this time is different.

While Buddy Murphy has come out on top in big title defenses against superstars like Mustafa Ali and Cedric Alexander, those were one on one contests. The man who once called himself the “Best Kept Secret” on 205 Live has painted a target on his back and carried it proudly as the Cruiserweight Champion.

This time, he’ll have to contend with three challengers at once. Not only that, but the nature of a Fatal 4-Way Match means that Murphy has lost his championship advantage. He doesn’t even have to be pinned to lose his title. If any of his opponents gets pinned or taps out, things are over right then and there.

If that wasn’t enough of a challenge, Murphy is up against three of the most capable stars of 205 Live who are all eager for championship gold. Two of his opponents, Akira Tozawa and Kalisto, are former WWE Cruiserweight Champions in their own right. Those title wins were more than a year ago, and that makes them even more hungry for gold.

The dark horse of the match has got to be Hideo Itami, who has struggled to claim championship gold since signing with NXT back in 2014. The Royal Rumble will be exactly five years since Hideo Itami’s WWE tryout, he has no accolades or championship wins to claim. Itami is as hungry as ever, and that makes him dangerous in this one.

While I believe Buddy Murphy is the safe pick and is likely to walk out as Cruiserweight Champion, I’m going to select the underdog Hideo Itami. Things have finally aligned for the Pro Wrestling NOAH standout, and he’ll be walking out of the Royal Rumble as the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

Prediction: Hideo Itami