WWE Royal Rumble 2020: Predicting all 30 men’s entrants before Survivor Series

Erick Rowan

WWE is trying their best to present Erick Rowan successfully as an intimidating presence on TV, and have succeeded. He would have been an excellent fit in the 1980s or 1990s WWE landscape. That isn’t to say he can’t succeed in this era. He commands the screen differently than most guys his size. His character has had a renaissance since teaming with Daniel Bryan last year and is still going strong since the split. He would fit in a position where he comes in and eliminates, let’s say, five wrestlers, in quick fashion.

WALTER

If WWE makes one star from the Royal Rumble, it must be WALTER. WALTER having a star making performance in the Royal Rumble accomplishes a few goals.

It can get viewers interested in NXT UK because if WALTER dominates at the Royal Rumble, fans may tune in to see what he does on his main brand. It introduces WALTER to a new audience. WALTER won’t win the Royal Rumble, but he has to leave the Royal Rumble and the next dominant monster in WWE. The moment where he stands eye to eye with Roman Reigns can generate one of the largest reactions of the night.

Drew McIntyre

Kane, Diesel, and Roman Reigns were big men who all had their careers made at the Royal Rumble. If a similar character like Drew McIntyre is ever going to reach the potential that fans believe he has, it must be this Royal Rumble.

There are only so many years that fans can say that “next year will be the year that Drew McIntyre becomes WWE Champion.”  He has to leave the Rumble as a certified main event talent. He continues to anguish in feuds that don’t maximize his strengths. Hopefully, next year, WWE gives him the green light.

Luke Harper

Luke Harper deserves better. There is not a more creative way to say it. He has done well every time he was given the chance to show what he can do in the ring,. The hard part is whether it is due to injury or creative mismanagement, but whatever it is, he has yet to show his full potential. Every Royal Rumble has a seven foot tall wrestler who makes a tremendous impact. It might be wishful thinking with Harper, but this should be the platform for Harper to show the Royal Rumble crowd his talent.

Braun Strowman

WWE had gold with Braun Strowman, and it became mush. That isn’t to say that Strowman can’t be a main event level talent. It means that WWE failed to maintain Strowman as a credible monster. One week, he was flipping over an ambulance and the next week, he is losing a match he shouldn’t. If a wrestler in WWE desperately needs a character reboot, it is Braun Strowman. The Royal Rumble should be that moment. He won’t get the reaction of WALTER, but he needs to be the wrestler that other wrestler’s team up together to eliminate.

Samoa Joe

PLEASE DO NOT PUT JOE BACK ON TV UNTIL THE ROYAL RUMBLE!

His feud with Brock Lesnar was as close to reaching his potential as Joe has had since debuting on the main roster.  The Samoa Joe character should mean so much more, but has been directionless for some time.

When his music hits at the Royal Rumble, there needs to be an aura of unpredictability in what comes next. Joe won’t win the Royal Rumble, but the Royal Rumble needs to be the proper reintroduction to fans that Joe’s needs. He should be able to eliminate the hottest hero character.

Big E

For years now, fans have wanted Big E in the main event picture. It is tough to tell if it ever will happen. The talent is there, the character is strong enough, and the mic skills are there in spades. The Royal Rumble is the platform needed to display Big E as a future main eventer, even if it’s not  the right year for him to win the Royal Rumble.

The one miss with Big E is the lack of seriousness in his character. Fans view him as a lovable fun wrestler, that doesn’t need to change at the Royal Rumble; his Royal Rumble elimination will give his character the motivation to move to the next level in WWE.