WrestleMania season officially begins when at the end of WWE Royal Rumble 2020 and we know the winners of both the men and women’s version of the Royal Rumble match. Let’s predict which participants will compete and potentially win to to face the WWE Champion at WrestleMania.
WWE has the deepest roster in the company’s history. It is assured that countless names from the roster will be left out of the WWE Royal Rumble 2020 event. The Royal Rumble provides fans with an abundance of memorable moments.
This will be a breakdown of who should be in, and win, the 2020 Royal Rumble.
The following wrestlers are not included because it is safe to assume they will be in other matches on the Royal Rumble card: The OC, Street Profits, Viking Raiders, Bobby Lashley, and Rusev .
Aleister Black
It is impressive how WWE has dropped the ball on the character of Aleister Black. If you were looking for a silent assassin character that oozes credibility and charisma, Black is your man. His career on RAW or SmackDown has not gotten off to a great start. That won’t turn around at the Royal Rumble, but Black should to provide fans with exciting kicks and a flicker of what his career should be.
R-Truth
Everything that R-Truth has done over the years has been fun. From Little Jimmy to the 24/7 title, if R Truth is on TV, fans are entertained. It isn’t a stretch to say that R-Truth isn’t going to win the Royal Rumble. That isn’t a match that the R-Truth character should be expected to win in 2019. What fans should expect, however, is a few fun moments from him in the Rumble before a quick elimination. It would also be exciting to see a 24/7 title change during the match as R Truth heads down to or from the ring.
Dolph Ziggler
If a wrestler defined the fan’s frustrations of 50/50 booking in WWE, it would be Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler has found a good groove working with Robert Roode in a tag team. As much as WWE puts Ziggler in confusing creative situations, it is a testament to Ziggler that he constantly makes chicken salad out of chicken droppings.
His days of being a talent that fans believe can credibly challenge for the WWE Championship are in the past. His greatest strength now is making other wrestlers look credible. Whoever wins the Royal Rumble will be best served eliminating Ziggler in a fashion that impresses fans.
The Miz
The Miz has been with WWE for 15 years. In WWE that amount of time, is a feat in itself. That is how long. He has had a remarkable career that fans won’t appreciate until he is retired. His verbal skills are the most exciting aspect of his career.
He can still cut a promo unlike anyone on the current roster. He had his time at the top of the WWE card. He is a great asset to current WWE TV, but he won’t be someone considered to win the 2020 Royal Rumble. That isn’t a knock on The Miz. He has achieved everything in WWE; his talent is best served on the microphone and not in the ring.
Humberto Carrillo
Carrillo has been on a rocket ship since he signed in 2018. His match with AJ Styles at Crown Jewel was the only match from that abysmal card worth watching again. His absence in the Royal Rumble would be a detriment to his character’s trajectory.
Every time Carrillo is on TV, fans grow to him thanks to his electric performances. The Royal Rumble should be no different. No, he is not going to win the Royal Rumble, but what he can do is show his talents to a larger audience and let fans know he is a talent that you can’t to take your eyes off of.
Matt Riddle
The ovation from fans will be enormous when Matt Riddle makes his way down to the Royal Rumble. The excitement he brings into the Royal Rumble as a main event caliber talent has a lot to do with the idea that Riddle, for years, has teased a match with Brock Lesnar. Every time Riddle eliminates someone, fans should believe he is that much closer to a match with Lesnar at WrestleMania. 2020 may not be the right time for that match, but that won’t stop the fans from believing.
Ali
Fans believe in Ali. He is everything a traditional hero should be. Outside the ring, he is an excellent public figure for WWE. Unfortunately, his character has not reached the level where winning the Royal Rumble would make sense. That isn’t to say he can’t ever reach that status, but this Royal Rumble does not appear to be the platform. If Ali has an extensive run in the Royal Rumble, it will add more layers to the never stop fighting hero character. His eventual elimination should tug on the heart-strings of all fans.
Roderick Strong
When you think of a workhorse in WWE, it’s hard not to think of Roderick Strong. The challenge will be what WWE does with Strong. He could go the way of Tyson Kidd, a workhorse who never broke that glass ceiling. He could also have great matches in the main event of TV for years. Strong’s ability to work as a villain in Undisputed Era has been spectacular. There is potential with him as the hero character that is a relentless machine.
Generally, the first two spots in the Royal Rumble go to wrestlers who can get the crowd going. This is where Strong should appear, and have a showing that defines his character for years to come.
Andrade
As his career goes, Andrade is becoming difficult for fans to dislike. His partnership with Zelina Vega is perfect for what Andrade and Vega do well. That said, Andrade hasn’t been put in a position where a win at the Royal Rumble is realistic.
His character can grow stronger with the right showing at the Royal Rumble. If the goal is to have him continue to try to be disliked, then the right move is have him eliminate the biggest hero in the match at the time.
Velveteen Dream
Velveteen Dream’s absence from the NXT invasion of RAW and SmackDown has been noticeable. Prior to his injury, he was one of the hottest characters on NXT TV. But lately, there has been something missing with his character. It is not due to lack of talent, so the reason remains a mystery, but a good place to reestablish his character would be as an entrant to the Royal Rumble. Dream doesn’t have to win the Royal Rumble in order to make the right impression. He just needs to show his talent on the biggest stage of his career.
Cedric Alexander
WWE’s 50/50 booking is slowly claiming the Cedric Alexander character. WWE has a star on their hands with Cedric as fans are invested in everything that he does. Alexander has dipped his toe in the water of the main event level on RAW already, but the problem lies with the consistency that has not been there from WWE.
The talent is there, but it remains to be seen where the Alexander character goes in the future on RAW or SmackDown. Regardless of where his character direction goes in 2020, the seeds for that direction need to be planted at the Royal Rumble. He won’t win the match, but he has the ability to make fans remember what he does in the ring.
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.
Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura was once a winner of the Royal Rumble. But after his win, WWE failed to capitalize on Nakamura’s talent. It isn’t due to a lack of talent on Nakamura’s side; the turn into a villain at WrestleMania and overall heel run since has been poorly received by most fans.
Thankfully, Sami Zayn has been able to step in and be the mouth piece that Nakamura needed after WrestleMania 34. Regardless of the indirection of Nakamura’s character, his entrance still provides fans with a great moment to enjoy.
Chad Gable
It still doesn’t feel natural calling him Shorty G. The conundrum of one of the best athletes in the WWE, going from a serious technical wrestler, to Shorty G is difficult. On one hand, having Chad Gable in a prominent role can show his immense skill. On the other hand, his character being portrayed as a clown is a waste of talent.
With that being said, this is the best his character has looked in WWE ever. The fans are behind Gable, but not enough to believe he can win the Royal Rumble. But he can use his tenure in the match to prove his athletic ability.
Cesaro
Cesaro is the one wrestler fans want to see in a better role in WWE and he should be in a better position on every card. Fans have seen the Royal Rumble used as launching pads for characters, even if defeat. Cesaro has the ability to make everything he does matter in the ring. If his elimination is done correctly, it can elevate his career.
Seth Rollins
WWE has struggled to make the next franchise hero character after John Cena left. It is fair to say that fans don’t dislike Seth Rollins the wrestler or the character. Fans just aren’t invested. That is not Seth Rollins’ fault, per say.
We don’t know the leeway he has to dictate what he says or doesn’t say. As of this writing, the Seth Rollins character is at a crossroads. For a guy to defeat Brock Lesnar twice in the span of six months, and still have no emotional connection to the fans is a disappointment. If the character will go under a reinvention, it needs to be sparked with a loss at the Royal Rumble.
Daniel Bryan
Every villain needs a hero. Daniel Bryan is a great professional wrestler. One of the things that he excels at is garnering sympathy. In this article, many villain wrestlers who are listed have one common threadL they need a hero to strengthen their ability be portrayed a strong villain.
For example, if WALTER is going to leave the Royal Rumble as the dominant villain for years to come, that needs to come at the expense of eliminating Daniel Bryan. Bryan doesn’t need to win the Royal Rumble in order maintain his character.
Kevin Owens
The confusion about why Kevin Owens isn’t in the main event picture continues. He has the support from fans, no matter which direction his character goes. Barring a massive character shift in the next two months, it doesn’t appear to be that Owens will win the Royal Rumble. What can happen at the Royal Rumble is he can turn on the biggest hero in the ring. This will accomplish the goal of solidifies a character turn he needs and gives him a feud for WrestleMania 36.
Ricochet
It’s possible that a wrestler can lose the Royal Rumble, but win the hearts of the fans. That is what Ricochet should accomplish at the Royal Rumble.
Every year, there is a wrestler who barely escapes elimination. For years, that was Kofi Kingston, but Ricochet should fill that role in 2020. The highlight of the night has to be the never before seen way that Ricochet remains in the Royal Rumble. Then, it has to take a monster type character to eliminate Ricochet.
King Corbin
The fans aren’t supposed to like the villain. That is what makes him a villain. King Corbin is the best villain in WWE because everyone hates him. He has taken the King of the Ring victory and used it to propel his character. In order for Corbin to continue that character growth, he has to have a dastardly showing at the Royal Rumble.
He needs to be the wrestler that eliminates the biggest hero characters. There is even an argument for Corbin winning the Royal Rumble. The drawback is that there is no suitable hero for him to wrestle at WrestleMania. But because everyone hates him, his elimination will draw a huge reaction. This is what a villain should evoke from fans.
Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns, the character, is the biggest casualty of Brock Lesnar’s run as WWE Champion. Roman has bounced back from that feud and is in the best role of his career. There is a story to tell with him winning the Royal Rumble, and having the ability face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
However, WWE has to be aware that Reigns vs Brock at WrestleMania has been done too many times. When Reigns gets eliminated, fans will either applaud the work Reigns did in the ring or that they won’t get Reigns and Lesnar again at WrestleMania. Maybe both.
Randy Orton
Defeating Randy Orton still matters in 2019. For Orton to still have that equity with the fans over a decade after his debut is an accomplishment. Orton’s character is strong enough that he doesn’t need to win the Royal Rumble. When he comes into the ring at number 30, he can tell the story of a final villain for the hero to defeat. When Orton is motivated to work, he can make anyone in WWE look like a million bucks. Losing the Royal Rumble is an opportunity to make the winner, who will head to WrestleMania, looking strong by eliminating Orton last.
WINNER: Kofi Kingston
Sometimes, WWE does things creatively that upsets fans. When they can see the error in their ways, they can interject what the fans want. They can then frame this with the WWE narrative of “sometimes you just have to let things unfold. WWE listens to the fans.”
This will be the case when Kofi Kingston wins the Royal Rumble, and goes to WrestleMania 36 to face Brock Lesnar.
Fans were furious when Kofi Kingston lost to Brock Lesnar on the premiere of SmackDown of FOX. It wasn’t that fans were upset that Kofi lost, fans understand that each championship reign eventually ends. The frustration was HOW Kingston lost the championship.
The idea that Kingston has never received a rematch can be woven into him winning the Royal Rumble. He can mention the week before the Royal Rumble that he is aware he never received a rematch for the WWE Championship. He can look Paul Heyman in the eye and state “since you didn’t give me my rematch, I will take my rematch by winning the 2020 Royal Rumble.”
Kingston will show up on SmackDown the next night and cut the promo that defines his career. He can talk about how he wasn’t given anything in his career in WWE, and he has earned everything and will do so again by winning the Royal Rumble.