The WWE Royal Rumble is one of the most exciting pay-per-views of the year. Typically, there are only a few names on the table regarding who will win the match. Last year, Seth Rollins was the most constant name mentioned and ended up winning the match. Similarly, Becky Lynch was highly rumored to win the Women's Royal Rumble match, and she did, despite losing to Asuka earlier in the PPV.
This year's Royal Rumble will be taking place at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. There are plenty of WWE rumors circulating regarding the event. Superstars from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT are scheduled to be in the match, with a few names even discussed to be surprise entrants.
Here are some current rumors regarding the WWE Royal Rumble 2020.
Former World Champions as Surprise Royal Rumble Entrants?
Edge could be returning to WWE after announcing his retirement in 2011 due to his neck preventing him from being medically cleared. However, there have been rumors stating the the 46-year-old, 13-time world champion could be preparing to lace his boots up again. Mike Johnson of PWInsider reported last month that Edge signed a WWE contract with a "pretty nice upside." Edge also went to Pittsburgh a few months ago to handle WWE business, which is also the headquarters of Dr. Joseph Maroon. Johnson suspects that Edge will indeed be a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble match, although Edge has denied these rumors.
Another surprise entrant could be The Undertaker, who has been away from the WWE since Extreme Rules in July of 2019. At this PPV, Undertaker teamed with Roman Reigns to defeat Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre. On a recent episode of Pancakes and Powerslams, former WWE referee Marty Elias predicted that Undertaker will be in the Royal Rumble match.
"My money would say he's probably gonna be 25 or 30," said Elias.
It is highly unlikely that either Undertaker or Edge will win the Royal Rumble to face either WWE Champion Brock Lesnar or "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 36. However, both of them appearing in the Royal Rumble would make the match much more exciting to watch.
Rumor on the Winner of Women's Royal Rumble Match
Currently, former NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler is rumored to win the women's royal rumble match, according to Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Radio. Baszler not only is one of the most dominant women wrestlers in NXT history, but she was also able to win the main event women's match at Survivor Series, which included Becky Lynch and Bayley.
If Baszler does win, an easy storyline could be built around Baszler getting the win at Survivor Series, showing that she fits in WWE's main roster. Another storyline could be built around Baszler stepping up to the plate and defending her fellow four horsewoman comrade, Ronda Rousey, who was defeated by Becky Lynch at the main event of WrestleMania 35 for the Raw Women's Championship as well as Charlotte Flair's SmackDown Women's Championship.
Could Ronda Rousey Return at the Women's Royal Rumble?
According to Sports Betting Dime, Roman Reigns (-350) is favored to defeat Baron Corbin (+225). SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley (-350) is expected to retain against Lacey Evans (+225) in the title match. For the WWE Raw brand, Becky Lynch (-300) is expected to walk out of her match against WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Asuka (+200) still women's champion. Bray Wyatt (-600) is enormously favored to defeat Daniel Bryan (+350), and Roman Reigns (-110) is the favorite to win the men's royal rumble, although not a huge favorite heading into Sunday. While names such as Rey Mysterio and Baron Corbin have been heavily featured on their respective brands, as well as the massive sizes that would favor names such as Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley, none of these names are strongly favored to win the match.
CM Punk (+600) is currently fourth on the list to win the men's Royal Rumble match, although it is not very likely that he will be in the match. In fact, on the most recent episode of WWE Backstage, he predicted Keith Lee to win the whole thing.
"I think [Keith Lee] had a tremendous showing at Survivor Series, and he, to me, is a big fish in a little pond right now," said Punk. "Not to say that NXT is little by any means, but, I think you need to follow up on stuff like this. You strike while that lightning is hot."
For the women's royal rumble, Shayna Baszler is the current favorite (-250). Interestingly, Ronda Rousey is currently second on the list (+400). If Rousey were to be a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble, this would be her first match since losing the Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania 35. Paige predicted that Kairi Sane would be the winner of the women's Royal Rumble, while CM Punk predicted Sasha Banks and Christian went with Shayna Baszler.
This article was originally published January 23, 2020.
