It’s almost time for one of the most exciting Premium Live Events on the yearly WWE calendar – the Royal Rumble! In case you don’t know what the Royal Rumble is, the match features 30 Men and 30 Women in their respective matches vying for a chance to face the WWE Champion of their choice at the headline event during WrestleMania. During the match, 2 competitors enter the event at the numbers 1 and 2 spots, and a new competitor will enter the event until all 30 entrants have entered the match. And the only way to eliminate each entrant is to throw the competitors over the top rope – and this goes on until only one entrant remains the victor. It sounds a bit convoluted, but this format has often led to the Royal Rumble matches being the most exciting events all year long that the WWE will present to the WWE Universe.
For the most part, most of the entrants in each match are more or less filler entrants comprised of both WWE Superstars that make up the lower and mid card acts, as well as some returning surprises meant to get a pop from the fans. There are really only a handful of competitors in each match that are likely to win the event and headline the main event at WrestleMania. So, looking at the individuals who make it into each match, you can kind of guess how the match is going to end. For as much fun as the Royal Rumble is, there have hardly been any surprises when it comes to the winners for each year. And this year is no different. I mean, there are quite a few Superstars who can conceivably win the Royal Rumble match, but if you want to narrow it down the likely three Men and Women who have a realistic (and storyline logical) chance to win the match, and I have my three favorites who I would like to see win each match.
3 Male Superstars Most Likely to Win the 2023 Royal Rumble
Cody Rhodes
Ever since Cody Rhodes made his return to the WWE at last year’s WrestleMania, I believe that a lot of fans had him pegged as the one who will finally dethrone Roman Reigns as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. He returned to the WWE as a prodigal son and recognized as the amazing talent that he had always been, but had proven to fans in his time away by performing in promotions such as Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and All Elite Wrestling, which he himself help found. And his return to the WWE certainly succeeded, if not for a freak accident during training that saw him miss out on the last six months. But with him announcing that he will be returning to action at the Royal Rumble, this would be a perfect time for the WWE to pull the trigger of Cody Rhodes and have him challenge and defeat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, giving him and the WWE Universe the kind of happy ending that we live for seeing as the main event of the premier event in the pro wrestling landscape.
Sami Zayn
Over the last half a year, the storyline of seeing Sami Zayn seek acceptance from Roman Reigns and the rest of his faction, The Bloodline, has been one of the most engaging and thought provoking storylines that the WWE has presented to fans in a long time. From his trying to weasel his way into The Bloodline and having certain members wary of his intentions, to him finally earning their full trust and acceptance, becoming and Honorary Uce and full-fledged member, to the suspicion by Roman Reigns that Zayn has had ulterior motives all along, this has been quite the build up that has had fans eating up every instance of his journey. For the WWE to have Sami Zayn win the Royal Rumble and potentially challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania after every thing that The Bloodline have put Zayn through over the course of this storyline would certainly have the WWE Universe feeling pretty “Ucey” at this turn of events.
The Rock
Oh, my stars and garters! I pray to the stars and the fates above that this doesn’t happen. But looking at how the stars have aligned with WrestleMania 39 being hosted in Los Angeles (or Hollywood, as the WWE would like you to believe) and being the cousin of reigning Champion Roman Reigns, it’s hard not to believe that the WWE would have The Rock will not only return to be a surprise entrant in the Men’s Royal Rumble, but go on and win the event and go on to headline WrestleMania against Roman Reigns – a match that wouldn’t just be for the Undisputed WWE Championship, but also for the right to be the Head of the Table and Tribal Chief of the Anoa’i bloodline. Even I have to admit that this would be a very interesting storyline going into WrestleMania, but the prospect of The Rock, another WWE part-timer (if that at best) winning the Royal Rumble and going on headline the WWE’s premiere event – it leaves a really bad taste in my mouth, even if I was a huge Rock fan back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
3 Female Superstars Most Likely to Win the 2023 Royal Rumble
Bayley
Ever since Bayley returned from injury at last year’s Sumer Slam, Bayley and her faction, Damage CTRL, have made an impact in the WWE, but not the ones that many expected. Yes, it was great to see Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky return to action, but they have seemingly been there more as a distraction than an actual force – and Bayley more so than the others. At least Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky are the current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, but Bayley, while being in high profile matches throughout the year, has been losing more and more – and I think if the WWE were to rectify this and make Bayley the legitimate threat she is within the Women’s division, than having her win at the Royal Rumble would be a step in the right direction. Afterall, the WWE Universe knows that Bayley is one of the best in the promotion, so to have her win and start that path back to being a champion would be a great step for her and for her fans.
Becky Lynch
When you talk about who are the best Women Superstars within the WWE over the past several years, Becky Lynch is the name that most fans will think of because of her tenacity, in-ring acumen, and undeniable charisma. I mean, there is a reason that she has been crowned “The Man” by the WWE and its fans. She is perhaps the most complete performer on the roster – male and female. And since she has been away from the championship picture for a better part of the latter half of 2022, it would be great to see her makes ways to being a champion once again. So, I think that the WWE could capitalize on her continued popularity by having her win the Royal Rumble once again. Because what better way is there to solidify her badass presence in the division than be having her be the first 2X winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble match. She doesn’t have to necessarily win her match at WrestleMania, but I think that the fans would love to see one of their favorites win the match and lead in to a potential rematch between Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair.
Rhea Ripley
I don’t think anyone can deny that one of the most popular Superstars on the WWE roster right now is the incredible Rhea Ripley. What she has done as a part of The Judgement Day, and the work she has put in as an on-screen couple with wayward Dominic Mysterio, has made her the most charismatic Superstar of 2022. Add that to her already incredible physical presence and alluring personality and you have a star ready to strike out and make her mark as the next big female Superstar. Yes, Rhea Ripley has been a champion on the WWE main roster, but to have her win the Royal Rumble and go on to headline and win at WrestleMania 39, I think that would be the moment that we see a true star being born before our eyes – and I don’t think anyone in the WWE Universe would complain about seeing someone who has been on the cusp of superstardom finally reach that mark by winning the most exciting event in the WWE.
And those are my pics for who I think should win the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches, respectively. The three men and women that I listed here are the ones that I think are the most deserving of winning the match and going on to main event at WrestleMania 39, in my humble opinion. Do you agree, or do you think that there are other Superstars that deserve to win the Royal Rumble? List them down below and let’s chat about it.
