This Sunday WWE presents the highly anticipated Royal Rumble PPV, live from the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. In what has to be considered a previously unexpected dream match, WWE Champion CM Punk will put the title on the line, as he goes one-on-one with the "Great One". But for the 26th time, the January classic will be headlined by the Royal Rumble match itself. It has become an event so widely discussed that Rumble predictions are just as much a mainstay in the industry as the show itself.
And now, Wrestlezone presents the 2nd annual Royal Round Table, with thoughts from in and around our own Wrestlezone community.
Josh Isenberg – Wrestlezone Writer; Chair Shot Reality Host
Dolph Ziggler will be the winner of the Royal Rumble for a few reasons. First off, the WWE Writers have given it to rising superstars the past few years, looking at Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio. With the WWE Championship most likely contested with The Rock/CM Punk/ John Cena, I expect the World Heavyweight Championship to be contested by someone like Ziggler/Orton/Sheamus. I feel Ziggler as Money in the Bank and Royal Rumble winner gives them more to work with, more options, and better storylines for that championship that desperately needs it. This would ultimately go with Ziggler losing at Mania, and then cashing in right after his loss, thanks to a beatdown by Big E on whoever his opponent was. Ziggler is a guy who needs to get the big wins under his belt, and this would be a HUGE win.
Unfortunately, our own Justin LaBar was too busy being a wrestling rockstar to participate in this year's feature. Follow him on Twitter @JustinLaBar. For now, we've replaced him with my good friends Frank Manzo and Joe Omega from Wrestle Reaction.
Bill Pritchard – Wrestlezone Writer
Like the TLC pay-per-view, I see WWE booking Royal Rumble around one or two matches, and hoping the rest of the card comes together. Again, like TLC, I think the Royal Rumble event will surprise people. Miz versus Antonio Cesaro should be a solid match, and Team Hell No defending against Rhodes Scholars could be just as good, if not great. Punk/Rock should live up to and pass the hype, and there is no real clear favorite for the winner of the Rumble match. John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus and Randy Orton all have a chance to win. My pick was going to be Ryback, but now I'm not so sure. I will say whoever wins will do it from the 26th entry. No one's ever won by entering in a spot that ends in a 6 (that includes 6, 16, 26 or 36). Been predicting this for a while and hoping I'm right, so I'll stick with it again this year.
