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Fastlane Tonight - in Cleveland!
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Tornicade
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After Owens puts Ambrose in the hospital. I'm not sure why he wouldn't be in the rumble.
they need to have Owens do something to piss off Brock.
Rumble has a lot of free lancing with so many moving parts. Ill be disappointed if owens isn't in the rumble
Jack Brickman
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The winner of that match could be in the Rumble.
I agree though that the loser probably should not. The issue is that the loser will probably be Owens, and he's one of the guys who most needs some Rumble rub.
Real Deal
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HHH has been kept off TV now for some time and its soley because of a Rumble pop. I honestly see him winning because of a screwjob. Outside interference is already looking obvious. There will be a controversy, i just hope its not a fucking Bootista moment
Tornicade
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https://sports.bovada.lv/entertainment/wwe/royal-rumble-2016-20160124
Has Triple H as odds on favorite. followed by roman, Brock, Bray, Owens, and Ambrose.
(The undertaker and Rock (will they even be in the rumble) seems to have the same or better chance as the rest of the field.
Has Triple H as odds on favorite. followed by roman, Brock, Bray, Owens, and Ambrose.
(The undertaker and Rock (will they even be in the rumble) seems to have the same or better chance as the rest of the field.
Jack Brickman
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Undertaker might be. No chance the Rock is.
Betting sites really have no reason not to include guys who probably won't even be in it, though. That's just free money for them.
Jack Brickman
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Time for my Royal Rumble predictions! By the way, @MoFlo should probably change the title of this topic since Summerslam was like three years ago. 
Pre-Show Match for a Spot in the Rumble - The Ascension Vs. the Dudleys Vs. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger Vs. Damien Sandow & Darren Young
Like most of you, I couldn't give less of a shit about this match. We know that whoever wins it isn't winning the Rumble, so the stipulation is largely irrelevant. Getting Sandow in the Rumble would probably make the most sense seeing as he was insanely popular a year ago only to be totally forgotten about for reasons unknown to anyone. Still, I think the Dudleys or the Henry/Swagger team picks up the win.
Winner: Dudleys
United States Championship Match - Alberto Del Rio (c) Vs. Kalisto
I am actually looking forward to this one. Del Rio has been mostly terrible since he returned, but he's had some good matches with Kalisto of late. Kalisto probably should get the win here seeing as he's been the more consistent performer and seems due for a breakout singles run with Sin Cara on the shelf (and generally the crappy half of their tag team), but I'm guessing that the WWE will go with Del Rio since they have so much more money invested in him.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Tag Team Championship Match - The New Day (c) Vs. the Usos
The WWE really needs some new tag team blood, and fast. They broke up the Prime Time Players, the Ascension have been totally neutered, one half of the Lucha Dragons is out with injury, both Cesaro and his partner are on the shelf, the Dudleys have faded into irrelevance...who else is there? It's insane that NXT has so many great tag teams and none of them are getting called up when the main roster essentially only has two healthy teams that can legitimately be considered in the title picture. Seems like a perfect time to call up Enzo and Cass, right? I'd say Jordan and Gable as well, but I think NXT is going to give them a title run first to establish them. Anyway, I see no reason for the New Day to drop the belts right now, especially to the boring Usos.
Winner: New Day
Women's Championship Match - Charlotte (c) Vs. Becky Lynch
I'm expecting this match to be pretty good, actually. These two have chemistry from their NXT days and their feud has been shockingly simple and well-done for a WWE women's feud, which usually resorts to one or both ladies being total bitches and then fighting over it. Charlotte turned on Becky and started acting the heel and Becky gained popularity as the talented underdog. It's an easy story but also an effective one. Personally, I think it's time to take the belt off of Charlotte. She's had it for a while and hasn't been particularly interesting or had any memorable matches. Originally I thought she'd hold it until Sasha took it away from her, but Becky is hot right now and giving her the belt makes sense.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Last Man Standing Match for the Intercontinental Title - Dean Ambrose (c) Vs. Kevin Owens
Most of these matches are actually pretty tough to predict, to be honest. This is the first PPV of the year I would have said that about, as the WWE is typically laughably predictable (as you've probably seen by my last few predictions, of which I nailed almost everything). I honestly have no idea who is going to win this one. You've got great arguments for both guys. Ambrose is the fan favorite who could really benefit from a heavier push, and is really the guy who should have gotten pushed instead of Reigns right now. Owens is the best heel in the company that's currently healthy, and probably second only to Rollins overall. He's also seemed to be getting some favor from Vince, getting pushed as the first man in the ring in that match where Reigns took on everyone. All that said, I think Owens walking away with the title makes the most sense now that it seems like he won't be feuding with Brock at 'Mania. Give Owens the belt, have Zayn eliminate him during the Rumble, and you've got a high profile IC title feud going into Wrestlemania. I don't see any similar feud for Ambrose unless they intend to drag out the Ambrose/Owens thing for another two months (which I don't think they should do, as a Last Man Standing match should always be a feud ender). These guys have put on a couple of solid but not spectacular matches the past few months, and tomorrow is the night where they need to pull out all the stops and give us the true classic I think they're capable of delivering. I'm going to go with my gut and pick Owens to walk away as champ, because the WWE needs a strong heel right now more than they need a strong face.
Winner: Kevin Owens
Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Championship: - Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Everyone
This match has a lot of potential to be fun and unpredictable. It's a shame that the WWE will inevitably fuck it all up and make the crowd turn on Reigns by overplaying the underdog card. I fully expect Reigns to be there until the very end, and I fully expect the crowd to start cheering for anyone else to win just like they did last year when they started backing Rusev, the America-hating foreigner, at the end of the night. If people hate one thing in Royal Rumble matches, it's inevitability. These matches work best when you honestly don't know who is going to win, and for that reason I think Reigns needs to be eliminated by the midway point in the match. If it's via shenanigans to keep him looking strong, fine, but it needs to happen. It won't, but it needs to.
One nice thing about this year's Rumble is that all the injuries have actually made it kind of intriguing. The WWE is in rare position to throw out a wild card and have it work with so many guys on the shelf. Of course, Triple H will probably end up winning, but it's nice to know that there's the possibility for excitement. That's pretty rare these days for the typically predictable WWE.
With that said, here are some prominent names who could win it all:
Roman Reigns - I don't think even the WWE is naive enough to think he can enter first and win it all without the crowd shitting all over the Rumble outcome for the third year straight. I expect him to overstay his welcome, but ultimately it's tough to see him winning.
Triple H - The odds on favorite to win it this year. He hasn't officially been announced as in the match, but the WWE has kept him distant from Reigns for several weeks now presumably to try to make it a surprise when he enters. No one will be surprised.
AJ Styles - Styles winning would be an incredible twist, and it would be an amazing debut that would instantly establish him at the top of the card where he should be. I don't think the WWE is bold enough to do this, but it would be pretty great if they did.
Brock Lesnar - I don't see Brock winning. I think the WWE has realized that he doesn't need a belt to be a main event guy, and he doesn't wrestle often enough to hold the biggest title anyway. Thus, the best thing to do with Lesnar is have someone eliminate him cheaply, leading to a feud that goes to 'Mania. My money is on the Wyatts ganging up on him to throw him over, then costing him his match versus Reigns at Fastlane for a shot at the title.
Bray Wyatt - Speaking of Bray Wyatt, the WWE seems to remember that he's the so called "face of fear" again, and have been booking him strong of late. I don't see them putting the title on him, but it's not totally out of the question I guess. Doing so would be a nice shake-up, and it would be cool to see Wyatt actually pick up a notable win, something he's been unable to do in recent memory. It would just feel too out of left field for me, though. Wyatt hasn't beaten anyone important, so it's hard to see him magically winning the biggest belt.
Daniel Bryan - The WWE needs a hero, and Bryan's return would provide one for the crowd. If Bryan enters the match, I think he becomes the favorite to win. Much like Reigns winning, I can't think the WWE is naive enough to think they can have Bryan enter the match and not win. The crowd will revolt. I wouldn't expect him to have a long run with the title, of course, given his sketchy health history, but if they think he can make it to 'Mania, the response to Bryan holding the belt at the end of the night would be insane.
Dean Ambrose - I've long thought an Ambrose/Reigns feud would be money, and what better way to start it then to have Ambrose enter near the end of the Rumble and toss his best friend to win the belt?
Kevin Owens - As mentioned, he's essentially the best pure heel the WWE has right now. I don't think he wins the Rumble (especially if he wins the IC title earlier in the night), but the WWE would be smart to give him a strong showing to continue establishing him as a legitimate main event caliber guy. I'm going to stick with my prediction from forever ago that he gets tossed by a surprise entrant in Sami Zayn. Anything else not leading to a feud with Brock Lesnar would be a disappointment.
Those are really the only guys I can see winning the Rumble. I'm going to stick with my original prediction and go with Triple H. It may not be the best outcome, but it's at least better than Reigns retaining I guess.
Winner: Triple H
If nothing else, this Rumble should be better than last year's craptacular booking.
Pre-Show Match for a Spot in the Rumble - The Ascension Vs. the Dudleys Vs. Mark Henry & Jack Swagger Vs. Damien Sandow & Darren Young
Like most of you, I couldn't give less of a shit about this match. We know that whoever wins it isn't winning the Rumble, so the stipulation is largely irrelevant. Getting Sandow in the Rumble would probably make the most sense seeing as he was insanely popular a year ago only to be totally forgotten about for reasons unknown to anyone. Still, I think the Dudleys or the Henry/Swagger team picks up the win.
Winner: Dudleys
United States Championship Match - Alberto Del Rio (c) Vs. Kalisto
I am actually looking forward to this one. Del Rio has been mostly terrible since he returned, but he's had some good matches with Kalisto of late. Kalisto probably should get the win here seeing as he's been the more consistent performer and seems due for a breakout singles run with Sin Cara on the shelf (and generally the crappy half of their tag team), but I'm guessing that the WWE will go with Del Rio since they have so much more money invested in him.
Winner: Alberto Del Rio
Tag Team Championship Match - The New Day (c) Vs. the Usos
The WWE really needs some new tag team blood, and fast. They broke up the Prime Time Players, the Ascension have been totally neutered, one half of the Lucha Dragons is out with injury, both Cesaro and his partner are on the shelf, the Dudleys have faded into irrelevance...who else is there? It's insane that NXT has so many great tag teams and none of them are getting called up when the main roster essentially only has two healthy teams that can legitimately be considered in the title picture. Seems like a perfect time to call up Enzo and Cass, right? I'd say Jordan and Gable as well, but I think NXT is going to give them a title run first to establish them. Anyway, I see no reason for the New Day to drop the belts right now, especially to the boring Usos.
Winner: New Day
Women's Championship Match - Charlotte (c) Vs. Becky Lynch
I'm expecting this match to be pretty good, actually. These two have chemistry from their NXT days and their feud has been shockingly simple and well-done for a WWE women's feud, which usually resorts to one or both ladies being total bitches and then fighting over it. Charlotte turned on Becky and started acting the heel and Becky gained popularity as the talented underdog. It's an easy story but also an effective one. Personally, I think it's time to take the belt off of Charlotte. She's had it for a while and hasn't been particularly interesting or had any memorable matches. Originally I thought she'd hold it until Sasha took it away from her, but Becky is hot right now and giving her the belt makes sense.
Winner: Becky Lynch
Last Man Standing Match for the Intercontinental Title - Dean Ambrose (c) Vs. Kevin Owens
Most of these matches are actually pretty tough to predict, to be honest. This is the first PPV of the year I would have said that about, as the WWE is typically laughably predictable (as you've probably seen by my last few predictions, of which I nailed almost everything). I honestly have no idea who is going to win this one. You've got great arguments for both guys. Ambrose is the fan favorite who could really benefit from a heavier push, and is really the guy who should have gotten pushed instead of Reigns right now. Owens is the best heel in the company that's currently healthy, and probably second only to Rollins overall. He's also seemed to be getting some favor from Vince, getting pushed as the first man in the ring in that match where Reigns took on everyone. All that said, I think Owens walking away with the title makes the most sense now that it seems like he won't be feuding with Brock at 'Mania. Give Owens the belt, have Zayn eliminate him during the Rumble, and you've got a high profile IC title feud going into Wrestlemania. I don't see any similar feud for Ambrose unless they intend to drag out the Ambrose/Owens thing for another two months (which I don't think they should do, as a Last Man Standing match should always be a feud ender). These guys have put on a couple of solid but not spectacular matches the past few months, and tomorrow is the night where they need to pull out all the stops and give us the true classic I think they're capable of delivering. I'm going to go with my gut and pick Owens to walk away as champ, because the WWE needs a strong heel right now more than they need a strong face.
Winner: Kevin Owens
Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Championship: - Roman Reigns (c) Vs. Everyone
This match has a lot of potential to be fun and unpredictable. It's a shame that the WWE will inevitably fuck it all up and make the crowd turn on Reigns by overplaying the underdog card. I fully expect Reigns to be there until the very end, and I fully expect the crowd to start cheering for anyone else to win just like they did last year when they started backing Rusev, the America-hating foreigner, at the end of the night. If people hate one thing in Royal Rumble matches, it's inevitability. These matches work best when you honestly don't know who is going to win, and for that reason I think Reigns needs to be eliminated by the midway point in the match. If it's via shenanigans to keep him looking strong, fine, but it needs to happen. It won't, but it needs to.
One nice thing about this year's Rumble is that all the injuries have actually made it kind of intriguing. The WWE is in rare position to throw out a wild card and have it work with so many guys on the shelf. Of course, Triple H will probably end up winning, but it's nice to know that there's the possibility for excitement. That's pretty rare these days for the typically predictable WWE.
With that said, here are some prominent names who could win it all:
Roman Reigns - I don't think even the WWE is naive enough to think he can enter first and win it all without the crowd shitting all over the Rumble outcome for the third year straight. I expect him to overstay his welcome, but ultimately it's tough to see him winning.
Triple H - The odds on favorite to win it this year. He hasn't officially been announced as in the match, but the WWE has kept him distant from Reigns for several weeks now presumably to try to make it a surprise when he enters. No one will be surprised.
AJ Styles - Styles winning would be an incredible twist, and it would be an amazing debut that would instantly establish him at the top of the card where he should be. I don't think the WWE is bold enough to do this, but it would be pretty great if they did.
Brock Lesnar - I don't see Brock winning. I think the WWE has realized that he doesn't need a belt to be a main event guy, and he doesn't wrestle often enough to hold the biggest title anyway. Thus, the best thing to do with Lesnar is have someone eliminate him cheaply, leading to a feud that goes to 'Mania. My money is on the Wyatts ganging up on him to throw him over, then costing him his match versus Reigns at Fastlane for a shot at the title.
Bray Wyatt - Speaking of Bray Wyatt, the WWE seems to remember that he's the so called "face of fear" again, and have been booking him strong of late. I don't see them putting the title on him, but it's not totally out of the question I guess. Doing so would be a nice shake-up, and it would be cool to see Wyatt actually pick up a notable win, something he's been unable to do in recent memory. It would just feel too out of left field for me, though. Wyatt hasn't beaten anyone important, so it's hard to see him magically winning the biggest belt.
Daniel Bryan - The WWE needs a hero, and Bryan's return would provide one for the crowd. If Bryan enters the match, I think he becomes the favorite to win. Much like Reigns winning, I can't think the WWE is naive enough to think they can have Bryan enter the match and not win. The crowd will revolt. I wouldn't expect him to have a long run with the title, of course, given his sketchy health history, but if they think he can make it to 'Mania, the response to Bryan holding the belt at the end of the night would be insane.
Dean Ambrose - I've long thought an Ambrose/Reigns feud would be money, and what better way to start it then to have Ambrose enter near the end of the Rumble and toss his best friend to win the belt?
Kevin Owens - As mentioned, he's essentially the best pure heel the WWE has right now. I don't think he wins the Rumble (especially if he wins the IC title earlier in the night), but the WWE would be smart to give him a strong showing to continue establishing him as a legitimate main event caliber guy. I'm going to stick with my prediction from forever ago that he gets tossed by a surprise entrant in Sami Zayn. Anything else not leading to a feud with Brock Lesnar would be a disappointment.
Those are really the only guys I can see winning the Rumble. I'm going to stick with my original prediction and go with Triple H. It may not be the best outcome, but it's at least better than Reigns retaining I guess.
Winner: Triple H
If nothing else, this Rumble should be better than last year's craptacular booking.
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Real Deal
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