Full 2025 Royal Rumble Predictions Including CM Punk, John Cena And Roman Reigns

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I’m incredibly pumped about this year’s Royal Rumble – it’s been a while since I’ve felt this level of anticipation! Unlike previous years where only a few contenders had a remote chance of winning, this time around it seems anyone could take the title. The surge in fan enthusiasm and fresh creative ideas have brought many wrestlers to the forefront who are currently enjoying immense crowd support. With so many potential winners, it’s an exhilarating moment for every wrestling enthusiast looking forward to what is often regarded as the best event of the year by hardcore fans.

However, this complexity indeed adds layers to my predictor role. In 2023, it was simple to predict Cody Rhodes’ return and victory in the Rumble as everyone could guess WWE’s move. But this year, there’s no clear Stone Cold equivalent to single out. Instead, more than half a dozen performers on both genders’ sides seem promising with over 10% chances of winning. This is unprecedented, and it’s challenging my analytical skills to sort everything out.

Without diving into lengthy explanations right away, let me share a brief overview of my recent predictions: Since WrestleMania 38, I’ve been spot-on with every pick for the PLE events! Last season at the Big 4, I managed to correctly predict outcomes. While I’m not infallible, my track record is impressive enough to earn me a place in the upper mid-card of prognosticators. Here’s a quick glance at my performance last year and overall stats.

Cody Rhodes (Champion) Vs Kevin Owens For The WWE Championship

As an ardent wrestling fan, following every moment of main roster WWE programming annually, I must say, Kevin Owens has been nothing short of phenomenal throughout this ongoing feud. The thought of him entering WrestleMania with the WWE Championship in hand is nothing less than exhilarating. It would serve as a fitting progression for this rivalry and recognize his near-decade of top-tier performances. I wholeheartedly support such an outcome. Imagine the heated exchanges between him and Cody, fueled by genuine reasons to boast and fume. Oh, how I wish it could be so!

It’s a disappointment to acknowledge that, as a wrestling fan, WWE may not be tailoring WrestleMania to suit your tastes. Instead, they seem to be focusing on captivating lapsed fans, casual viewers, and mainstream media, aiming to create a spectacle that resonates with the pop culture. Regrettably, stars like Kevin Owens might not have the same market appeal as Cody Rhodes or The Rock, for example, in terms of merchandise sales or ticket demand.

In simpler terms, if this were SummerSlam or another pay-per-view following WrestleMania, I’d give more thought to featuring Kevin Owens. He’s been absolutely stellar here, from holding the Winged Eagle Championship to accusing others of betraying him and aligning with Cody. It’s some of his best work yet, but unfortunately, the timing just isn’t right. I believe WWE intends for Cody Rhodes to enter ‘Mania with the title, which means Kevin Owens is likely to suffer another significant loss.

Predicted Winner: Cody Rhodes

DIY Johnny Gargano And Tommaso Ciampa (Champions) Vs The Motor City Machine Guns For The WWE Tag Team Championships

I usually hesitate to criticize Triple H since his creative vision has transformed WWE in a way I never thought was achievable. As a whole, the product is much improved compared to a few years ago under Vince McMahon, but if there’s one aspect that’s faced challenges under his leadership, it’s the tag team division. There have been periods where both titles were used to bolster factions and ongoing narratives (like Bloodline 2.0 and Judgment Day).

Occasionally, those teams provided us with exciting matches, but they also often ignored other tag teams for several episodes of Raw or SmackDown. This neglect made the division seem unimportant, leading to the current situation where this match is the first time either men’s tag team championship has been defended on a Pay-Per-View Event since the ladder match at WrestleMania 40.

Fortunately, things are moving in a positive direction. On SmackDown, we’ve been witnessing weekly progress in storytelling with teams like Pretty Deadly, Los Garza, DIY, and Motor City Machine Guns. The Street Profits seem to be waiting in the wings, preparing to make their move before WrestleMania season. This upcoming match is a testament to this forward momentum, and it’s likely to be spectacular given that we’re having a 2 out of 3 falls match – a rarity. A shoutout to Demolition and Hart Foundation at SummerSlam ’90!

It’s possible that Motor City Machine Guns could emerge victorious in this match, but I’m leaning towards DIY due to their potential for further storytelling with other SmackDown tag teams. There has been an abundance of interactions with Pretty Deadly, and it seems these encounters may lead to a more significant outcome if they retain the tag team titles. Additionally, with babyface winners anticipated elsewhere on the card, this could be an ideal spot to provide a win for the heels.

Predicted Winner: DIY

The Women’s Royal Rumble

Much like the men’s competition, the women’s field is brimming with potential champions this year. Here are some of the contenders: Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Iyo Sky, Jade Cargill, Jordynne Grace, Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, and Becky Lynch all have strong arguments for why they could potentially challenge for the world title at ‘Mania. To clarify who might not secure a victory this year, let’s consider the possibilities starting with those less likely to win.

I’m planning to exclude Liv Morgan from the match as she recently ended a long-term rivalry with Rhea Ripley. Although it’d be entertaining to watch her engage with Tiffany Stratton, I believe WWE might prefer a fresh contender in that spot instead. Moreover, if she comes in second again, it could make for an intriguing narrative.

In addition to my previous selections, I plan to exclude Nia Jax from the roster, as she recently wrestled Rhea Ripley at Saturday Night’s Main Event and has been involved with Tiffany Stratton for quite some time. Furthermore, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will also be left out of the draft, as I believe they are intended to collaborate on something. The question of who attacked Jade is still unresolved, and unless Jade is truly going to be sidelined until after WrestleMania, I feel that Bianca should address this issue before focusing on a singles title.

In summary, we have four characters (Charlotte, Becky, Iyo, and Jordynne) who might be making a comeback after long absences, one newcomer (Jordynne), and one character who’s creating quite the buzz behind the scenes (Iyo). As an ardent Alexa Bliss fan, I’m considering excluding her from my predictions because, despite hinting at a return for months, it seems unlikely that WWE would push her so aggressively, so soon. When she does come back, there’s a possibility she might be reunited with the Wyatts once more. The same speculation applies to Asuka as well, given her position in the main event scene when she departed and the straightforward storylines she could have with Damage CTRL upon her return.

Instead, I propose that we exclude Jordynne Grace from the competition. The concept of her winning the Rumble as a relative newcomer and then challenging Rhea Ripley in a post-match promo is intriguing. It could result in an unexpected victory and a superb way to catapult her into an instant, widespread main event status within WWE audience. However, it might be too daring a move, considering Triple H and the team may not yet be certain about how Grace will resonate with mainstream WWE spectators.

There’s a strong argument for any of the final three contenders, but Iyo Sky has garnered significant fan support. Despite some less-than-favorable results in recent semi-prominent events such as the Intercontinental and Speed Tournaments, many analysts believe that WWE is waiting for the perfect moment to elevate her status, perhaps unexpectedly during an event like the Royal Rumble. While I’d welcome this development, it’s important to remember that losses often don’t signify a comeback with more impact. After all, we’ve been anticipating Finn Bálor’s resurgence for years, yet the outcome hasn’t matched our expectations thus far.

Additionally, I’m fond of Becky too, and I believe the audience will be thrilled when she comes back. However, she fought Rhea at ‘Mania last year, and she has a knack for weaving captivating narratives beyond title contention. This leads me to Charlotte Flair. WWE might want to swiftly reintroduce her to the main event scene, and she’s ideal for a generational feud with Tiffany Stratton. I’m not sure if the crowd will approve, but her victory sets up the puzzle pieces most advantageously for WrestleMania.

Predicted Winner: Charlotte Flair

The Men’s Royal Rumble

Similar to the Women’s Royal Rumble, it seems most appropriate to discuss potential winners by going through the list of likely contenders. Prominent candidates include Roman Reigns, CM Punk, John Cena, The Rock, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins. I find Jacob Fatu an intriguing underdog, as he could surprise everyone if thrust into the main event scene unexpectedly.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn can be considered fun longshots, particularly if Owens manages to beat Cody Rhodes earlier in the show. Although they’re not expected to win, it’s still worth acknowledging their names, along with Jey Uso (YEET) and Randy Orton. While a strong argument can be made for these two, they may require a bit of stretching to consider as potential winners.

In this scenario, I’ll skip over Roman Reigns initially as he’s the top star besides The Rock, but they’ve faced off in the main event at the last two ‘Manias. Repeating that match a third time isn’t appealing, even though the circumstances would be distinct. As for The Rock, it seems unlikely that he’ll participate in this season of WrestleMania, but there’s a small chance I can’t entirely dismiss. I have doubts about his absence, and a part of me believes he might make a surprise appearance during the Rumble and claim victory. However, the probability is too slim to rely on it as a choice.

I’m planning to knock out Drew McIntyre from the competition as well. Up until about a month ago, I had high hopes that he would win the Royal Rumble. The WWE was building him up to be a major star, and his momentum was really picking up. However, his loss to Jey Uso on a surprise rollup at the premiere of Raw on Netflix has left me doubting whether he’ll get the recognition he deserves before ‘Mania.

I believe it’s debatable that both CM Punk and John Cena are strong contenders for the favorites, but personally, I’m not convinced. I think their narratives become more intriguing if they find themselves in the Elimination Chamber, fighting tooth and nail for a chance at WrestleMania. For John Cena, his narrative has been about coming up short, and another defeat in the Rumble would further emphasize this theme. As for CM Punk, WWE continually suggests that he’ll receive a favor from Paul Heyman, but if he wins the Rumble, wouldn’t he already have proven himself?

Instead of going with the person you mentioned, I’d choose Seth “Freakin'” Rollins. In my opinion, he’ll win the Rumble match, setting up a confrontation with Gunther. This would give us a whole month to speculate about Cody’s opponent, as figures like Cena, Punk, and Roman are all vying for that position. Although Rollins may not be the most prominent name on this list, I believe he’s the best fit for Gunther and for everyone else involved. Losing would only escalate their stories into more dire situations over the upcoming months.

Predicted Winner: Seth Freakin’ Rollins.

In the United States, you can watch the Royal Rumble live on Peacock starting from February 1st. For most other parts of the world, it’s available on Netflix. Both viewings are free once you have a subscription.

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2025-01-28 21:39