The road to WWE Wrestlemania 34 begins this Sunday Night with the 2018 WWE Royal Rumble event.
Over the next week here on Fightful, I will be bringing you a “Countdown To The 2018 WWE Royal Rumble.” During these columns, we will be looking at the past history of the Royal Rumble event and while also previewing this years event as well.
So, without any further ado, here is Day Six of our countdown, as I make my predictions for each match on the card.
(Note: I already made my Royal Rumble Matches predictions, which you can read by clicking here.)
Pay-Per-View Matches
WWE Heavyweight Title Match
Handicapped Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
This feud is exactly whats wrong with the WWE booking the majority of the time and it comes in many forms here. The first being that Styles isn’t going to lose the title here, plus he is just in a place holder feud until ‘Mania time rolls around. Secondly, the feud is mostly about the authority figures (Daniel Bryan & Shane McMahon) and not the wrestlers. Finally, it makes Owens and Zayn look weak since everybody knows the finish before going into the match.
Prediction: AJ Styles retains the title
WWE Universal Title Match
Triple Threat Match
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Kane vs. Braun Strowman
While I am not a fan of the booking that led to the match, like why is a 50 year old Kane in a main event spot? However, while the booking has been bad, these three do have the ability, with plunder and the No DQ stipulation, to have a hell of a brawl. The only sad thing is that Lesnar is strongly rumored to be fighting Roman Reigns at ‘Mania 34 for the title, so I really doubt he drops it here.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar retains the title
WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) vs. The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro)
The big question heading into the match is the injury to Jordan and how that affects all future booking plans. It seems like the obvious ending to the makeshift team is for Jordan to turn against Rollins, but whether or not that happens at the Rumble event is second place to the injury. The Bar have come out of nowhere to become one of the best tag teams in the last decade of the WWE and they can have a good match with anybody. Another minor, but still important question relies with WWE’s booking of Titus Worldwide, who hold two victories over the former champions and how that could affect the Road To Wrestlemania.
Prediction: The Bar to win the titles
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Title Match
2 Out Of 3 Falls Match
The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) (c) vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin
Of all the non-Rumble matches on the card, this tag team title bout is the one that I am looking forward to the most. The Usos have become the best tag team in the WWE and arguably one of the best tag teams in the world right now. Benjamin and Gable almost captured the titles a few weeks ago on Smackdown Live, but they pinned the wrong Uso and would subsequently lose the restarted match. From a match quality perspective, this one should be the best of them all and given the proper amount of time, could be one of the best WWE matches of the year.
Prediction: The Usos retain the titles
Pre-Show Match Quick Picks
WWE United States Title Match: Bobby Roode def. Mystery Opponent to retain the title
The Revival def. The Balor Club
Kalisto, Lince Dorado & Gran Metalik def. Drew Gulak, TJP & Jack Gallagher
