The 2023 Royal Rumble is just over 48 hours away, and the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, is sure to be rocking with anticipation and excitement come Saturday evening. This is the most fun time of year to be a wrestling fan, with the Rumble – as always – setting the WWEs pathway toward WrestleMania, which this year comes from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on the weekend of Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2.
Here are three things that I think will happen at the Rumble this year.
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1. Cody Rhodes Wins The Men’s Rumble
WWE has its critics for being predictable with the Royal Rumble, but in the case of Cody Rhodes, predictable is good.
Cody returned to a raucous pop at WrestleMania last year and excelled in his program with Seth “Freakin” Rollins coming out of the event. His wild-looking torn pec before Hell in a Cell put him on the self, and he will return to perhaps an even bigger pop in San Antonio.
The list of challengers for Roman Reigns is short as WWE has run through everyone worthy with the storyline about The Bloodline. Sami Zayn could make sense as an option by turning babyface on Reigns and the group, but without The Rock – the person they initially wanted at this Mania – it simply must be Cody.
2. LA Knight Has To Beat Bray Wyatt
WWE brass clearly loves LA Knight. NXT call-ups have been wildly inconsistent in the quality of the storyline they are given – if they are given storylines at all – but the beef that Knight has had with Bray Wyatt (and Uncle Howdy) has been excellent.
The problem is that Knight has been made to look like a chump on TV. The Raw segment this past Monday, where Knight was beaten down by a combination of Wyatt and The Undertaker, means that the last we saw of Knight, he was getting punked out.
A loss here would destroy any momentum Knight could have moving forward. The Pitch Black stipulation is one they can work with here. Have Knight win after interference AGAINST Wyatt by Uncle Howdy, and the catchphrase machine can continue to be over as a heel without hurting Bray’s character.
3. The Surprises Are Underwhelming
WWE has backed itself into a corner regarding Rumble surprises this year. By announcing Cody as a Rumble entrant – then leaking to the media that this was done because they are happy with the surprises they have coming – fans have lost their collective minds over the possibilities.
Brock Lesnar returning on Raw’s 30th Anniversary party also spoiled another potential shock entry, so where does the company go now? Randy Orton could be a possibility (if his back injury has healed), and Logan Paul is another currently injured that would make fans pay attention. Is the dream of The Rock actually still alive despite reports to the contrary?
WWE has to deliver here. I am not sure they can.
Always remember folks. Pro Wrestling is Real.
