NZPWI Roundtable: WWE Royal Rumble 2020 predictions, preview

It’s the most exciting time of the year for many members of the WWE Universe. Royal Rumble marks the start of the Road to WrestleMania. And this year there’s an added twist: WWE Champion Brock Lesnar has entered himself into the 30-Man Royal Rumble… at No. 1!

No one else is worthy of sharing the spotlight with him in a featured title bout, Lesnar says, so The Beast and Paul Heyman have taken Lesnar’s fate into their own hands.

With 29 Superstars standing in the way of the WWE Champion, who hasn’t been in a Royal Rumble Match since 2003, can Lesnar go all the way?

Lesnar faces stiff competition in one of the most stacked Rumble fields in years. Former winners Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Shinsuke Nakamura are among the 27 Superstars currently announced for the match. In total, 15 former world champions are scheduled to enter. And of the three unknowns, there’s the potential for WWE NXT to be represented.

“I think as always with the Rumble you can expect to see surprises,” Triple H said.

“I know William Regal was working things out with Raw and SmackDown so he’s been having conversations with them. I would absolutely expect to see some involvement but exactly what that is…

“It’s one of my favourite nights of the year and tomorrow will be no different. If NXT’s involved it will absolutely be something special but they’d better be careful because NXT might just dominate the whole thing!”

So… who’s going to WrestleMania?

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30-Man Royal Rumble Match:
Brock Lesnar (1) vs. AJ Styles vs. Aleister Black vs. Big E vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Braun Strowman vs. Buddy Murphy vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Elias vs. Erick Rowan vs. John Morrison vs. Kevin Owens vs. King Corbin vs. Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz vs. Otis vs. R-Truth vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Ricochet vs. Roman Reigns vs. Rusev vs. Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tucker vs. ???

Grady Hooker (75% accurate for 2019):
With the WWE Champion Brock Lesnar looming, he is always going to be the favourite, but I have to look past him – who will dethrone Lesnar? I’m picking Drew McIntyre.
Winner: Drew McIntyre

Steve McCleary (67% accurate for 2019):
While Drew McIntyre is a fine choice, and he’s definitely on a roll, for me there’s only one choice who can take this match to the limit and bask in the glory of the victory.
Winner: Keith Lee

David Dunn (62% accurate for 2019):
We’ve been led to believe entering first is a disadvantage. But if you only have to deal with one opponent at a time, and you’re the most dominant WWE Champion since Bruno Sammartino, how could Brock Lesnar not be the favourite?! One has produced as many winners as 30, y’know…
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Sammy G (54% accurate for 2019):
The Road to WrestleMania begins with an epic stop in Suplex City! While I’m not his biggest fan, having Brock Lesnar at number one has me intrigued to see the fallout if or when he wins!
Winner: Brock Lesnar

30-Woman Royal Rumble Match:
Alexa Bliss vs. Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Dana Brooke vs. Mandy Rose vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Cross vs. Sarah Logan vs. Sonya Deville vs. ???

Grady:
I’m going to go with a surprise win from NXT’s Shayna Baszler. I think it will have the most shock value, while moving Shayna on from NXT and setting up Becky vs. Shayna at WrestleMania.
Winner: Shayna Baszler

Steve:
While the odds of two NXT Superstars shocking the world might be too much, there’s someone who can’t help but have had her eye on Becky Lynch since Survivor Series…
Winner: Shayna Baszler

David:
Ric Flair made a huge announcement just before WrestleMania last year: Charlotte is no longer Ric Flair’s daughter. He is Charlotte Flair’s dad – meaning Charlotte’s accomplishments have eclipsed those of her father. But there’s one thing missing from Charlotte’s future-Hall of Fame CV, and 2020 is the year she adds a Royal Rumble win.
Winner: Charlotte Flair.

Sammy:
Not many names have been announced for this, but I’m hoping to see someone from NXT step-up and claim their shot!
Winner: Dakota Kai

Universal Championship, Strap Match:
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Daniel Bryan

Grady:
I love Daniel Bryan and this regression he has had, but this is The Fiend.
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Steve:
Feuding with The Fiend changes people. But it hasn’t changed who’s champion… and it never will.
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

David:
I’d love to see Bryan get revenge, but that doesn’t make it a likely outcome.
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Sammy:
Strap Match… bold challenge for the “Yes! Man” of SmackDown. When all is said and done though, he won’t be seeing stars, he’ll be seeing fireflies!
Winner: “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt

Raw Women’s Championship:
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Asuka

Grady:
As much as I want to see Asuka holding two belts, this is Becky Lynch’s revenge. At Royal Rumble 2019, Asuka retained her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch. At Royal Rumble 2020, Becky Lynch will retain her Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Steve:
Asuka is a monster and Lynch is but The Man. But Becky has learnt her lessons from past failures. She’s ready.
Winner: Becky Lynch

David:
Becky Lynch has been thinking about this for longer than any of us. And with nearly 12 months of planning, I don’t think there’s anything The Man can’t accomplish.
Winner: Becky Lynch

Sammy:
This new side of Asuka adds a slippery challenge compared to previous bouts. Maybe The Man isn’t as ready for Asuka as she once thought!
Winner: Asuka

SmackDown Women’s Championship:
Bayley (c) vs. Lacey Evans

Grady:
Bayley has been doing quite well as champion since her change of attitude and with Sasha Banks by her side. It’s getting close for this title run to end, but I don’t think it will be Lacey Evans doing that, or at least not at Royal Rumble.
Winner: Bayley

Steve:
Bayley, buddy, what’s happened to you? I think she’s still searching for who she wants to be, and that’s going to cost her focus – and the title.
Winner: Lacey Evans

David:
Lacey Evans is doing things for her daughter now! That’s some powerful motivation.
Winner: Lacey Evans

Sammy:
Lacey Evans has had quite a run in the past year! Since her main roster debut at the 2019 Rumble, the Sassy Southern Belle has had encounters with each of the Four Horsewomen of WWE and fallen short. This is a chance at redemption, and to make 2020 her year!
Winner: Lacey Evans

Falls Count Anywhere:
King Corbin vs. Roman Reigns

Grady:
The Usos, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode: many options to get involved here. But it’s time to move on from this feud so both Superstars can move on to bigger and better things.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Steve:
If we’re really lucky, they’ll leave the arena during this match, and not return.
Winner: Roman Reigns

David:
There are a lot of variables in a falls count anywhere match, but not the result. Not on the Road to WrestleMania! This is Roman Reigns’ chance to shine.
Winner: Roman Reigns

Sammy:
With the recent return of The Usos to their cousin’s corner, the numbers game has evened out a little. Hopefully it’s enough to help Roman put an end to King Corbin.
Winner: Roman Reigns

United States Championship:
Andrade (c) vs. Humberto Carrillo

Grady:
Andrade is doing really well with this title and just took out Rey Mysterio. I’d be really surprised if Carrillo can topple the champion here. It isn’t impossible, but I’m going to play the odds and take Andrade.
Winner: Andrade

Steve:
Should be a stellar match, but with Zelina Vega around, the end is in no doubt.
Winner: Andrade

David:
Andrade and Mysterio have turned in some classics over the past few weeks, haven’t they? You could argue Carrillo is fresh and Andrade is beat up after the ladder match with Mysterio, but if the champ made it through that one with his title then he should be able to turn back this challenge as well.
Winner: Andrade

Sammy:
Andrade took a nefarious and opportunistic path to get to the United States Championship, his Road to WrestleMania is going to be one to watch carefully!
Winner: Andrade

Sheamus vs. Shorty G

Grady:
I know Shorty G is awesome and I know he was doing really well… but this is my boy Sheamus. Maybe we get another sub-30-second match here, who knows? What I do know is that Sheamus will win.
Winner: Sheamus

Steve:
Poor Chad Gable. He coulda been a contender.
Winner: Sheamus

David:
It’s good to have Sheamus back, isn’t it? Well, unless you’re Shorty G.
Winner: Sheamus

Sammy:
I was excited and shocked at the recent return of Sheamus! It’s interesting that he has targeted Shorty G, but I trust his judgement and am fully backing The Brogue Kicker in this one!
Winner: Sheamus