Wrestlemania season begins every year with the marquee Royal Rumble event. This is the 38th annual Royal Rumble featuring the Men’s and Women’s 30-person match with an opportunity to earn a title shot and Main Event Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 19 and 20.
This year is the eighth women’s Rumble match in history. Cody Rhodes made history last year as he won his second straight Rumble match. He is the fourth wrestler to achieve that feat in history and the first person since Stone Cold Steve Austin in 1997-98. The Men’s Royal match has produced 17 WWE champions, while the women’s match has resulted in five successful attempts.
The men’s Rumble match is among the most anticipated in many years. A big reason for that is it is John Cena’s final Royal Rumble match in his illustrious career. He is a two-time winner of this match but hasn’t competed in it since 2018. Cena has finished in the top four five times and the top 10 in all his entries. If he pulls off the victory in this year’s match, he will tie Austin with the most Rumble wins at three.
Also, for the first time since 2020, the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, is competing in the match. He won this match in 2015 and has finished as a runner-up four times. The road to Wrestlemania officially begins on Saturday, and it may be one of the most unpredictable paths to the biggest event of the year in a long time.
The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is again defending his title against former friend Kevin Owens, but it is different this time. Ownens has turned on Rhodes and has disputed him as the champion. At Saturday Night’s Main Event in November, Rhodes defeated Owens. But Ownes injured Rhodes with his signature package piledriver. Owens stole Rhodes’ Winged Eagle Championship at that event. So now it comes to a halt at the Rumble when both wrestlers’ titles will be hoisted above the ring for a ladder match.
How to Watch
This premium live event starts at 6 p.m. ET and will air on Peacock. The countdown show will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Full Card and Predictions
Undisputed WWE Championship Match
(C) Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens
As well as Owens has performed inside and outside the ring lately, it doesn’t seem likely that Rhodes will leave the Royal Rumble without his championship. Owens stated on Smackdown last week that whether he wins or not at this event, he will not be done attacking and going after Rhodes.
Rhodes is WWE’s most prominent active superstar, and it would be surprising if he didn’t headline his third straight WrestleMania. It wouldn’t shock me if Owens beat Rhodes due to interference, and they had a rematch before Mania.
Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains the title after Randy Orton returns to help The American Nightmare
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
John Cena, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Sam Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Logan Paul, Jey Uso, Penta, Bron Breakker, Chad Gable, Rey Mysterio
As I stated, this match features future Hall of Famers and current elite wrestlers. It is one of the toughest Rumble matches to predict in the last decade. The WWE could take many different paths to set up this year’s Wrestlemania.
The top three names listed above, Cena, Reigns, and Punk, are my top three clear-cut favorites. Each guy has a fascinating reason to win and could create an incredible storyline leading to April. I know it is predictable to an extent, but this is Cena’s match to win. Although he isn’t officially retiring until the end of 2025, there is no better story leading to Mania than Cena challenging for his 17th and record-breaking title. That would be a Mount Rushmore moment in WWE history.
I think that The Rock will appear in this match to set up a future storyline with Reigns. Unlike his appearance on the first Raw on Netflix, I believe that he will return as The Final Boss.
Prediction: John Cena wins his third Rumble match
Check out our most underrated Royal Rumble eliminations throughout history!
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Bayley, Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Lyra Valkyria, Raquel Rodriguez, IYO SKY
Many people thought the big surprise in this match would be Charlotte Flair’s return. A vignette aired on Smackdown announcing her return at the Rumble. I believe that the big surprise will be the return of Becky Lynch.
Flair has been out for over a year, and there is no one better to win this match and guarantee themselves a championship match than herself. Flair challenging WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton would be an incredible Mania match.
Prediction: Charlotte Flair wins her second Rumble match
WWE Tag Team Championship Match | 2-out-of-3 Falls Match
(C) DIY vs. Motor City Machine Guns
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa won the WWE Tag Team Championship for the second time in the last year. During the previous two months, Gargano and Ciampo have renewed their rivalry with Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley. DIY beat the Motor City Machine Guns for the titles in December.
DIY has done excellent work as heels over the previous few months, and they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Over their careers, Gargano and Ciampa have created many moments and memories together, and this match will be another incredible one. This is the first time that either set of Tag Team titles has been defended at a premium live event since Wrestlemania 40.
Prediction: DIY retains the WWE Tag Team Championship
