WWE Universal Championship Ladder Match- Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

Vincent: Cody Rhodes
The lead up to this match has been excellent. You can see a more aggressive side of Cody Rhodes coming out each week, which could lead to the eventual heel turn from the face of the WWE. Kevin Owens has been arguably the best heel throughout his career and this feels like the first time since Rhodes won the title at Wrestlemania that he’ll lose the title. Adding the ladder match stipulation should add a bunch of interesting spots, including Kevin Owens delivering a piledriver onto one of the ladders. With all that in mind, this doesn’t feel like the time where Rhodes would drop the title.

Felix: Cody Rhodes
It is hard to see a world where Rhodes does not win this championship match. With the road to Wrestlemania beginning tonight, there is no chance the American Nightmare loses his title before The Grandest Stage of Them All. However, this will definitely be a very entertaining match with many great moments.

WWE Tag Team Championship Two out of Three Falls Match- #DIY vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Vincent: #DIY
This is the second main roster tag team title reign since their reunion in 2023. Their first was very forgettable, taking the titles from A-Town Down Under. They held the belts for just under a month, losing to Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu. After the loss, the team began turning heel, culminating when Johnny Gargano delivered a low blow in a title match against Motor City Machine Guns, stealing the titles away. As the reign has only been a little over a month, I can’t see #DIY’s championship reign being cut short.

Felix: #DIY
A two out of three falls match for the tag team titles has an opportunity to be a classic. #DIY and Motor City Machine Guns are two of the best tag teams in the company. Johnny Gargano had an amazing two out of three falls match at NXT Takeover New York a few years ago, so great things are expected. I don’t expect the title to go back and forth between teams, so #DIY has this one in the bag. I believe Motor City Machine Guns will win the first fall and #DIY will win the following two.

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Vincent: Winner: Roman Reigns
Biggest Surprise: Solo Sikoa returns, the New Bloodline turns on him
About half the contestants in the 30-man match have been confirmed. One of the name’s not confirmed yet is Solo Sikoa, who hasn’t appeared since he lost the ula fala to Roman Reigns on the Raw on Netflix debut. The rest of the New Bloodline has been running wild and will have at least Fatu representing them in the match. Sikoa will make his debut, wanting to be embraced by his Bloodline brethren. Instead, he will be eliminated from the match, continuing the everlasting Bloodline storyline.

As for the rest of the match, Fatu will later be eliminated, with the final four contestants being Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Cena and Reigns. There will be numerous great spots and though this is Cena’s final Royal Rumble match, I can’t see the legend punching his ticket to Wrestlemania here. Rollins will be the one eliminating Cena, taunting him as he goes over, before being left in the ring with two of his biggest rivals, trying to knock off both, failing. After Rollins is tossed out, there will be a staredown between the two former Paul Heyman guys, who teamed up at Survivor Series: WarGames. After a back and forth, Reigns will toss Punk over, winning his second rumble match and setting up the rubber match between Rhodes and Reigns at Wrestlemania, though that won’t end up being the case.

Felix: John Cena
Biggest Surprise: Nic Nemeth returns
Thirty men will enter and only one will leave with the opportunity of a lifetime. I predict that Cena will win his third Rumble match and headline Wrestlemania one last time. WIth his retirement tour officially on, there is no better way to go out then this. I believe the final four will be Cena, Reigns, Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes – two of the most experienced in the business and two on the rise. There could be a perfect opportunity to pass the torch to the younger talent, but Super Cena is going to shine once again. He will face Rhodes at Wrestlemania. However, I do see Breakker having himself a night and eliminating the most contestants with nine. A big surprise that could happen is the return of Nic Nemeth. Formerly known as Dolph Ziggler, Nemeth has been making a name for himself since leaving the company. Now with the partnership between TNA and WWE, I see the return as a high possibility.

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Vincent Goldschmidt: Winner: Charlotte Flair
Biggest Surprise: Iyo Sky turns heel, eliminates Bayley
Many contestants in the match are yet to be announced, though two include Bayley and Iyo Sky, two members of Damage CTRL. Sky and Bayley will team up for a good bit of the match, taking advantage of the numbers game. However, there will be a moment after Bayley eliminates somebody, that she’ll turn around to be eliminated by her teammate, separating Sky from the group and setting up a longer running rivalry.

For the remainder of the match will include Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez and Bianca Belair. We’ll see a partial team up between Flair and Belair to keep the numbers game even, eventually eliminating Rodriguez and Morgan. After both superstars have a back and forth, Belair will look to land a K.O.D., being reversed by Flair, who will land a spear and score her championship match at Wrestlemania, eventually challenging Tiffany Stratton.

Felix: Becky Lynch
Biggest Surprise: AJ Lee returns
The Rumble is filled with endless possibilities. I believe this match has the opportunity to have countless surprises. One of them being the return of Becky Lynch. The last time she was on a show was back in May of 2024. She is well overdue for a return and she is going to make a big impact. She won the Rumble back in 2019 and I believe she will be the first two-time Women’s Royal Rumble winner. I also believe Lynch won’t be the main headline to come out of this event.

My big return on the night is AJ Lee entering at number 30. She has been away from WWE since 2015 and has been rumored for years for a return. The final four will include Lynch, Flair, Jax and Lee. I see Jax having a dominant showing and eliminating nine contestants and earning the most eliminations in a Women’s Rumble match. Lynch will ultimately win and face Stratton at Mania.

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