WWE Royal Rumble 2013: Who Will Open the Rumble Match with Dolph Ziggler?

With the news last night on Raw that Dolph Ziggler will enter the Royal Rumble as either the first or second entrant, the speculation for the other Superstar beginning the match can start.

The first two entrants in the Rumble always have some sort of significance. Last year, the Miz began the match with his former protégé and foe, Alex Riley. In the past, former tag team partners have begun the Rumble match, such as Ax and Smash from Demolition in 1989.

We already know Ziggler will begin the Rumble match, but who will join him?

Here are five possible and likely Superstars we could see entering the Royal Rumble at No. 1 or 2.

Zack Ryder

One Superstar that Dolph Ziggler has a history with who could begin the Rumble is the self-proclaimed Internet champion, Zack Ryder.

Ryder and Ziggler have feuded both on WWE TV and Ryder’s YouTube Show, Z! True Long Island Story. They had both agreed to a WrestleMania match with Ryder’s Internet Championship on the line. However, with Ziggler on the verge of becoming a World champion, the match seems unlikely.

In any case, Ryder would make perfect sense to begin the Rumble with Ziggler due to their previous feuding over the United States Championship. It was Ziggler who Ryder defeated to win his only singles title in WWE.

Jack Swagger

The All American American is another Superstar with a long history with Dolph Ziggler who would shock us all to begin the Rumble match.

Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler used to be tag team partners and fellow associates of Vickie Guerrero. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen Swagger on WWE TV in a number of months.

Swagger should return to WWE at some point as a babyface to feud with Antonio Cesaro over the United States Championship. However, a return at the Royal Rumble to begin the match with his former partner would be a welcome surprise.

Big E Langston

Big E Langston may be Dolph Ziggler’s bodyguard, but perhaps Ziggler would use this to his advantage during the Royal Rumble match.

If Ziggler enters the Rumble at No. 1 and Langston enters next, the two would hang out until more Superstars enter and begin their assault.

Ziggler could also have Langston do all the dirty work him while Ziggler rests and conserves his energy for the end of the Rumble match.

Langston has been helping Ziggler in his matches and feuds as of late with John Cena and even the Miz last night on Raw. It would not be surprising to see Langston help Ziggler win the Royal Rumble match this Sunday night.

CM Punk

This choice may not make sense, but what if CM Punk loses the WWE Championship earlier in the night?

If Punk loses to the Rock, he could cement his legacy by then entering the Rumble at No. 1 and winning the match.

It would be amazing story for the longest-reigning WWE champion over the last 25 years.

Punk also has a long history with Dolph Ziggler, as they squared off in the WWE title match at last year’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

Even since Punk turned heel on Raw 1000, he and Ziggler have not seen eye to eye, as both Superstars have walked out on the other during tag team matches.

Could we see two heels begin the Royal Rumble match this year?

John Cena

One likely candidate to begin the Rumble match with Dolph Ziggler is the man he most recently feuded with—John Cena.

John Cena is clearly a favorite to win the Rumble match due to the heavily rumored Rock-Cena II match for WrestleMania. John Cena won the Rumble in 2008 when he entered at No. 30.

Could he be the first Superstar to win as both the first and last entrant?

Cena and Ziggler have a history with one another, as it was Cena’s girlfriend, A.J. Lee, who Ziggler stole.

Perhaps if Cena and Ziggler do begin the Rumble, they will also end the Rumble as the final two just like Shawn Michaels and British Bulldog did in 1995.

Conclusion

It is a huge accomplishment to begin the Royal Rumble match and last until the very end. Only a limited number of Superstars have been able to complete this feat.

When Dolph Ziggler enters the Royal Rumble match, who will be there with him?

It has to be someone he’s had a past with or someone he has some sort of relationship with.

Who do you think will begin the Rumble with Dolph Ziggler? Please leave your suggestions, comments and ideas in the section below.

Sincerely,

Seth

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