WWE Royal Rumble 2016: B/R Expert Match Predictions and Analysis

WWE Royal Rumble 2016 is not only the first pay-per-view of the year, but it's also the start of The Road to WrestleMania.

Some might argue Sunday's event will mark the most important night of the year for WWE, as it sets the tone for the rest of 2016. At last year's Rumble, WWE sent a message that, come hell or high water, 2015 was the year of Roman Reigns.

While other Superstars left their mark on the company—from Seth Rollins holding the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for most of 2015 to John Cena re-inventing a midcard title to The New Day becoming the most entertaining part of WWE programming—Roman Reigns was front and center throughout the year. 

His chase for the championship was the prevailing story in WWE, as he went from reviled to admired in less than 365 days. It all started at the Royal Rumble. And at this year's edition, Reigns is once again the center of attention, defending his world title in the headline match against 29 other WWE Superstars. 

The rest of the card, though, is chock-full of intriguing matches that have the potential to shape the roster heading into WrestleMania 32 in Dallas, Texas.

With such an important event almost upon us, the Bleacher Report WWE Team has once again been asked to provide insight, analysis and predictions for what's sure to be an exciting WWE Royal Rumble.

Let's meet the team.

B/R Expert Panel Lineup

Credit: WWE.com

Bleacher Report's team of WWE experts discussing predictions for WWE Royal Rumble 2016.

We've brought together an all-star lineup of Bleacher Report's WWE writers to answer the tough questions about the WWE landscape and provide predictions for each match on the WWE Royal Rumble 2016 card.

This lineup consists of:

• Brad Jones (@beardjones)
• Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the podcast Smack Talk
  
• Aaron Bower (@aaronbower)
• Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston)
• The Doctor Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor)
• And yours truly, James Moffat (@jamesmoffat)

Let's dive right into WWE Royal Rumble 2016 questions. Tie up your laces and get ready to rumble. The predictions start now.

Bonus Question

Credit: WWE.com

Q: The surprise entrants, the WrestleMania guarantee, the all-out action with multiple Superstars in the ring: What is your favorite aspect of the Royal Rumble match?

Chris Mueller (CM): My favorite part of the Rumble has always been the unpredictability. Even if the winners are sometimes easy to pick, you never know what is going to happen during the match. Seeing someone low on the totem pole eliminate a main event star is always fun, and it gives guys toward the bottom of the card a chance to be in the ring with people they might normally never get to face.

Anthony Mango (AM): The Royal Rumble is always the event I anticipate the most every year because there's so much to like. It's tough to narrow it down, but I think the dual combination of the surprise entrants and the fact you know how important the match is means there's a perfect balance of fun and seriousness. More than any other match, this one is the most versatile and can show you everything you like in professional wrestling over the course of one hour.

Erik Beaston (EB): The WrestleMania guarantee has been my favorite element of the Rumble match, dating back to my childhood. Though the winner was always fairly obvious, it was always fun to see exactly how that Superstar would get to the proverbial promised land. Whether it was Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels or Steve Austin, there was something special about watching the way they outlasted their opponents to earn the WWE title shot at the biggest show of the year. The drama has been missing substantially since Pat Patterson stepped away from booking the match.

James Moffat (JM): The WrestleMania guarantee. Hands down. Headlining WrestleMania is the moment Superstars dream of their entire lives. To be the man given that opportunity is career-altering. Plus, there's high drama for that coveted spot during the course of the match. Even in the debacle that was last year's Rumble match, fans had hopes of Daniel Bryan being the last man standing. While the execution on WWE's part was poor, the story it built leading into that match was phenomenal. 

Brad Jones (BJ): The fact that, over the course of an hour, we can see so many subplots bubble to the surface. They might set up a WrestleMania program, or they might just let two wrestlers that don’t normally cross paths have a brief encounter—there’s a sense of unpredictability and variety that sets the Rumble apart from a lot of WWE’s other staples.

Aaron Bower (AB): The surprise entrants. WWE has taken an innovative approach with the match for years, and whether it’s someone coming back from injury or a retro name appearing in the bout, you always find yourself in suspense waiting to see who is going to be next. This year? I’d like to see some surprise inclusions from NXT.

Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Divas Championship)

Q: True or False: Ric Flair is the best part of the WWE Divas division.

CM: False. Ric Flair, while valuable, is not adding much to the storyline between Charlotte and Becky Lynch. Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Lynch and everyone else have stepped up in a big way. Lynch has been especially good in recent weeks. If she doesn’t win the title at the Rumble, it will be a shame.

Match Prediction: Becky Lynch wins the Divas title.

AM: False. Flair has done more harm to Charlotte than good. He effectively steals the spotlight by making her character just a replication of his own but in a weaker way. Charlotte is far better as a heel than as a babyface, but she should be making the decision to cheat, not Ric. I'm beyond tired of the endless "WOOs." By this point, I'm just waiting for Sasha Banks to come back and take charge.

Match Prediction: Charlotte retains for sure.

EB: False. He is certainly a major part of it but not the best. The fact Becky Lynch and Charlotte are being allowed to tell an honest-to-goodness story in clearly defined roles is the best part of the Divas division. There are no nonsensical turns, and the premise of the feud makes sense. WWE Creative, for all of its flaws, has crafted a quality program that has fans investing in the Divas. Flair has been great, but the effective simplicity of the story is what has made the Divas division so entertaining over the last month.

Match Prediction: Charlotte

JM: True, and I might be the only one who believes this. Without Ric Flair, fans would still be stuck with sidekick Becky Lynch and babyface Charlotte battling Team Bella. While he's been a bit overbearing at times, Flair has led his daughter down the proper path for her character and, in turn, allowed Becky Lynch to break free and shine. The two women finally carried the story on their own on Monday night's go-home edition of Raw, with Lynch delivering the best women's promo since the start of the Divas Revolution in July. That wouldn't have been possible without Ric Flair.

Match Prediction: Becky Lynch wins via DQ, Charlotte retains.

BJ: False. Flair is doing a great job in his role, but he’s not even the best part of the feud he’s in. To me, Lynch is like Seth Rollins back in the days of The Shield—everyone knows she’s great, but she’s at a disadvantage because the wrestlers to her left and right are clearly further ahead in the queue for a showcase spot. The program with Charlotte has allowed her to shed her status as a hanger-on, much like Rollins did in his excellent early television matches with John Cena.

Match Prediction: Charlotte

AB: False. I’m a fan of Flair’s involvement in this storyline without a doubt, but Charlotte as a heel and Becky Lynch as her adversary is a story that could survive on its own without The Nature Boy. Throw in Sasha Banks over the coming weeks and you’ve got the makings of a division that can cope without Flair. WWE cannot allow itself to completely rely on Flair for this angle.

Match Prediction: Becky Lynch

The Usos vs. The New Day (WWE Tag Team Championship)

Q: Slammy Awards aside, The New Day was the preeminent tag team in 2015. What tandem (or trio) will take the mantle from Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E in 2016?

CM: If anyone can do it, it’s Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady. Those guys are as entertaining as anyone in the company, and they need to be brought up to the main roster as soon as possible, preferably with Carmella by their side. Seeing them have promo battles with The New Day would be hilarious, and it would make the whole division better.

Match Prediction: The New Day retains.

AM: I could see a lot of support for Social Outcasts, but I'm not so sure they'll pan out over the course of the year. They might not even last beyond WrestleMania 32. On the other hand, I think we could see a strong showing from The Wyatt Family this year as the top stable in the company, with the Tag Team Championships going to them at some point. This is all assuming, of course, The Bullet Club doesn't take over. If they do, then there's no question the focus will be on them.

Match Prediction: The Usos win the titles, if only to change things up.

EB: I am going to go out on a limb and predict The Shield. With Seth Rollins almost assuredly returning as a babyface and declining ratings suggesting Vince McMahon will do whatever is necessary to steady the ship, do not be surprised to see The Hounds of Justice return to thwart The Authority’s plans for continued dominance over WWE.

Match Prediction: The New Day

JM: It certainly won't be a NXT call-up since we've seen how Vince and company treat the minor league guys upon promotion. I'm going to say Luke Harper and Erick Rowan representing The Wyatt Family, as they were about to get on a roll at the end of 2015 until Rowan went down with an injury. Neither man could carry a singles feud with his character's limitations (how many words has Rowan said on the main roster?), but with Bray Wyatt calling the shots, they can focus on being a formidable duo.

Match Prediction: The New Day

BJ: There are a lot of contenders for this spot between rumoured signings, as PWInsider (via WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton) has reported, and the wealth of talent in developmental, but I’d have to go with The American Alpha. Jason Jordan and Chad Gable have it all: the intensity, the ringwork and the charisma. They’re destined for big things if they can continue to evolve at the rate they have done over the past 12 months.

Match Prediction: The New Day

AB: I would love it to be The Dudley Boyz, but I think you’re more likely to see The Usos take up the mantle at the head of the division. The time will come when The New Day splits, and the challenge will then be on WWE to find a top heel team to replace the group.

Match Prediction: The Usos

Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

Q: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho. John Cena vs. Edge. Roman Reigns vs. Big Show. What is your favorite Last Man Standing Match?

CM: I have always been a fan of The Rock vs. Mankind from St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1999. Those two had such a great feud, and this match was the one in which The Rock went from being a pretty boy to a legit tough guy.

Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose retains.

AM: Off the top of my head, I actually can't think of what my favorite would be. So often Last Man Standing matches are good on paper but turn out boring. The biggest mistake that can happen is if the match is booked in which one move leads into 45 seconds of downtime with the referee slowly counting to nine before someone hits another move and we wait another minute. In the Attitude Era, the violence was more entertaining, and those spots were more exciting, but I'm not looking forward to kendo sticks and chair shots solely to the back or stomach followed by lots of waiting.

Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose retains the title by the skin of his teeth.

EB: The greatest Last Man Standing match is the WWE Championship match from Royal Rumble 2007. John Cena, the greatest babyface of his era, had to dig down inside himself to successfully retain his title and defeat the Samoan Bulldozer, Umaga, in a bloody, savage match. With Umaga refusing to stay down, the desperate champion used the ring ropes to choke out Umaga and hold onto the title he had held since the previous September. A beautiful match that not only cemented Cena’s status as the industry's top dog but also proved Umaga’s greatness to the WWE Universe.

Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose

JM: Believe it or not, John Cena had good matches prior to his United States Championship Open Challenges in 2015. Case in point: WWE Backlash 2009, when Cena and Edge battled in arguably the best Last Man Standing Match ever. The nearly 30-minute match saw those two brawl throughout the arena, ending with Big Show slamming Cena through a spotlight. That spot made sense: Big Show competed against the two combatants for the world title the month prior at WrestleMania 25 and lost, making his interference important—the sort of storyline continuity lacking in today's WWE. 

Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose

BJ: It has to be that Triple H vs. Jericho bout from Fully Loaded 2000. A Last Man Standing match takes a lot of intelligence to pull off properly, and both men demonstrated their capabilities at length in that one.

Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose

AB: As an Englishman, I will give Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels on Raw in Manchester in 2008 an honorable mention, but I always remember that Triple H vs. Chris Jericho bout from Fully Loaded in 2000. It was booked magnificently and was part of a feud that was just unmissable. It was brutal, physical and everything you expect from a Last Man Standing match.

Match Prediction: Dean Ambrose

Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio (WWE United States Championship)

Q: Do you think Kalisto’s singles push is genuine or more a product of an injury-depleted roster?

CM: I think it’s both. Sin Cara’s injury was unfortunate, but it opened the door for Kalisto, and he took the opportunity and made the most of it. The first match between him and Del Rio was outstanding, and it probably made WWE realize it has something special with Kalisto.

Match Prediction: Kalisto win the U.S. title again.

AM: Unfortunately for Kalisto, I think this was more of an experiment in trying to grab our attention than anything else. Title changes are some of the easiest ways to pop the crowd and get the WWE Universe buzzing, so it wouldn't surprise me if this was a halfhearted way to get people to tune in and distract them from the lack of star power heading into the Royal Rumble. If Kalisto would have kept the belt for more than a day, I would think differently, but the fact Alberto Del Rio won it back so quickly screams "just kidding" to me.

Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio retains after Kalisto puts up a good fight.

EB: I will be contrarian and say “neither.” I am not sure you can even consider Kalisto’s recent activity a push, especially when he was given the United States Championship for one night, only to set up a title change on SmackDown in the hopes of convincing people to watch that Thursday’s show. Add to that the fact the masked luchador was defeated cleanly in tag team action on Raw and you have a guy who is hardly in the midst of a sustained push.

Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio

JM: Poor Kalisto. Even when he gets a push, it's not a real push. His mini-feud with Alberto Del Rio is nothing more than a case of WWE needing fresh bodies. The title swap on Raw two weeks ago felt like change for change's sake—a meaningless event for a potential star. I think WWE Creative uses Kalisto as a means to creating a dominant Del Rio run leading up to a premier WrestleMania 32 match against a top-flight opponent, either from NXT or one of the newcomers rumored to be making their way to WWE.

Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio

BJ: I think it was always going to come at one time or another, but injuries forced it to come out of nowhere. Between the audience’s predisposition to cheer on a masked luchador and Kalisto’s impressive war crate, I don’t think he’ll struggle to gain the support of the masses. However, I think a slow and steady rise up the card would be better than a hasty ascension.

Match Prediction: Alberto Del Rio

AB: I hate to sit on the fence, but it’s probably a combination of both. WWE is desperate for a top Latin star, and Kalisto could well fit the bill as he’s one of the most entertaining stars on the entire roster. But injuries to a whole host of top stars have created openings on the main roster. That, however, is how careers are sometimes crafted, and Kalisto is more than capable of taking this opportunity.

Match Prediction: Kalisto

Royal Rumble Match Question No. 1

Q: A fun one to start: We know Roman Reigns is the first entrant in the 2016 Royal Rumble. Tell me which Superstar you’d like to see as No. 2 and begin the match with Reigns.

CM: I would like to see Brock Lesnar enter at No. 2 because I think they will be the last two men in the match, and it would be awesome to see both of them go the distance. If it’s not him, it should be someone Reigns can easily eliminate to give him a boost early on.

AM: If we could pick anyone, I'd have to say Shawn Michaels, as he's my favorite wrestler of all time, and I wish he were still wrestling. Within reason, though, I'm rooting for Curtis Axel. I'm expecting Reigns to dump the first person over the top fairly quickly, and after the Axelmania gimmick from last year, I think it would be funny if the bell rings and Axel is clotheslined over the top within five seconds, giving fans the impression Reigns could go the distance by taking all 29 men out one by one.

EB: I would love to see Bray Wyatt enter at No. 2. The two Superstars have some wicked chemistry between the ropes, as witnessed during their rivalry last summer. The fact Wyatt continues to echo "anyone but you, Roman" from their original feud gives you the foundation for an extremely fun first quarter or so of the Rumble match.

JM: I'd love to see Dean Ambrose start the match against Reigns. It would make perfect storytelling sense—Vince McMahon wants to screw with Roman so he has him first compete against his "brother." Reigns and Ambrose could have fun with this immediately by not fighting one another and just waiting for No. 3 to make his way to the ring. It would work as long as they hammed it up a bit. The fans would love it.

BJ: Daniel Bryan. As much of a long shot as it is—and it’s a real long shot—I can’t think of a more exciting way to kick off the Rumble than a huge return. Plus, it throws into focus just how far Reigns has come over the past year; ahead of his match with Bryan at Fastlane 2015, there were some real doubts about whether he had enough experience to be a main eventer. Now, I think few would argue against Reigns being a solid prospect to lead the company, even if he’s not the perfect candidate from a personal standpoint.

AB: Kevin Owens. It would be great to see K.O. go the distance and get all the way to the conclusion of the match, probably alongside Reigns. The match needs to start with a bang, so WWE needs to play its hand smartly and send in an explosive entrant to square off with Roman in the early exchanges.

Royal Rumble Match Question No. 2

Credit: Twitter.com

Q: Yes or No: Should AJ Styles make his WWE debut in the Royal Rumble match?

CM: No. He needs a proper debut. Bringing him in out of nowhere isn’t a great idea because a lot of casual WWE fans don’t know who he is. He needs a few weeks of video packages hyping his debut before he appears. WWE has a good relationship with NJPW, so the company could license footage of his matches to show people how good he is before he actually makes an appearance.

AM: Yes, but only if AJ Styles is coming straight to the main roster and will be wrestling at WrestleMania. If there's no spot for him on that card, WWE should send him to NXT or hold off until the Raw after WrestleMania for his debut. While he would get an enormous pop for his Royal Rumble spot, if WWE didn't do anything with him afterward, it would be a shame. The best thing for it is for him to make his appearance here and get eliminated by someone with whom he can feud ahead of the biggest show of the year.

EB: No. Styles is a legitimate star in an industry lacking them. Entering him in a Rumble match he clearly will not win would only deteriorate that star right out of the gate. Save him for Raw or Fastlane and make his first appearance mean something more than being fodder for Roman Reigns, Triple H or Brock Lesnar to dispose of in a Rumble match lacking a variety of legitimate contenders for victory.

JM: No to the Rumble match—yes to the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Sending AJ Styles into a match that he wouldn't win would be poor booking. He needs to be made to look strong upon first introduction. Selfishly, seeing Styles announce his presence as the next contender to the Intercontinental Championship after the winner has just been through the wringer makes sense to me. Besides, who doesn't want to see Styles vs. either Ambrose or Kevin Owens?

BJ: No. It makes no sense to have someone such as Styles make a huge debut, only to be eliminated from a Battle Royal—I can’t see a scenario where he enters the match and wins the world title on his first night with WWE. If he makes an appearance to eliminate someone unofficially and set up a WrestleMania program, it'd present a much-stronger position to build from.

AB: Yes. The roster is thin, the opportunity is there for Styles to debut and WWE can start something special if it books Styles correctly. He obviously won’t win it, but the Rumble is all about surprises, and having Styles debut here would fit the bill.

Royal Rumble Match Question No. 3

Credit: WWE.com

Q: Last year saw Bubba Ray Dudley, The Boogeyman and Diamond Dallas Page surprise the WWE Universe and enter the Royal Rumble match. Who would you be most excited to see enter the Rumble match this time around?

CM: The Rock would obviously be an awesome surprise, but it’s unlikely given his schedule. When it comes to realistic options, someone from NXT such as Finn Balor, Sami Zayn or Samoa Joe would make a lot of people happy, and it would help that individual transition to the main roster.

AM: There are so many people I'd love to see return, but some Superstars I'd be really excited to see are Carlito, X-Pac, Papa Shango (not The Godfather as that's been done multiple times)—who could eliminate King Barrett and have a staredown with Bray Wyatt—Shelton Benjamin, Kurt Angle and, of course, some names from NXT as well. Oddly enough, another thing I think would be fun is Cody Rhodes returning separately from Stardust, similar to how Mick Foley had three entrances in 1998.

EB: This is a tough one, but I will go with Daniel Bryan. The former WWE world heavyweight champion has been off television and out of the ring for nearly a year, with his neck injury and concussion history preventing him from being cleared to compete. Lately, all has been quiet on the Bryan front. Almost too quiet. It would be a great surprise to see the leader of the Yes Movement return to the squared circle in a Rumble match that could desperately use his star power.

JM: Realistically, I'd like the Rumble to be Sami Zayn's reintroduction to the main roster. His call-up to face John Cena on Raw last year was brilliant, making him a known commodity among regular fans. In a fantasy world, how fun would it be to make Bray Wyatt toss both his brother, Bo Dallas, and his father, Mike Rotunda, over the top rope en route to winning the Rumble? Unlikely, I know, but can't a guy dream? 

BJ: Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Just a brief cameo and a couple of DDTs would be more than enough, but it would be great to see Roberts accomplish the goal he set himself a few years back. With his documentary, The Resurrection of Jake the Snake, garnering critical acclaim, it would be a perfect opportunity to commemorate the massive changes this legend has made in his personal life.

AB: Daniel Bryan. I know it’s the longest of long shots, and there’s not much chance of it happening, but can you just imagine if Bryan’s music hits and he strolls out to a whole arena chanting? It would be something special. Aside from that, I’d be keen on seeing Sami Zayn have a similar impact on the main roster to the one he had last year when he fought John Cena.

Royal Rumble Match Question No. 4

Q: Per betting website Odds Shark, Triple H, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar are the three favorites to win the Royal Rumble. Who are you taking: The favorites or the field?

CM: I just don’t see WWE taking the belt off Reigns yet. He hasn’t been champion that long, and if management wants him to look like a big star, it needs to have him retain the title and hold it through WrestleMania 32 at the very least. However, I would like to see someone unexpected, such as Stardust or Kevin Owens, win the match and have a run with the title.

Match Prediction: Roman Reigns retains.

AM: Ever since Roman Reigns won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in December, I've been repeating nonstop that Triple H is the shoo-in to win. Over the past few weeks, that's not only stayed my prediction, but I think it's been more and more solidified by the way WWE's been building this up. If someone else other than Triple H wins, I'll be utterly shocked, and depending on the person's identity, I'll either be extremely disappointed or incredibly intrigued.

Match Prediction: The final entrant, Triple H, wins the title by eliminating Roman Reigns with some interference.

EB: I’ll stick with the field in this case. All signs point toward Reigns or Triple H leaving with the title and setting up a big WrestleMania match, but honestly, The Game should not be anywhere near the title picture at this point, and Reigns does not need to possess the title to ensure the importance of that program. Lesnar would be too obvious, so I am going to go out on a limb and predict Bray Wyatt will win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on Sunday night just six days after being heated up significantly on Raw and teasing a program with Lesnar. The promo work involving Bray and Paul Heyman alone would make for some of the most entertaining television WWE could possibly book.

Match Prediction: Bray Wyatt

JM: I'm taking the favorites even though my heart wants to take the field. Lesnar and Reigns are the safest bets to win, but Reigns is coming in at No. 1. Lesnar can't draw an early number; he has been built into such a threat it will likely take multiple Superstars to eliminate him. But as this is WWE and it's Rumble time, I'm going with the fans' Doomsday scenario: the Vince Russo-as-WCW-champion moment.

Match Prediction: Triple H

BJ: The Favorites. I think it comes down to Lesnar and Triple H because having Reigns retain against such odds in January leaves few possibilities for WrestleMania. If The Big Dog can see off all opposition in a match like this, how could The Authority stack the deck against him even more dramatically for the biggest show of the year? Instead, I think one of the other two picks up the win to put Reigns back on the chase until April 3.

Match Prediction: Triple H

AB: My head says the Favorites clearly, but my heart says the field. I’m thinking Bray Wyatt is a strong, strong contender to go all the way after what happened on the go-home edition of Raw, but if I’m picking a winner from the whole roster, I’d be opting for Kevin Owens. It would be a huge swerve to go away from the overwhelming favorites, and fans would eat it up whole. As for a prediction, I’d have to opt for one of the favorites.

Match Prediction: Triple H