WWE Royal Rumble 2011 Preview and Predictions

January is coming to a close, and that means it's time for a handful of important, must-see sporting events. I'm talking about the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl, the NHL All-Star Game, and naturally, the WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view!

The Royal Rumble is famous for having a Royal Rumble match that features 30 Superstars duking it out as they are thrown into the squared circle in a random order every 90 seconds or two minutes depending on their entry number.

However, a new twist has been introduced: there are now 40 Superstars! Obviously, this is one hell of a main event, and the stipulation (a title match for either the WWE Championship or the World Heavyweight Championship, depending on the winner's brand, at WrestleMania) can only make this match even more important.

The other three matches of the night are not bad, either. As a matter of fact, they're pretty damn good. We get three titles matches between World Heavyweight Champion Edge and Dolph Ziggler, Divas Champion Natalya and LayCool, and WWE Champion The Miz and Randy Orton. Good stuff. Let's get into the match previews!

The Miz (c) Vs. Randy Orton

Despite a lot of criticism from both casual fans and smarks, The Miz has proven himself to be a pretty good champion. His character draws a lot of hate, and he carries himself like a champion.

Alex Riley and Michael Cole are helping the crowd accept him as a main-eventer, and WWE has actually gotten a mid-carder to main-event status pretty damn well this time.

Randy Orton has been enraged since he lost his WWE Championship, and it's been difficult to have a fair fight with both Alex Riley and Michael Cole willing to put themselves in harm's way for The Awesome One. I suspect Orton will RKO Alex Riley prior to the match just to get him out of the way.

Of course, that leaves Michael Cole and I don't see Randy Orton expecting an attack from Michael Cole, meaning Cole will not be attacked unless he provokes Orton. At any rate, a distraction from Michael Cole should end it for The Apex Predator.

Orton is a one of the crowd's favorite faces, but he is an established star and WWE is looking to build more stars. Having The Miz keep the WWE Championship (and likely headline WrestleMania if a RAW competitor won the Royal Rumble) will really cement him as a star.

Winner: The Miz

Natalya (c) Vs. LayCool

This match is a 2-on-1 Handicap Match featuring reigning Divas Champion Natalya against both Layla and Michelle McCool of LayCool (sound familiar?). In prior meetings against one or both of the members of LayCool, Natalya typically came out as the winner.

This time, I think LayCool will win, but only because of one person: Beth Phoenix. If I were WWE Creative, I would give LayCool the title now so Natalya has the Elimination Chamber PPV to use her rematch clause.

After a successful title defense by LayCool, Beth Phoenix can retake the title at WrestleMania, which would be a great idea for several reasons.

Beth can get her revenge from when LayCool put her out of commission for most of 2010 at The Grandest Stage Of Them All, and a victory would also get the title belt around Beth's waist which is good because unlike many other Divas, Beth Phoenix knows how to wrestle.

Of course, Natalya can also win. WWE has been known to make mistakes from time to time... to time.

Winner: LayCool

Edge (c) Vs. Dolph Ziggler

At TLC, Edge took the World Heavyweight Championship from its previous owner, the demented Kane. A month later, he is defending the title from a guy who was a mid-carder three weeks ago.

Personally, I believe it's too soon for Dolph to win, though he probably will win the World Heavyweight Championship in the recent future.

Since Edge's Spear is banned, this match will probably have a very exciting ending, though I have no clue what it could be.

We could see the debut of a new finisher from Edge, or we could see Edge go after Vickie Guerrero which could lead to many different things (such as a Spear to Vickie Guerrero).

Dolph Ziggler also has a good chance of winning since WWE may want to book him as a strong main-eventer right away. Given his future as one of the major stars in WWE, I can understand why this option would appeal to them.

Still, I think Edge is a little more likely to come out the victor. I would put the odds for this match at 60-40 in Edge's favor.

Winner: Edge

40-Man Royal Rumble Match

At this year's Royal Rumble, an unprecedented 40 Superstars will clash in the ring for a chance to headline Wrestlemania. Thirty-four Superstars have already been confirmed to be in this match by WWE:

• Alberto Del Rio
• R-Truth
• Rey Mysterio
• John Cena
• CM Punk
• David Otunga
• Husky Harris
• Michael McGillicutty
• King Sheamus
• Daniel Bryan
• John Morrison
• Ted DiBiase
• Mark Henry
• Darren Young
• David Hart Smith
• Primo
• Tyson Kidd
• William Regal
• Yoshi Tatsu
• Zack Ryder
• Ezekiel Jackson
• Heath Slater
• Justin Gabriel
• Wade Barrett
• Mason Ryan
• Jack Swagger
• Drew McIntyre
• Chris Masters
• JTG
• Kane
• Kofi Kingston
• The Big Show
• Santino Marella
• Vladimir Kozlov

The other six entrants are likely not on the active roster. Former WWE Superstars Kevin Nash, Booker T are reported to be two of these entrants (both links lead to seperate pages of the same article).

Another former WWE Superstar rumored to be in the Rumble is Papa Shango. The Great Khali (returning from an absence during which he was in India filming a game show) has been ready to wrestle for a few weeks and will probably return at the Rumble.

Injured wrestlers such as Triple H and Evan Bourne could also return, though both Undertaker and Christian are off this list as they are questionable for Wrestlemania which is a few months in the future.

Now, to the actual match. I strongly believe John Cena will take it, since young talent rarely wins the Royal Rumble and a John Cena-The Miz match sounds like a good main event for Wrestlemania.

Jim Ross has said on his blog that he has a hunch a first-time Rumbler will win the Rumble, however, and his hunches are usually correct (possibly because he has an inside source, being a former member of WWE's broadcast team).

If this is the case, I assume Wade Barrett or Alberto Del Rio would win (by extension improving Edge's odds of having the title belt come Wrestlemania since he is a face).

J.R. also mentioned the unlikelihood of any injured wrestlers returning at this year's event, so if you take his word for it, that crosses out the likes of Triple H and Evan Bourne. I personally think J.R. is wrong (maybe intentionally, maybe not) and that John Cena will win the match.

Winner: John Cena