The B/R Wrestling Staff Predictions for WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Match Card

Doc-Chris MuellerJan 27, 2023

We're coming up to the end of January, and that means it's time for the annual WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

This event is the start of the Road to WrestleMania, but many people in the WWE Universe actually single this show out as their favorite of the year.

Here is a look at the card for Saturday's show:

Men's and Women's Rumble matches
Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens (Universal Championship)
Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss (Raw Women's Championship)
LA Knight vs. Bray Wyatt (Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match)

Here's our lineup of contributors:

Chris Mueller (CM) (@BR_Doctor)
Erik Beaston (EB) (@ErikBeaston)
Graham Matthews (GM) (@WrestleRant)
Jeff J (JJ) (@JeffJSays)
Anthony Mango (AM) (@ToeKneeMango)
Donald Wood (DW) (@RingRustRadio)

Graham Matthews

1 of 7

Men's Rumble

If you could bring up one Superstar from NXT to appear in the Rumble, who would it be and why?

Bron Breakker would be the most obvious choice considering he's the current NXT champion and has already appeared in front of a main roster audience before on Raw, but Carmelo Hayes hasn't, and therefore he is my NXT pick to participate in the men's Rumble.

I think a strong showing can go a long way in getting fans familiar with him before his inevitable call-up to Raw or SmackDown. He's the future, and it's about time he gets showcased on a bigger stage.

Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight

Based on what little we have seen, what do you think the Pitch Black Match will actually be?

It seems like no one actually knows what this match is going to consist of exactly, including the competitors themselves, but the general consensus among fans is that the lights will be mostly dimmed and it can only be won by pinfall or submission.

There are bound to be other shenanigans, including interference from Uncle Howdy, but I just hope it won't be a cinematic match. Fans have waited this long to see Wyatt back in the ring and shouldn't have to watch whatever this is play out on the Titantron.

Donald Wood

2 of 7

Men's Rumble

If you were going to place a big money bet on this match, who would you pick as the winner and why?

Cody Rhodes. While he is clearly one of the betting favorites and the payout wouldn't be as large, it is the safest bet in the men's Battle Royal. Since Rhodes' return to WWE from All Elite Wrestling, he has been on the road to a world championship, and the torn pectoral muscle only provided much-needed time off before WrestleMania season.

With fans excited about the comeback and his absence making the WWE Universe's collective heart grow fonder, Rhodes is the closest thing to a lock in recent Royal Rumble history.

Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss

Do you think Alexa Bliss needs any of the Bray Wyatt stuff with her character? Why or why not?

Alexa Bliss was stuck in nothing storylines with no character development for months before the return of Bray Wyatt. Since Bliss started showing signs of going to the dark side, she has been more interesting than ever, and the slow development of her new persona has been one of the best parts of WWE television each week.

While there is little doubt that Bianca Belair will successfully defend her title at Royal Rumble, all eyes are on Bliss and what happens next with the storyline.

Anthony Mango

3 of 7

Women's Rumble

If you could bring up one Superstar from NXT to appear in the Rumble, who would it be and why?

Nikkita Lyons would have been my pick had WWE not just done an injury angle with her. A good number of women would be great in this spot, like Zoey Stark, Tiffany Stratton, Cora Jade and the three women fighting for the title at Vengeance Day.

But I would go with Indi Hartwell so she could team up in the Royal Rumble with Candice LeRae, get called up to the main roster and add another tag team for that division.

Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens

Lay out how you would book this match from start to finish.

The belt needs to stay on Reigns and Zayn needs to fail his "final test" to set up a match between the two in Montreal. This should be a normal back-and-forth fight up until the referee is knocked down.

The Usos and Solo Sikoa team up with Reigns to beat down Owens and present Zayn with his opportunity to prove his loyalty by ending KO's career with some foreign object. To play off Raw's theme of "l love you like a brother," Zayn chooses not to do this, because he sees Owens as more of a brother, ultimately.

Disappointed, The Bloodline lay out Zayn, do whatever it is to Owens anyway, and after Reigns gets the pin, he takes back the Honorary Uce shirt. Owens can spend the next few weeks healing up while Zayn fights Reigns at Elimination Chamber. When KO is back, he teams with Zayn to beat The Usos for the tag titles at WrestleMania.

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Erik Beaston

4 of 7

Women's Rumble

Do you think we will see Naomi in the Rumble?

I think so, yes. WWE understands the significance of surprises in the Rumble and also knows it failed to bring Sasha Banks back into the fold. Naomi is great, has been a staple of the Rumble match, and brings the athleticism and creativity the match demands.

Triple H knows that and will make good on bringing one of the most popular stars of the women's division back into the fold. Hopefully.

Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight

How do you think WWE has handled Bray Wyatt's return so far?

At first, it took entirely too long for WWE to get to the point of this Wyatt story. Of late, it has done a wonderful job of telling the story of a man dragged back into the darkness that he tried so desperately to evade.

Where things are going with Uncle Howdy remains to be seen, but WWE has done a more coherent job of telling this story than just about anything other involving Wyatt previously.

Mr. Jeff J

5 of 7

Women's Rumble

If you could book any woman on the roster to win, who would it be?

Rhea Ripley, and not because she's my pick to win it all. She's been the driving force behind Judgement Day and is so prominent that she hasn't had a major feud with another superstar in a minute. And yet, her presence demands the spotlight.

From interfering in matches, intergender battles and her mic work, you can tell that she's positioning herself for something greater. We've seen the teases between her and Belair for the last six months. Ripley also still owes Charlotte one for taking her NXT Women's Title at 'Mania a few years ago. The stars align too perfectly here. Let the rumble be Judgement Day for the women's division.

Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens is as over as any babyface on the roster right now. Do you think WWE should call an audible and have him win the belts?

Not at all. KO will have time to reclaim one of the world titles. The stronger story is KO-Zayn and how Bloodline allegiances have damaged their friendship. Will the Bloodline turn on Sami? Will he betray them and rejoin Kevin? Those are the stronger storylines right now. If you're going to dethrone Roman, you do it at Wrestlemania, the season finale of Sports Entertainment.

There's no more fitting way to end this two-year reign than on the grandest stage. KO is an excellent foil. A loss at the rumble won't stifle his momentum. After last year vs. Stone Cold, KO is certified. He's an excellent opponent to face Reigns now. He'll be an excellent champion down the line

Chris Mueller

6 of 7

Men's Rumble

Do you think they should have saved Cody's return as a surprise, or was it better to announce it ahead of time?

It was definitely better that his return was announced ahead of time because it would have been spoiled for us anyway. We all knew the timetable for his injury put his recovery at just about the amount of time between his Hell in a Cell match and the Rumble.

Plus, if WWE wants to sell tickets, it has to give some incentives. Rhodes is a premier player in WWE now, so he will always draw a crowd.

Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss

Why do you think WWE is dragging out putting Alexa Bliss and Bray Wyatt back together?

Part of me wonders if that is even how all of this will end up. Wyatt and Bliss were great together, but neither of them need the other anymore. It's possible this all leads to Bliss being an antagonist for Wyatt as he tries to keep his demons at bay.

I'm sure this will be clearer after the Rumble, but part of me hopes WWE has something different in mind than a reunion.