WWE Royal Rumble 2012: Who Has Most to Gain (and Lose) at This Year's Battle?

The Royal Rumble is one of the most exciting match concepts in WWE history.

I find myself anxiously awaiting the 30-Man Rumble every year because it's the one match that is almost always filled with a number of surprises and an entertaining outcome.

The fact that there are 30 competitors in the bout gives us that "anything-can-happen" feel, but it gives the Rumble participants themselves the opportunity of a lifetime: The chance to main event WrestleMania.

Only one man will rise to the occasion and win the Royal Rumble, but there are a boatload of superstars who need to get that ever-so precious victory.

Here are the 10 superstars who have the most to gain (and lose) in the 2012 Royal Rumble match.

WARNING: Slide No. 7 contains a MAJOR spoiler from last night's Smackdown taping.

 

10. Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes would be much higher on this list if it wasn't for one thing: the Intercontinental Championship.

While Rhodes has as bright a future as any young superstar, he is in the midst of a lengthy run with the Intercontinental title, and it doesn't look like he'll be dropping it anytime soon.

Though I think Rhodes is ready to move on to the main event scene, a Royal Rumble win doesn't seem likely at the moment because he's holding that IC belt.

As a big fan of Rhodes, I'd love to see him win the Royal Rumble while he was still Intercontinental Champion. Unfortunately, I just don't see that happening.

Though a win in the 30-Man Rumble would obviously be great for Rhodes, a loss in the match is not going to hurt him as much as some of the other competitors.

Why? Because he's likely still going home with gold around his waist.

9. Kane

Kane has gotten a mega-push since returning under his mask last month, getting the best of both John Cena and Zack Ryder on a pretty consistent basis.

The only question is exactly how far that push will go.

While I've enjoyed watching Kane since his return, I don't think he's exactly slated for a push to the WWE Championship at the moment. There are simply too many other Raw stars gunning for the same title.

The Big Red Monster is basically a lock to have a dominant performance in the Royal Rumble, but a victory and subsequent spot in the WrestleMania main event looks highly unlikely.

The unfortunate situation for Kane is that a Royal Rumble win guarantees him a World title match at WrestleMania, but a loss in the match leaves him up in the air because Cena is already slated for a match with The Rock.

It looks like it could be a World title match or a spot in the returning Money in the Bank match for The Big Red Monster, depending of course on the Royal Rumble outcome.

8. Alberto Del Rio

Alberto Del Rio is currently sidelined with a groin injury, and there's no real word on when he'll return to the ring.

It could be during the Royal Rumble, at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view or sometime in between those two.

If it is at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, however, this will be a big test for Del Rio.

ADR had one heck of a 2011, but his momentum was definitely fading away toward the end of the year, and it looks like he could be de-pushed all the way to the mid-card.

Should he return at the Royal Rumble match, we will get a pretty good indication of how the creative team plans to book him going forward.

A short, forgettable appearance in the match likely means he's destined for the mid-card, while a long, memorable one probably means he'll remain one of the WWE's top heels.

Although it's only January, the Royal Rumble could very well make or break Del Rio's 2012.

7. The Big Show

WARNING: This slide contains a MAJOR spoiler from last night's Smackdown tapings.

The feud between The Big Show and Daniel Bryan is really heating up, with Bryan slowly but surely turning into the WWE's typical cowardly heel.

Now, after Bryan retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Big Show at last night's Smackdown tapings, we have to assume that Show is really pissed off.

Although he could very well work his way into the World title match at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, Show could also start his path back to the World Heavyweight Championship in the 30-Man Royal Rumble match.

An angry Show in the Rumble could be bad for everybody else involved, but it would be a great way for Show to become the No. 1 contender again.

Big Show officially has the shortest World title reign in WWE history, and the man who ended that reign was none other than Daniel Bryan.

If Show pulls of a big Royal Rumble win, then he gets both another shot at the title and revenge on Bryan.

6. Mark Henry

Daniel Bryan is gradually turning heel, that's for sure.

But does anyone else think that Mark Henry may be slowly turning baby face?

I could see a situation where Bryan's recent heel antics lead to a double turn, with Henry becoming a fan favorite and Bryan moving to the dark side.

In that case, Henry could really make some noise in the Royal Rumble match.

Although Big Show was the one who beat Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship, Bryan is the one holding it, and he continues to parade around with it like he's king of the world.

Just like with Big Show, that's gotta be getting under Henry's skin, and I'm sure he'd love to take the World title off of Bryan.

If he can't do it in a match with Bryan (which is likely coming soon), then perhaps he has to get himself another opportunity at Bryan's title by outlasting 29 other participants in the Royal Rumble match.

5. Sheamus

Everyone seems to have forgotten about Sheamus, especially the creative team.

The Celtic Warrior has basically been stuck in no man's land for the last two months, though, it looks like the WWE must continue his feud (or whatever the hell you want to call it) with Jinder Mahal.

That feud has really been putting me to sleep, but I'm a big Sheamus fan and think he is definitely a wild card to win the Royal Rumble.

Oddly enough, Sheamus faced Daniel Bryan in a dark match for the United States Championship at WrestleMania, so a Royal Rumble win could lead to a rematch between the two at this year's show.

Only this time, the stakes would be much higher, and the roles would be reversed, with Bryan as the heel champion and Sheamus as the baby face challenger.

Obviously, Sheamus has to win the Royal Rumble to get there, though, so this match will be a huge opportunity for the Great White.

If he wins, he gets to wrestle for a World title at 'Mania only one year after being relegated to the show's dark match. 

4. The Miz

At this time last year, The Miz was on top of the world.

He was holding the WWE Championship, and he was headed for a spot in the WrestleMania main event against the face of the WWE, John Cena.

But now? Like Alberto Del Rio, The Miz has lost just about all of his momentum and seems to be stuck in a major rut.

He isn't the WWE Champion, he isn't the No. 1 contender and it looks he could be relegated to a spot in the (likely) returning Money in the Bank match at WrestleMania 28.

That all could change with a Royal Rumble victory, though.

If The Miz wins the 30-Man Rumble, it would appear that he'd be headed for a WWE Championship match against CM Punk.

If he loses, then his future and the road to WrestleMania both get a lot cloudier. 

3. Randy Orton

Odd fact of the day: Randy Orton hasn't competed for a World title at WrestleMania since 2009.

Hard to believe, huh?

But that just makes the 2012 Royal Rumble match (which takes place in Orton's hometown of St. Louis, Missouri) that much more important for The Viper.

Orton is being deemed by many as the early favorite to win the Rumble, and I agree that he'll likely emerge as the victor. And that's precisely what makes this match so huge for Orton.

He wins, he's headed for a much-deserved World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania, likely against Daniel Bryan.

He loses (and someone else from Smackdown wins the match), then his WrestleMania plans change dramatically.

Regardless of what happens at the Royal Rumble, I'd honestly expect Orton to be competing for the World title at WrestleMania.

But you never really know what's going to happen, so it's imperative that Orton takes care of business in his hometown. 

2. Chris Jericho

No one really seems to know what's going on with the suddenly mute Chris Jericho at the moment.

But regardless of why Y2J is giving us all the silent treatment, the widespread expectation among wrestling fans is that Jericho will face CM Punk for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.

It's a feud that makes a ton of sense, but the question remains: How does Jericho get there?

Well, either Jericho will win the Royal Rumble, or he'll become the No. 1 contender at Elimination Chamber.

I have no idea which way the WWE is leaning at the moment, but with Randy Orton as my Rumble favorite, I'm guessing Jericho wins a No. 1 contender's Elimination Chamber match at next month's pay-per-view.

If that isn't the case, however, then Jericho has to win the Rumble to make the dream match against Punk happen.

1. Wade Barrett

The "Barrett Barrage" is in full effect right now, but it could come crashing down in the near future.

Although Wade Barrett is riding high after putting Randy Orton on the sidelines, Orton's likely return at the Royal Rumble could spoil the party.

Let's say, for example, that Orton returns and wins the 30-Man Royal Rumble match.

Then where exactly does that leave Barrett for WrestleMania? I'd love to see him face The Undertaker, but I seriously doubt that will happen.

Therefore, it seems to be Royal Rumble victory or bust for Barrett.

If he can't find a way to outlast 29 other superstars, then there's a good chance that he'll be competing in a title-less bout or the Money in the Bank match at 'Mania instead of challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship.

That would be a bummer for Barrett, but it's a reality that he almost assuredly will be facing.

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