WWE Smackdown: Top 5 Royal Rumble 2012 Winner Favorites

We are only two weeks away from the Royal Rumble event live in St. Louis! The WWE is slowly building up the 30-man match each week, and fans all over the world are starting to sense the anticipation.

With the Rumble match each year, many pick their "odds-on favorites." This year is no different. Both Raw and Smackdown have many capable performers who can go to the main event of WrestleMania.

Sadly, I do not see many on the Red Brand. Chris Jericho is the only man I see from Raw winning. He hasn't even been announced yet, so that may not even be an option.

However, the Blue Brand has quite a few wrestlers who could win. Here are my top five!

5. Cody Rhodes

I am a fan of Cody Rhodes. He has all the tools a top main-event performer should have. His last year has been great. He has a bright future in this company.

However, it is not time yet. It just isn't. He will get his chance in the main event. It may be in a few months. It may be next year. It is coming, folks!

I just can't see him in a World title match on April 1, 2012. He is still a candidate, though...

4. World Title Match Loser

Honestly, I couldn't just pick one here.

I just have no idea where the World Title is going to end up in the next few weeks. Will Daniel Bryan be the champion? Is Mark Henry healthy enough to regain the title? Or does Big Show reclaim gold?

Either way, you have to expect one of these guys to be in the Royal Rumble match later this month. If they are not the champion, I don't see why one of them can't win another title shot down the line...

3. Sheamus

Sheamus is going to be a major star one day. He really is. His WWE future looks great right now.

In a time where WWE is looking for the new big faces, he fits in perfectly. His run to the top has already begun, and I do not see much slowing him down. His 2012 year is going to be amazing.

With that being said, he has to be considered a favorite to win the Royal Rumble. No other man is set to "break out" in this industry as he is.

He has never won the match (no repeat Rumble winners in the past 10 years), so history is on his side. As are the fans. Sheamus has a wonderful chance to be standing tall in two weeks!

2. Wade Barrett

I would prefer a face to win. It just makes the entire "Road to Wrestle Mania" story that much better to cheer somebody one in their journey. A heel winning can work (like last year), but it must be the right person in that position.

Wade Barrett has been great in every role. Thus, I am not worried about him winning as a "heel." He is just too good at what he does, and he can turn anything into gold. He is also poised for a huge year!

His Barrett Barrage is the perfect "back drop" to his win. Just like Alberto Del Rio had his "destiny," Barrett already has a story going.

Him going all the way to the World Heavyweight Championship in Miami would be the fitting conclusion.

It writes itself...

1. Randy Orton

Yes, he won the Royal Rumble in 2009. No, I don't care.

If any man deserves this win, it is Randy Orton. Not only is the show in his hometown, but his incredible 2011 year needs to be rewarded.

I am sure most will go for a young star who "needs" the win, but I don't. Look at the past winners of the Royal Rumble in the past decade or so:

Alberto Del Rio, Edge, Randy Orton, John Cena, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Batista, Brock Lesnar, Triple H, Stone Cold and The Rock.

Outside of Alberto Del Rio, what do those names have in common?

They were already established main-event stars in the company, You could argue a few, but it still holds true. The "young stars" do not win this event. That is better served for the King of the Ring or Money in the Bank.

Royal Rumble winners (more often that not) go to main-event performers, not young wrestlers on the rise. Thus, I do not see much changing here. Orton deserves another World title feud for all he did in 2011, and I see him as the "favorite" winning the Royal Rumble right now!

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