WWE Royal Rumble 2012: 10 Additional Matches We Need to See in St. Louis

It is almost time, ladies and gentlemen.

The Royal Rumble is close and with it begins the road to WrestleMania. This year will mark the 25th edition of the classic pay-per-view and at this point in time, the card is still up in the air as only two matches have been announced so far.

We already have the WWE Championship match between CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler and just recently added, the must-see John Cena vs. Kane match.

So far so good, but still way too little considering we are past the halfway point of the month. Things need to get moving and in the following pages, you will have a handful of matches that could very well see the light of day come Jan. 29th.

Come take a look.

United States Championship Match: Jack Swagger (c) vs. Zack Ryder

Long Island Ice Z just lost his title this past Monday to a fresh and well-prepared Jack Swagger.

Despite his injury, the Internet Champion will stop at nothing to prove to us and his beloved Eve Torres the meaning of courage and attempt to recapture the title. Look for him to invoke his rematch clause as soon as he is cleared to compete. Come Jan. 29th, he should be as fresh as a spring rain.

This is a great opportunity for Ryder as he would get support from the WWE Universe in his quest and since non-Rumble match participants are allowed in the big main event at the end, it is a win-win situation for him.

Where Jack Swagger is concerned, the United States championship should have been placed on him a long time ago as it fits with his All-American character theme. Good for him to have gotten out of that slump he was in.

He should kiss Vickie Guerrero passionately for the incredible favor. Her being present kind of tips the scales in favor of the champion anyway.

Brother vs. Brother: Cody Rhodes vs. Goldust Part 1

This match is bound to happen soon, and a wild guess would be that a brother vs. brother, career vs. title match will indeed happen at WrestleMania XXVIII.

Let's hope that, before we get there, a few encounters between the brothers will have taken place. Here's hoping WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes will make an appearance and try to reason his sons out of this calamity. Nobody likes being part of a family feud.

The championship doesn't have to be included in this one just yet because it would allow for Goldust to win and Cody to demand a rematch. From there, you have the second match at EC or something where Cody can win, prompting Goldust to demand one final opportunity at the show of shows.

The mind games could then really begin, as Dustin Rhodes wouldn't let his little, vain brother off the hook that easy.

Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett

Wade Barrett has been on a ride to stardom over the last few months, but it seems there is nowhere to really put him right now and the same goes for Sheamus, whose push and face turn has come to a complete stop.

They are not buried but are stuck in some sort of limbo for the time being. Either Superstar is a viable candidate to win the big Rumble match and earn his championship encounter at WrestleMania.

Since Randy Orton got injured recently, it was up to the Celtic Warrior to deal with the pugilistic Englishman. There is nothing wrong with watching great Superstars beating each other up from beginning to end.

Watch for both men to pinch the World Heavyweight or WWE Championships in 2012. It certainly looks like that as they are more than ready.

Tag Team Action: Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett and Jinder Mahal

This second option for Wade Barrett and Sheamus comes to mind because of Jinder Mahal being a thorn in the Celtic Warrior's side in recent weeks.

The best news here is the fact that Drew McIntyre was moved over to Friday nights and we have gotten the privilege to see him in action again.

There is still time to figure out where all this losing to Santino Marella will take him, and a face turn should do the trick for him. You will find that adding him in the mix will not be difficult.

The tag team of Drew and Sheamus would make sense. For one thing, neither Superstar has a real direction right now, and the tag team division could use this strong team for a good while until the time comes where a great feud between them could happen.

Everything here can apply to Jinder Mahal and Wade Barrett. This is just the heel version of the above scenario.

Sheamus vs. Jinder Mahal at a pay-per-view would only serve as a bathroom break, so don't bother looking for a slide with the match as an option.

Not happening.

The Awesome Truth Explodes: The Miz vs. R-Truth Part 1

A year ago, The Miz was WWE Champion and involved in a feud with Randy Orton over the title.

How far has this amazing Superstar fallen?

His pairing with R-Truth was, at first, a silly idea, but it did have potential when they started to beat up everyone. Unfortunately, the company saw fit to reduce them to an afterthought at the expense of The Rock and John Cena. As a result, the immense potential that was Awesome Truth was blown away in one night.

The Miz needs to refocus his energies and take out his former partner as soon as possible because greener pasture are his to covet. A move to Smackdown this year would definitely be in his best interest, as would winning the Royal Rumble, which I personally predicted he would as far back as April of last year. I stand by my choice.

Could a "Loser Leave RAW" match be far away down the road? It would certainly explain why one or the other ends up on the blue brand before the actual draft. In any case, they need to get as far away from each other as they can.

This feud is horrible.

Divas Championship: Beth Phoenix (c) vs. Alicia Fox

It's payback time, Foxy!

Alicia Fox not only botched some moves in her previous encounter with the Glamazon, she also wrecked the champion's face, which forced her to stay away from television for nearly a month. That is terrible.

If they do put these two women together in a match for the title, here's hoping Beth Phoenix exacts her revenge and ends it quickly. A Glam Slam from the Top rope would do the trick. The Divas division needs a strong example to remain relevant, and the current champion is the best person to do the job.

Will it be cry time, or time for Layla's return?

Divas Championship Match: Beth Phoenix (c) vs. Tamina

Now here's a good on-paper Divas match.

Who will reign supreme as the WWE's warrior princess? It is The Glamazon Beth Phoenix, holder of the Divas title, or is it Tamina, daughter of legendary Superstar Jimmy Snuka?

Both are powerhouses, both are pin-up strong and both have Natalya in common right now. One is her best friend and partner in the Divas of Doom tag team, the other has defeated her on two occasions already. Surely we will hear what Beth thinks about Nattie's losses to the high-flying islander.

If anything, this feud could spell the beginning of a war between Natalya and Beth Phoenix. If the WWE had any intention of making the Divas division strong again, then going this route would be one of the best options.

Look for Beth Phoenix to take on Natalya at WrestleMania XXVIII with the championship in the middle of things.

Beth Phoenix and the Bellas vs. Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox and Tamina

These six Divas seems to be thrown into a sort of program together.

Vince McMahon's obsession with the Bella wh**** is the only reason they would have to appear on any pay-per-view card. They serve absolutely no purpose other than canned fodder for Kharma when she returns.

Notice how Natalya doesn't figure in this equation. This match would be a way for some sort of friction to begin between the Sisters of Destruction, which would lead them all the way to their title match at WrestleMania XXVIII.

It must happen in order to have strong Divas division. The WWE Universe wants it that way and so do the ladies themselves.

Another outcome of this match would be the Beth Phoenix/Natalya vs. Tamina feud mentioned in the last slide. We do need a Divas match to happen at Elimination Chamber, don't we?

On a side note: Layla is due for a return to action soon. Her injury must have healed by now and it could be the perfect time to come back. She is well beloved and with her around, maybe Michelle McCool would pay a little visit to her B.F.F.

The Funkasaurus Brodus Clay's Pay-Per-View Debut

Brodus Clay a.k.a the Funkasaurus.

He finally made his debut on television two weeks ago, and the idea of him being a totally destructive monster disappeared the moment he and his dancers appeared on RAW.

Nobody knows how long this character will exist, but people seem to like it and at the Royal Rumble, there should be a filler match with him in it. It is one of "The Big Four" and where the road to WrestleMania begins. A fitting place for a Superstar who the company has spent enormous time hyping up.

Who will be squashed that night? Tyler Reks? Trent Barretta?

Meh...it won't matter, we'll have two minutes.

World Heavyweight Championship: Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Big Show vs. Mark Henry

World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan has been spiraling down a path into darkness ever since he laid claim to that title belt a month ago.

What could have been an honorable way to cash-in turned into a low-down, dirty shame, and he is no different than all the other ones who used the briefcase to win a World title.

I am kidding. The MITB provides an incredible opportunity and Bryan seized it. The Big Show got outsmarted and so did Mark Henry. Now the question is, will Daniel Bryan be able to fend off both former champions at once? A very difficult task, but the American Dragon has the skills and the brains to pull it off.

Mark Henry made a good champion and an even better heel. There is no question 2011 was the best year of his career and were it not for a legit injury, he would still be champion come April.

No matter what happens, look for all three participants to end up in the Elimination Chamber match next month. The winner will then head to WrestleMania and defend his championship against perhaps the winner of the Royal Rumble.

Make your predictions now.

Who Will Be the Ultimate Winner This Year?

There you have it, boys and girls.

A wonderful card for the Royal Rumble just waiting to be penciled in. Since this year's edition will return to 30 participants, who do you think is going to win it all?

I for one would love to see some Divas make history and take out a few Superstars. Certain guys could use a victory here to get out of a slump, while some would continue their rise to stardom in becoming official No. 1 contenders to the top championships in the company.

There is still room for any of these matches to be inserted on the show. I just hope my pick wins his singles match and the Royal Rumble.

Did I mention The Miz is my pick?

Yeah...he is awesome!