Royal Rumble 2012 Predictions: 5 Bold Choices for Royal Rumble Victory

Entering the Royal Rumble, wrestling fans often have a shortlist of favorites who they think has a legitimate shot to win. While things go as expected in some Rumbles, there have been others where a wrestler who was a bit off the board went on to win.

The best part of the Rumble match is that you never really know for sure what is going to happen in terms of entrants and who is going to come out on top. Most would probably say that Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Kane, Wade Barrett and perhaps a few others are the overwhelming favorites this year, but everyone is already aware of that.

This article will focus on the superstars who few are expecting to win, but still have a legitimate shot. Here are five bold choices who could shock the wrestling world and win the Royal Rumble. 

Cody Rhodes

It's obvious to most that the Intercontinental champion Cody Rhodes is on the precipice of a main-event spot, but few are expecting it to happen right now. Rhodes winning the Rumble likely wouldn't be the biggest shocker ever, but seeing as he was just engaged in a feud with Booker T, it would be a major push from out of nowhere.

With that said, a Rumble win would instantly legitimize Rhodes as a contender. Therefore, it's a possibility if the WWE brass thinks he's ready to make the leap. Rhodes looked good in a high-profile feud with Randy Orton a few months ago, although Orton came out on top, so a Rumble win could be in the cards.

Big Show

I doubt that anyone truly wants to see Big Show win the Rumble, but he would probably be a pretty safe choice from the creative team's perspective. Show has pretty much achieved everything in the WWE, but he has yet to win a Rumble match. Giving him the victory would keep things fresh to a certain extent.

Also, he is extremely over with the crowd, so he would get a great reaction. If it's decided that his feud with world heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan is going swimmingly (which I believe it is), he could realistically be given the Rumble win. Big Show did reportedly suffer a back injury in a house-show match with Bryan, however, so his chances will hinge largely on his health. 

Alberto Del Rio

He hasn't been on television in a few weeks due to a groin injury, but Alberto Del Rio could be someone to watch if he returns in time for the Rumble. Del Rio was injured in late December and the timetable for his return was listed as four to six weeks. If his recovery has gone perfectly to this point, then a Rumble return isn't out of the question.

Del Rio won the largest Rumble ever last year, but prior to his injury he was a bit of an afterthought as he dropped the WWE Championship to CM Punk. There is no doubt that Del Rio is a main-event stalwart, and if the creative team wants to get him back to that level I could see him becoming the fourth ever back-to-back winner of the event. 

Christian

Like Del Rio, Christian has been out for quite some time with an injury. Christian suffered an ankle injury that has kept him out of action for the past couple of months, but all indications are that he has a good chance of being ready for the Rumble. Prior to the injury, Christian was still campaigning for "one more match" for the world heavyweight championship.

With Daniel Bryan seemingly turning heel, Christian is certainly a long shot, but he would likely be in contention. He is a well-traveled veteran who has never won a Rumble before. He has also won two world titles, so he is a main-event-caliber performer. I think it's more likely that one of his recent opponents, such as Randy Orton or Sheamus, will eliminate him. However, I do see Christian being in the mix near the end.

Dolph Ziggler

This pick is obviously off the board a bit, but that's why they're called bold choices. Dolph Ziggler will be wrestling CM Punk for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble, but for the past few weeks I have been convinced that he will still enter and win the Rumble. There are a few things that point to that happening, in my opinion.

For one, the losers of the title matches on last year's card entered the Rumble and Ziggler was one of them. Also, the WWE made a point of saying that competitors who are on earlier in the card can still enter the Rumble match. Furthermore, Ziggler had a heated discussion with Mick Foley regarding the Rumble match, which you wouldn't think Ziggler would care about since he'll be fighting Punk.

Ultimately, I see Ziggler losing a long and grueling match just prior to the Rumble and then finding a way to get himself in the Rumble match. My guess is that he will get stuck with No. 1 somehow and find a way to last until the end and win. Ziggler will look incredibly legitimate as he will have lasted the entire length of the Rumble after competing in a match right before it. I think this would be the perfect way to elevate Ziggler to star status.