WWE Royal Rumble 2012: Start Time, Live Streaming and PPV Info

The Royal Rumble is always one of the year's most exciting pay-per-view shows.

Between the return of Chris Jericho, John Cena and Kane continuing their feud and, of course, the main event battle royal, the 2012 version of the marquee event is lining up to be another memorable affair.

It's an important night for the WWE because it will set the tone for an entire year of shows. If the first PPV can leave people craving more, the ratings during the entire road to WrestleMania should spike.

That's especially true when you consider The Rock's return is quickly approaching.

Since Sunday night will mark the 25th annual Royal Rumble event, Vince McMahon surely has some surprises in store to mark the occasion.

Where: Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

When: Sunday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: Pay-per-view (local cable providers)

Live Streaming: WWE.com has PPV for $44.95

Fight Card

Royal Rumble Match: 30-man battle royal

CM Punk (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler: WWE Championship match, with John Laurinaitis as the special guest referee

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Mark Henry vs. Big Show: Triple-threat steel cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship

John Cena vs. Kane: Singles match

Main Event Preview and Prediction

Jericho is the heavy favorite to emerge victorious in the Rumble, but there are several other contenders that shouldn't be overlooked. Y2J's return has been anything but normal, so expecting him to dominate the night's main event doesn't seem to fit the mold.

Randy Orton, who is billed from St. Louis, is another obvious choice. The Smackdown star needs a new direction, and winning the Rumble would set him up for another major push over the next few months following Mark Henry's dominant run.

Other names to watch include Sheamus, Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes from the blue brand and The Miz, who will be entering first, from the red brand.

With all that said, my selection is Dolph Ziggler.

He's going to be the third wheel in his title match against CM Punk earlier in the evening thanks to John Laurinaitis, which means The Showoff will want to steal the show. He'll do just that by winning the Rumble and earning another title shot.

Prediction: Dolph Ziggler

What They’re Saying

Chris Jericho continues to use cryptic messages to promote his entrance in the Rumble:

Kevin Nash put an end to rumors that he'll be one of the surprise participants, but is he telling the truth?

John Laurinaitis wants you to know he's feeling better:

Undercard Match to Watch: John Cena vs. Kane

Kane's return and subsequent feud with Cena has done a terrific job of showing a different side of the Cenation's leader. Fans have been craving a Cena heel turn for a long time, but that's not likely to happen, so we'll just have to accept an edgier side.

Since it's a not a no-disqualification match, it's likely that Cena will lose his mind at some point and proceed to beat down Kane until he's DQ'd. It doesn't make any sense for either man to win clean at this point in the game.

Which Star Will WWE Bury?

Mark Henry

Henry had a nice run with the World Heavyweight Championship, but it's time for him to take a step back from the main event picture. He's no longer being portrayed as an unstoppable force, which is the first step toward a minor burial.

Daniel Bryan should retain his title at Royal Rumble, and his heel turn makes it likely that Orton or Sheamus will be his new feud moving forward. That leaves Henry without an obvious direction, marking the end of his time on top.

Star Unaccounted For: Alberto Del Rio

It's hard to believe it's been a full year since Del Rio earned a Rumble victory by eliminating Santino Marella. His various pushes throughout last year didn't go as well as the company hoped, and now he's on the injured list.

He could make a surprise return, but the company would be better off leaving him sidelined for a while and bringing him back with a refreshed gimmick. It's clear the current one never got over with fans and therefore needs changing.