WWE Royal Rumble 2012 Predictions: Winners and Losers

We’re less than 12 hours away from the first pay-per-view event of 2012 for the WWE, the Royal Rumble. This explosive event signals the start of the road to WrestleMania, and the card for the 28th edition of the granddaddy of them begins to take shape for this April.

With a short card of just four matches tonight, the following slide show will reveal the predictions for who will walk out of the Royal Rumble with a win tonight. 

John Cena vs. Kane

On the heels of Cena’s hilarious backstage segment Monday after seeing Zack Ryder taken away in an ambulance, the Big Red Monster’s goal of trying to get the Cenation leader to “embrace the hate” might be paying off as the two superstars end their rivalry tonight at the Royal Rumble.

Instead of calling for a clear cut winner between Cena and Kane tonight, the match will end in a disqualification victory for Kane, as Cena will lose his cool in the match and continue to attack the Big Red Monster, forcing the referee to give the match to Kane.

Result: Kane defeats John Cena by disqualification 

Daniel Bryan vs. Mark Henry vs. the Big Show, World Heavyweight Title Match

Following Mark Henry suffering an injury on the most recent episode of Smackdown, the Big Show and the World Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Bryan, will likely have to carry this match, but the stipulation of the steel cage should help the flow of the match tonight.

After the three superstars battle in the steel cage for the World Heavyweight Title tonight, Daniel Bryan will again walk out with the championship that he’s narrowly held onto since the TLC pay-per-view last month.

Result: Daniel Bryan defeats the Big Show and Mark Henry by escaping the cage to retain the World Heavyweight Title

CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler, WWE Title Match

After dropping pipe bombs on the EVP of blah, blah, blah, and special referee John Laurinaitis the past few weeks, champion CM Punk will have an uphill battle against Dolph Ziggler if he wants to walk out of St. Louis with his WWE title tonight.

Even though Laurinaitis will try his best to call the match far from down the middle, CM Punk will find a way to get around the biased officiating of the Raw General Manager and retain his WWE Championship tonight at the Royal Rumble.

Result: CM Punk defeats Dolph Ziggler to retain his WWE Championship

The 2012 Royal Rumble Match

With everyone from Chris Jericho to Randy Orton to even No. 1 entrant the Miz predicted to win tonight, the field for the 2012 Royal Rumble has to be one of the most balanced in the 24-year history of the 30-man battle royal.

While not a big fan of this outcome, I believe that Chris Jericho will take the Royal Rumble tonight and set up the widely rumored WWE Championship match with CM Punk at WrestleMania 28 in Miami this April.

But you never know, the WWE could throw us all for a loop and have someone we don’t expect to win tonight in the Royal Rumble.

Result: Chris Jericho wins the 2012 Royal Rumble

What Are Your Predictions for the Royal Rumble Tonight?

Now that you've went through my predictions for tonight's Royal Rumble, join the discussion in the comment section below and tell me who you think will win tonight in the first WWE pay-per-view of 2012.

Chris Humphrey is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. In his time before joining the WWE section, he has wrote for multiple sections on B/R like college basketball, the UFC, the NBA, the NFL and college football in a short period of time with the site. You can become a fan of him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @_CBH_.