WWE Royal Rumble 2015: Bouts with Biggest WrestleMania Implications

By the end of the weekend, we'll likely know a lot more about WrestleMania 31 than we do now. While there have been clear signs of where things are headed, nothing is set in stone with the build to the biggest show of the year under way.

There are so many possible outcomes of the top two bouts that there's an air of unexpectedness to what seems like a very straightforward Road to WrestleMania. What awaits us on Sunday night? Only time will tell.

John Cena vs. Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

The addition of Seth Rollins to the Royal Rumble world-title match has taken it from a mindless retread to a compelling proposition. It's time that The Architect had a shot at the gold, and there's a good chance he could be successful on Sunday.

It would seem strange for Brock Lesnar's title reign to come to an end so close to WrestleMania, but considering he doesn't need to be pinned to lose the belt—not to mention the fact that Rollins has an extra try if he needs it, thanks to his Money in the Bank briefcase—there are a myriad of ways for this bout to turn out.

Credit: WWE.com

This will certainly improve the quality of the match, giving every near-fall an extra bit of tension with the status quo unsettled. Lesnar vs. Cena in a singles match seemed redundant after SummerSlam and Night of Champions. This triple threat is much livelier.

It's also a prime opportunity for WWE to shuffle the deck ahead of WrestleMania. Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar has seemed likely for months now. A last-minute title change throws that out the window, making the Royal Rumble and the Road to WrestleMania all the more exciting.

Credit: WWE.com

Lesnar still seems to be the likely winner, but WWE has done a fine job in recent weeks of establishing each man as a credible victor. The champion is a beast and needs little help, while Cena is rarely far from the title picture. However, Rollins' sneakiness and the support of The Authority is hard to look beyond.

Whoever the winner is, they're is unlikely to leave WrestleMania with the title. Because of that, the winner of this match likely depends on who is set to win the Royal Rumble—and for that reason, we'll likely see it take its rightful place as the last match on the card, despite the strong build to this big title fight.

The Royal Rumble

If the three competitors in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship bout make for an unpredictable outcome, then you can be sure that the thirty entrants in the Royal Rumble make the battle royal a very uncertain proposition.

Of course, not every entrant has an even chance of winning. There's a small number of people who could feasibly come out on top—but that still leaves a myriad of possibilities for how the all-important title match at WrestleMania could play out.

Credit: WWE.com

Common opinion is that we'll see Lesnar retain his title, and either Daniel Bryan or Roman Reigns will win the Royal Rumble and earn the chance to face him. However, it isn't difficult to imagine different situations that could easily come together from Sunday onward.

For instance, what if Daniel Bryan does win the Royal Rumble but Cena claims the title, setting up a rematch from their excellent encounter at SummerSlam 2013? Alternatively, Dolph Ziggler could surprise everyone and face Lesnar. Who wouldn't want to see Ziggler's theatrics in a match with The Beast?

Things could get even more complex. Say Rollins loses in the title match, but cashes in his Money in the Bank contract afterward to claim the title, then Reigns wins the Royal Rumble. There's a Shield reunion in the year's biggest main event—and plenty of opportunity for Dean Ambrose to join the party if the Fast Lane pay-per-view on the Road to WrestleMania lives up to its name.

Credit: WWE.com

WrestleMania 30 was one of the best pay-per-views in recent years, and part of its appeal was the unpredictability leading up to it. WWE is well aware of that. That's why there are so many moving parts in this year's Royal Rumble. All these possibilities can shroud whatever plans are on the table.

What's more, it allows WWE to call an audible and scrap whatever plans may have been in place for WrestleMania 31 for the best available option right now. There are plenty of exciting prospects on the table, but we'll have to wait until Sunday night to find out what lies ahead on the Road to WrestleMania.

What are your expectations for the main event of WrestleMania? What's your dream scenario at the Royal Rumble? Let us know in the comments section below.