WWE Royal Rumble 2016: Superstars Who Deserve Biggest Push Leading Up to PPV

WWE Royal Rumble 2016, the first pay-per-view of the new year, will decide which WWE Superstar will headline WrestleMania 32. 

The event will also lay the groundwork for the remainder of the roster, setting off new feuds, advancing storylines and pushing Superstars who will do big things for the rest of 2016. 

At last year's event, not only did Roman Reigns position himself for a huge push but Daniel Bryan was given the opportunity to once again step into the spotlight. That event propelled him into the main event at the following PPV, Fastlane, followed by a shot at the Intercontinental Championship, which he won at the Showcase of the Immortals.

So which WWE Superstars deserve the biggest push heading into January's Royal Rumble? 

Dean Ambrose

WWE has allowed the Intercontinental Championship, which should be the midcard's premier title, to be passed around like a hot potato in the recent past, diminishing its value and the importance of the wrestler holding it. 

As Ryan Dilbert wrote in his 10-Count column, lengthy title reigns allow Superstars to build momentum. If the Royal Rumble truly is the start of The Road to WrestleMania, WWE needs to let Ambrose look strong heading into WrestleMania 32. 

A rematch against Kevin Owens for the IC belt is likely at WWE Royal Rumble 2016, and if that's the case, then Ambrose needs to go over clean. A loss wouldn't diminish Owens' standing, especially if he's allowed to wreak havoc on Ambrose post-match. 

Ambrose should also be highlighted in the Rumble match, only to have Owens be the one to eliminate him. Allowing them to trade barbs but keeping the belt on Ambrose would go a long way toward establishing The Lunatic Fringe as a worthy champion. 

The New Day

Since winning the ladders match at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2015 early in December, Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods have been made to look like fools and not legitimate threats. WWE has used The New Day to build up both The Usos and The Lucha Dragons, understanding casual fans are clearly behind the two babyface tag teams.  

After a few strong weeks in which The New Day showed a darker, more ruthless side, WWE has put too much emphasis on comedic rhetoric and interference wins. Heading into the Royal Rumble and beyond, The New Day needs to be built as a threatening presence in the tag team division. 

Allowing the group to use its Slammy Awards snub as motivation would be a good start. Having The New Day win clean in its matches would be another step in the right direction. 

The New Day is fun, energetic and, most of all, entertaining. But Kofi, Big E and Xavier are also heels. They need to balance their humor with anger to make their act believable. That way, when they are relieved of those tag team belts by The Usos, The Lucha Dragons or another team, it will give the new champions credence. 

Rusev

It's hard to believe that just a year ago Rusev was the monster of the main roster, barreling through everyone who stood in his way. 

Today, he's a sideshow in Sheamus' League of Nations, eating spears and looking lost in most group situations. He is seemingly stuck between that storyline and his real-life-turned-kayfabe engagement to Lana, which is hurting him.

With a mini-feud against Ryback hopefully behind him, Rusev needs to become a monster again. At last year's Royal Rumble, he was the final competitor standing in the way of Roman Reigns. This year, he needs to once again be shown as a force. A deep run in the Rumble match would put Rusev back on the map.

Allowing him multiple eliminations from an early position would be best for his character. Having three or four Superstars take him down would not only be a show of dominance, but it would also show the roster fears him. 

Continuing that story along the Road to WrestleMania would position Rusev to battle for a midcard title—perhaps once again challenging for the United States Championship he once held for nearly five months in dominating fashion.

Charlotte

Finally, WWE needs to turn its attention to the floundering Divas division and its champion, Charlotte. The heel turn that has been teased too often needs to become final, firmly establishing her character and allowing for new feuds to develop.

The failure of the Divas Revolution has been chronicled numerous times on Bleacher Report. A key issue has been the willingness of WWE Creative to flip-flop women in the division between face and heel characters. It's tough to root for The Bella Twins the week after fans cheered against them. 

WWE is heading down the same path with Charlotte. Instead of continuing with that script and having the WWE Universe sour on her, WWE should turn her into a full-time heel, undermining old friend Becky Lynch and going on her own with father-turned-manager Ric Flair in the background. 

And speaking of The Nature Boy, he should be in the background moving forward. WWE has let the 16-time champion take far too much screen time from his talented daughter. Charlotte needs to be the one to get the heat, not Ric. The occasional special appearance is fine; having him involved in matches and being Charlotte's advocate is going too far.