Fantasy Booking the WWE Royal Rumble 2016 Match

Opening Exchanges

As it usually does, the match will start in a fairly uninspiring fashion. The Miz and R-Truth had the ignominy of being Nos. 1 and 2 in the Rumble last year, and this year two more lower midcarders will get the honor.

No. 1 will be Curtis Axel, who will stroll down to the ring declaring that he still hasn't been eliminated from the 2015 Royal Rumble, and he wants the respect he deserves in this match. Given how the "Axelmania" storyline was received fairly well by fans last year, this should draw a decent pop from the crowd and continue an apparent babyface run for The Social Outcasts.

However, No. 2 will be Luke Harper, who will continue this mini-feud of The Social Outcasts vs. The Wyatt Family. They'll brawl until the next few entrants come in, padding out the number of men inside the ring before the match gets into full swing.

Surprise Entrants

It wouldn't be the Royal Rumble without some surprise inclusions, would it?

Although there's talk of a 30-man list consisting entirely of guys we all know and expect to appear, there will be swerves. Expect some lower midcarders to drop off the reckoning for the Rumble at the expense of some big draws.

As we're fantasy booking this match, we can be a little bit ambitious with our expectations, right? The first big surprise comes in the way of Finn Balor, who enters at No. 10. This draws an incredible pop from the WWE crowd in attendance, and with only Harper and Goldust in the match at this time, Balor makes no mistake in getting rid of those guys.

He then takes to the microphone, sits atop the turnbuckle and declares the No. 11 entry, none other than AJ Styles.

Naturally, the crowd go into meltdown. Styles' WWE debut comes in the most explosive and unpredictable match in WWE's calendar and hints at a potential Bullet Club faction making its way to WWE.

Sami Zayn also puts in an appearance as he continues his recovery from injury, and that has the crowd eagerly anticipating what's going to happen next.

The Business End

By the time we get to No. 15, big names like Kevin Owens and Roman Reigns are already in the match. They have the honor of going deep into the match to build their standing with fans and set things up for a quite explosive ending.

Owens takes care of guys like The New Day before Dean Ambrose enters at No. 20 and forms an alliance with Roman Reigns.

They and a couple of other face guys, probably The Usos, eventually eliminate Owens just as No. 28's music hits, and it's Brock Lesnar.

Owens is arguing with referees at ringside about his elimination until Lesnar shrugs him to one side to storm into the ring and lay siege to anyone who dares come near him.

This leaves Owens storming off to the back, staring Lesnar down, before the final six or seven men left in the match try to stake their claim towards winning the Rumble.

We're left with Reigns, Ambrose, Lesnar, Kalisto, Alberto Del Rio, Big E and Chris Jericho. Big E takes care of Jericho before Kalisto eliminates both Del Rio and Big E.

However, he's blindsided by Lesnar, who literally picks up one-half of The Lucha Dragons and hurls him over the top ropes. Though, it isn't before a memorable performance by Kalisto, who lights up the Rumble with some spectacular in-ring ability.

The Final Two Entrants

Time for No. 29 while Lesnar is being attacked by Reigns and Ambrose. Cue the next entrant, and Triple H's music hits. He's flanked by Stephanie McMahon and Vince McMahon, and the target is clearly to dismiss Reigns from the match.

With the help of a rush in by The League of Nations, Ambrose is cornered by Lesnar, and Reigns is thrown over the top rope, courtesy of a screwjob. That means we'll have a new champion, and it will be one of Triple H, Ambrose, Lesnar and the No. 30 entrant.

With Ambrose crumpled in a heap on the floor, Lesnar and Triple H stare each other down before a period of back-and-forth, which culminates in Triple H being eliminated by Lesnar. Incidentally, Reigns is still ringside waiting to avenge the screwjob elimination by The Authority and beats on Triple H to set up a feud between those two at WrestleMania.

Then, it's time for No. 30. The arena is plunged into darkness, and Bray Wyatt suddenly appears at ringside. It's Lesnar, Ambrose and Wyatt fighting for the right to be crowned WWE World Heavyweight champion.

Lesnar eventually manages to get on top of both men and looks set to throw them both over the top rope to win the title. Then, there's a big twist.

The Finale

Kevin Owens comes rushing out from nowhere, steel chair in hand. He clobbers Lesnar with it and sends him to the floor, but not without hitting him a few times.

That enables Wyatt to just about get Lesnar over the top rope after a real struggle and sets us up nicely for another WrestleMania feud: Kevin Owens vs. Brock Lesnar.

As for Ambrose and Wyatt, there's only one way the match can finish. It ends controversially, with Braun Strowman and the rest of The Wyatt Family coming out to beat down Ambrose.

Wyatt is given the opportunity to look strong on his own, though, as referees dismiss the family to the back.

The damage is done for the most part, and Wyatt eventually gets Dean over the top rope to become WWE World Heavyweight champion.

So from one Royal Rumble match, we've created three mouthwatering feuds for WrestleMania. You've got Triple H vs. Roman Reigns in a bitter grudge match, Kevin Owens vs. Brock Lesnar, and Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Incidentally, that event culminates with Dean becoming WWE World Heavyweight champion, just in time for the return of Seth Rollins.

Sound good?