WWE Royal Rumble 2016: Superstars Who Deserve Lengthy Run in Battle Royal
Come WWE's Royal Rumble match on Sunday, January 24, it will be all about the numbers. In storyline, anyone has a chance of coming out on top and advancing to WrestleMania for a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship regardless of how long they last.
Traditionally, however, those who spend more time in the Rumble tend to do better and have a likelier chance of winning. The trend can be dated back to 1990, when Ted DiBiase lasted an impressive 45 minutes, though the Million Dollar Man didn't triumph on that occasion. Since then, many men have had similar showings and gone the distance to win the Rumble.
Ric Flair is perhaps the most famous case. In 1992, he was the No. 3 entrant and outlasted every other competitor to emerge victorious and become the new WWE champion.
The odds of the No. 1 entrant or the No. 2 entrant in this year's Rumble winning it all are slim to none, but stranger things have happened. Furthermore, a Superstar doesn't necessarily have to enter early in order to have a lengthy run in the annual Battle Royal.
Here we'll take a look at the combatants who deserve to go far in this year's installment and considered the iron men of the contest.
Roman Reigns
1 of 5
For the past three years, Roman Reigns has been the standout Superstar at the Royal Rumble. From breaking the record number of eliminations in one Rumble match in 2014 to winning it in 2015, Reigns enters this year's installment as the defending WWE world heavyweight champion.
Needless to say, the odds aren't in his favor, as The Authority will go—and have gone—to great lengths to ensure Reigns doesn't walk out of Orlando with the title intact. His entry number is still unknown, but it's logical to assume he will enter no later than the first few spots.
Whether Reigns should win the Rumble for the second consecutive year is debatable to say the least, but there's no doubt he should have as strong of a showing as he has in years past. If he doesn't retain his title, he should at least come close to lasting until the end.
His performance in the 2014 Rumble might have been merely a sneak peek of what fans can expect from him in this year's event. True to his catchphrase, "one versus all," he will look to plow through all comers if it means cementing his spot in the main event of WrestleMania 32 as champion.
Here's hoping that if he lasts longer than most participants in this year's Battle Royal, he won't be booed out of the building like last year.
Dean Ambrose
2 of 5
Along with former Shield cohort Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose could be in for a prosperous 2016 if the past few weeks have been any indication. He already has the Intercontinental Championship around his waist, but nothing is stopping him from adding more gold to his collection.
Before he enters the 2016 Royal Rumble, however, he must first defend the prestigious prize against Kevin Owens earlier in the evening in a grueling Last Man Standing match. Regardless of whether he's in possession of the title by the end of the night, he will enter the Rumble at a distinct disadvantage.
It wouldn't be the first time a Superstar who has already competed in an earlier match at the January classic emerges victorious in the annual Battle Royal. Brock Lesnar accomplished the feat in 2003 and Ambrose could be the next Superstar to do so.
At any rate, Ambrose is poised for a breakout performance. Despite being haphazardly booked for the past six months or so, he's destined to be a main event-level performer sooner rather than later, and this would be the ultimate opportunity to solidify him as star.
Ambrose is among the roster's most resilient competitors and could thrive in the Royal Rumble match. Hopefully his elimination sets up something meaningful for him as we embark on the road to WrestleMania.
Kevin Owens
3 of 5
Dean Ambrose will be heading into the Royal Rumble as Intercontinental champion, but it could well be Kevin Owens who leaves Orlando with the title in tow. He's been determined to get the belt back in his possession for the past month, and he'll finally get his chance to contend for the gold at the first PPV of the year.
Similar to The Lunatic Fringe, he could be in action twice: in the Last Man Standing match and the Battle Royal itself. He, too, has seemingly staked his claim for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship shot, and the Rumble match will provide him with that golden opportunity.
There are plenty of potential opponents Owens could face at WrestleMania 32, with The Undertaker, Sami Zayn and even Brock Lesnar (a long shot) all coming to mind. For all we know, he could be earmarked for a world title push as soon as the Royal Rumble, making him the dark horse to win it all.
Regardless of whether his hand is raised twice (let alone once) by the end of the night, he deserves to dominate in the Rumble match. He's been on absolute tear in recent weeks, and it would befit his character to run through everyone who dares to step foot in his path of destruction during the bout.
The average viewer might assume Owens is incapable of contesting longer matches because of his unorthodox frame, but he has held his own in battles with John Cena and Roman Reigns before. Thus, a lengthy run in the Rumble is certainly within the realms of possibility.
Chris Jericho
4 of 5
Chris Jericho's participation in the 2016 Royal Rumble match came completely out of left field. He made his surprise return to Raw on the premier episode of 2016 and immediately announced himself as an entrant in the annual Battle Royal.
It will mark the first Rumble in whihc he will have competed since 2013, when he entered at No. 2 and lasted an astonishing 48 minutes. It was only after Dolph Ziggler hit him with a scintillating superkick that his Rumble run came to an abrupt halt.
Jericho has always been known to flourish in Royal Rumble matches, and this year looks set to be no different. That said, he is among the elite few legendary competitors to have never had the honor of winning a Rumble, but could this finally be his year?
The answer to that question remains to be seen, especially considering his plans for WrestleMania 32 are unknown. He could be headlining The Show of Shows with Roman Reigns—with whom he has history from September's Night of Champions pay-per-view—and have one last hurrah as WWE world heavyweight champion. Or he could be opening the event in a match against The Social Outcasts.
Either way, it's imperative he kicks off his road to WrestleMania with an impressive outing in the 2016 Royal Rumble, and what better way to make a statement than by avoiding elimination for the majority of the match?
The Wyatt Family
5 of 5
Several stables will be taking part in the 2016 Royal Rumble match, including League of Nations and The Social Outcasts. But no faction will be more of a threat than The Wyatt Family.
While Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar and potentially Triple H are the odds-on favorites to win this year's Rumble, The Wyatt Family shouldn't be counted out by any stretch. They have been riding a massive wave of momentum in recent weeks and have the numbers advantage over their adversaries in the annual Battle Royal.
Of course, dissension is always a possibility, especially with what's at stake, but it's far too soon to be splitting up The Wyatt Family. The event will be their time to shine, and they can re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with if they can remain a cohesive unit.
As we have seen in years past, factions tend to fare well in the Royal Rumble (see: The Nexus in 2011 and The Shield in 2014). The Wyatt Family can leave their own unique impact if they manage to last longer than most of the match's combatants—and they undoubtedly deserve to.
Based off how they've been booked in the last year alone (specifically Bray Wyatt), The Wyatt Family shouldn't be taken for granted but rather pushed prominently as a group of strange yet dominant misfits. Going the distance in the Rumble, similar to how Wyatt did in the 2015 installment, would virtually guarantee them a spot in the upper tier of the WrestleMania 32 card.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.
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