WWE Royal Rumble 2016: Odds, Top Themes Established in Build to Event

The Royal Rumble is almost here!

WWE is hosting the event, which will end with the Royal Rumble match, this Sunday, January 24, in Orlando, Florida. Roman Reigns will defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the match along with those featured at the event: Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho and The Wyatt Family.

Other bouts will include more titles on the line. Dean Ambrose will defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match. The Usos will get their WWE Tag Team Championship shot against The New Day. Charlotte and Becky Lynch will square off for the WWE Divas Championship. Lastly, Alberto Del Rio and Kalisto will do battle once more for the WWE United States Championship.

Here are the full odds for the top Royal Rumble matches, courtesy of Odds Shark:

Intercontinental Championship Match
United States Championship Match
Royal Rumble Winner
Dean Ambrose	5-7
Kevin Owens	1-1
Alberto Del Rio	1-4
Kalisto	5-2
Triple H	23-20
Roman Reigns	9-5
Brock Lesnar	3-1
Bray Wyatt	15-1
The Rock	16-1

Royal Rumble events spur the road to WrestleMania, but this event is more personal than past bouts. The stakes are high with opportunity on the rise. However, personal feelings make this Sunday a must-see.

WWE has become unstable. The richest prize is on the line, and 29 other WWE Superstars are gunning for Reigns. It's clear WWE Creative established three main themes for this event, which ironically enough were all initiated long before this Royal Rumble.

Chaos represents the first theme. A dangerous environment has been created due to the frenzied atmosphere surrounding and affecting every WWE Superstar.

Ambrose and Owens want to tear each other's heads off. Lynch is at her breaking point with Charlotte. Let's not forget Lesnar, who can single-handedly go through any WWE Superstar on the card.

If that wasn't enough, we have The Wyatt Family decimating Reigns and Lesnar at the end of the January 18 episode of Raw—all in the name of glory.

Glory is our second theme. We witness WWE's best contenders chasing the gold in their respective divisions.

The Usos get a chance to become tag team champions again. Can they get their titles back from The New Day?

The Royal Rumble is full of champion hopefuls. Some want to regain their glory days and hold the coveted WWE title once more, such as Lesnar, Chris Jericho and Sheamus. Others want to hold that title for the first time. Out of those hopefuls, Bray Wyatt seems the most likely.

Wyatt managed to put down Lesnar and Reigns with the help of his family. He hasn't been this close to the title in his career. Wyatt is determined to become champion by any means necessary and won't let this opportunity slip through his fingertips.

But what caused Wyatt to go after Reigns in the first place? What events led to Reigns getting the deck stacked against him?

It goes back to TLC, where Reigns lost to Sheamus thanks to The League of Nations. Reigns took his anger out on Triple H, which led Vince McMahon to grant Reigns a title shot. Reigns accepted and became the current champion.

McMahon didn't want that and tried to cost Reigns at every opportunity. He failed, until he announced that Reigns would defend his title in the Royal Rumble match.

This isn't a fair shot for Reigns. This decision was solely based on vengeance.

Revenge is our last theme for this event. It's not just the McMahon family seeking retribution. It extends throughout the entire card.

Owens wants payback on Ambrose for taking his once-coveted intercontinental title. Lynch wants vengeance for the way Charlotte treated her over the last few days of their friendship. Kalisto wants his title back from Del Rio after briefly holding it.

To make matters worse, expect to see vengeance in the Royal Rumble bout as well.

Sheamus wants his title back again, and he'll do whatever it takes to get it back from Reigns.

Vengeance's path of rage began long ago with Lesnar.

He lost his WWE title to Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 31, with Rollins pinning Reigns. Lesnar hasn't gotten a fair shot since, with obstacles in his way.

In other words, The Beast is angry. Nothing stands in his way now. Lesnar will be unleashed in a match he already won in 2003. Heaven help the 29 other WWE Superstars, for hell hath no fury like The Beast in Lesnar.

The Royal Rumble event was always about glory, but frankly, vengeance has now led to the WWE's current chaotic stage. How it all plays out won't leave events completely resolved.

One way or another, the Royal Rumble will end with at least a few achieving their goals. What happens next will surely shake the foundation of WWE toward the road to WrestleMania 32.