WWE Royal Rumble 2016 Matches: Best Finishes for Each Match on the Card

The success of any match can be traced to its finish. The last thing fans see, it wraps up the story told throughout in either grand or disappointing fashion. If the latter, the contest can very well be seen as a failure; its body ruined by its final few moments. 

If the former, though, a pedestrian match can be elevated to greatness.

The importance of a finish is increased exponentially as WrestleMania approaches. Every match on the road to the biggest event of the year is significant. Each finish determines the overall effectiveness of the storytelling being spun out every Monday and Thursday by WWE Creative. A failure during the weeks preceding the Showcase of the Immortals can derail an entire program.

Sunday night, the long, winding road to 'Mania kicks off with the Royal Rumble pay-per-view and a main event pitting WWE world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns against 29 other Superstars with his title on the line in the annual 30-man extravaganza.

Fans have rejected the Rumble match two years in a row, dismayed by booking decisions and lazy creative direction. Not only does WWE's crack writing staff have before it a situation where it absolutely must hit the ball out of the park with a strong finish to satisfy the audience, but it has to do so to prevent backlash one more time.

And then there are the undercard matches featuring stars figuring to play key roles at WrestleMania. The finishes of their matches will determine whether or not their heat and credibility is preserved.

With all eyes on the biggest sports-entertainment empire in the industry this Sunday night, here are the finishes that best suit the stories, rivalries and matches that will unfold live on the WWE Network.

Credit: WWE.com

United States Championship Match: Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio

In an ideal world, Kalisto would be the U.S. champion heading into this match, where he would continue his winning ways with a second, more convincing win over Alberto Del Rio.

As it is, though, Del Rio is once again champion, largely due to the infatuation that WWE Creative seemingly has with the second-generation star. The insistence in pushing the Mexican-born star will prove the difference, leading to a successful title defense for the former Rumble winner.

An ending that sees the current titleholder finish off his gutsy, resilient challenger with his trademark sidekick to the head would be a fine way to put him over decisively and, in the process, give him a bit of momentum heading into the Rumble match, where he figures to enjoy a strong showing.

Credit: WWE.com

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos vs. The New Day

There has been zero character development whatsoever for The Usos since they rose to prominence in 2014. The result is an incredibly stale act that, though reliably over, is lacking the spark that would lead to a tag team renaissance.

Meanwhile, The New Day continues to be one of the few bright spots during the otherwise creatively bankrupt last six months. Sacrificing their heat to put over two guys who will not benefit from capturing the titles again would be a monumental mistake—the result of booking a switch for the sake of a switch.

The best finish sees Xavier Woods introduce a new trombone to the match, providing a distraction that allows Big E to take advantage and deliver the Big Ending for the pinfall victory, ensuring continued awesomeness for fans everywhere.

Credit: WWE.com

Divas Championship Match: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte

The most interesting match on the entire Royal Rumble card may very well be the Divas title match between Becky Lynch and Charlotte. Once close friends who navigated the choppy waters of the women's division main roster by each other's side, they have become enemies, the result of Ric Flair guiding his daughter down a path of ego, deceit and betrayal.

After being screwed out of her championship dreams on countless occasions, Lynch goaded The Nature Boy into accepting a match on Charlotte's behalf, leading to Sunday's bout.

The obvious eventual outcome is Lynch scoring the win and capturing the title. Rather than dragging the program out longer and allowing it to become stale or, worse, jump the proverbial shark, the best finish calls for Lynch to trap Charlotte in the Disarmer and score the submission win, perhaps creating a schism between father and daughter in the process.

Credit: WWE.com

Last Man Standing for the WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens

The most wild and chaotic of Sunday's matches is not the Royal Rumble itself, but rather the Last Man Standing match between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens that should spell the end of their rivalry over the intercontinental title.

Having unleashed hell on each other for the last month, they will settle their differences in one of the most dangerous matches known to the WWE Universe.

The match type allows for one of the Superstars to lose without losing their heat. When taking that into consideration, Sunday should see Ambrose successfully retain his title following a huge spot. A Dirty Deeds through a table that results in Ambrose making it to his feet just a second before the 10 count would work, even if it is a direct ripoff of the Chris Jericho-Triple H classic from 2000.

Credit: WWE.com

2016 Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

It is "One Versus All" as Roman Reigns becomes the first Superstar ever to defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the Royal Rumble match. With so many Superstars gunning for his title, it should be the one man not officially entered in the contest that leads to his dethronement.

Triple H suffered a brutal beating at the hands of the lead babyface in WWE's morality play, and it would only make sense if he returned Sunday night and prevented his latest rival from retaining his title. Not by entering the match, though. That would be illogical given the power he yields to book himself a title bout whenever he pleases without going through the trouble of outlasting 29 other Superstars.

No, Triple H should have a direct hand in eliminating Reigns, opening up Brock Lesnar to regain the title he never lost fairly last April. Thus, the WrestleMania card has a heated grudge match between Reigns and Triple H, as well as a title defense by Lesnar as a double main event, making up for the losses of John Cena, Seth Rollins and Randy Orton.