WWE Royal Rumble 2016 Card: Odds and Final Predictions for Event
On Sunday night, World Wrestling Entertainment will officially embark on its road to WrestleMania when it presents the Royal Rumble, live from Orlando, Florida.
The company's world heavyweight championship will be on the line, as Roman Reigns defends against 29 other Superstars who not only look to achieve their dreams of holding the top prize in sports entertainment but also, in the process, endear themselves to the McMahon family.
Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens will look to bring to an end their bitter rivalry over the intercontinental championship when they battle in a Last Man Standing match.
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Becky Lynch and Charlotte have seen their friendship crumble over the last few weeks, the result of the latter's greed and determination to hold onto her WWE Divas Championship, not to mention the input of her father, Ric Flair. Sunday night, they compete for Charlotte's title.
The WWE Tag Team Championships will be on the line, as The New Day defends against The Usos, and Alberto Del Rio will defend the WWE United States Championship against Kalisto in what will be the rubber match of their month-long rivalry.
The card is strong and will shape the course the company takes as it plans WrestleMania, a show expected to draw 100,000 fans to Dallas' AT&T Stadium. With mere hours until the kickoff of WWE's pay-per-view, prepare yourself with these final predictions for the night's biggest bouts and buzz-worthy moments.
But first, the latest odds for Sunday's marquee bouts, courtesy of our friends at Odds Shark:
| Triple H | -105 |
| Roman Reigns | +175 |
| Brock Lesnar | +240 |
| Bray Wyatt | +350 |
| Adam Rose | +15000 |
| Fernando | +15000 |
| Stone Cold Steve Austin | +20000 |
| El Torito | +25000 |
WWE United States Championship Match: Kalisto vs. Alberto Del Rio
WWE had its chance to make Kalisto a star after his championship victory that no one saw coming. Instead of building on the momentum he had coming out of that win, it booked the masked luchador to drop the title right back to Del Rio 24 hours later at the SmackDown tapings, effectively killing his heat.
Del Rio has long had the support of management, his heritage and look key elements to his sustained push. With WWE renewing its efforts to build The League of Nations into a formidable faction, be it in the midcard or main event, the emphasis will be on putting one of its most significant members over.
With Kalisto's aura damaged for the time being, expect a successful title defense from Del Rio.
Prediction: Alberto Del Rio
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos vs. The New Day
Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E have evolved into one of the most entertaining acts in all of professional wrestling, thanks in large part to their willingness to look like fools for the sake of connecting with the audience. Whereas some may look at them as a comedy act of sorts, they have been booked consistently as a serious team, capable of beating any and all competition placed before them.
The Usos, always an elite team, have struggled to regain the heat they enjoyed prior to Jey's shoulder injury last year. Since returning, the electricity that once existed when they stepped inside the squared circle has disappeared.
A lack of character development and storytelling has left The Usos as just another tag team on a roster full of them.
While WWE will be tempted to switch the titles, just for the sake of doing so, it must take a look at the roster of teams it has available to them and recognize what outcome fits best.
In this writer's opinion, The New Day gets the nod in that respect.
Prediction: The New Day
Divas Championship Match: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte
The best story on WWE programming heading into Sunday's show has centered around the fractured friendship of Divas champion Charlotte and Becky Lynch. They were once the greatest of friends, leading a Divas Revolution on Raw and SmackDown, but the influence Ric Flair had on his champion daughter has driven a wedge between the women that is, as of now, irreparable.
Lynch has developed into the most sympathetic babyface in the Divas division. She has been the most consistently booked star on the women's roster over the last two months, and as a result, her star has risen significantly in that span.
Charlotte has found her footing as a heel, the privileged and spoiled daughter of greatness. Her determination to hold onto the Divas title has driven her down a darker path, and Sunday, she will do whatever it takes to keep the championship around her waist.
The story has been expertly built in ways no other on WWE programming has, but it feels far too early to wrap it up. Thus, a screwy finish that propels the story forward is expected.
Prediction: Becky Lynch by disqualification
Last Man Standing Match for the Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose vs. Kevin Owens
The rivalry between Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens dates back to the Survivor Series, where Ambrose ended his nemesis' quest to become WWE champion in the semifinals of a grand tournament. One month later, he ended Owens' run as IC champ, courtesy of his Dirty Deeds finisher.
Now, after breaking tables, brawling around the squared circle and abusing The Miz, the two Superstars will clash in one of WWE's premier specialty bouts. The Last Man Standing match, in most cases, guarantees a winner. There are no disqualifications or countouts to hide behind, necessitating decisive booking from WWE Creative.
Expect to see that Sunday night as Ambrose and Owens settle their differences once and for all.
Owens figures to play a major role in WWE's WrestleMania plans, thus having him anchored in the midcard, its IC champion, would be illogical.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose
Royal Rumble Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
The story of Sunday's main event begins and ends with current WWE titleholder Roman Reigns. After a year spent trying to gain the support of fans as he chased the top prize in the sport, he finally achieved it, defeating Sheamus and standing above all others, the top dog in the industry.
But he did so at the expense of the McMahon family, who wanted desperately to keep him away from the gold, displeased with his reluctance to align himself with The Authority.
On his quest to greatness, he also earned the scorn of Bray Wyatt, Brock Lesnar, Sheamus and The League of Nations, all of whom will be involved in the Rumble match, determined to wrest not only victory from their rival but also the one title that ensures greatness.
With so many potential surprises in store for fans, the one Superstar that bears watching is Triple H, who fans last saw enduring a vicious assault at the hands of Reigns back at the TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view in December.
With his family so hellbent on guaranteeing that Reigns does not leave with his title, do not be surprised to see the COO and Cerebral Assassin take matters into his own hands.
Prediction: Triple H wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
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