Ranking Likely 2018 WWE Royal Rumble Winners After Raw 25

The 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw is in the books. Legends such as D-Generation X, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Undertaker recounted history while making their statements to the current generation. A new WWE intercontinental champion was crowned, and many stars fought just because they could.

Now all fans' attentions should turn to WWE Royal Rumble 2018 on Sunday, when two wrestlers will punch their ticket to WrestleMania with a guaranteed championship match. It is one of the biggest events of the year with two huge results coming that could change WWE.

The women's Rumble may be the harder match to predict if the outright favorite does not emerge with the victory; the winner will not only gain a championship match but forever be crowned as the first-ever female Royal Rumble winner. History will be made and could define one woman's career.

The men's Rumble has a few clear standouts among the pack with near certainty over who will be competing for the WWE Universal Championship. Still, SmackDown's field is wide open just as it was last year with no clear rumors pointing in any particular direction so far.

As both a special event and go-home show, Raw 25 gave fans a final hint of who could win the Rumbles though even those hints felt like mixed signals.

It is still not clear who will emerge victorious on Sunday, but certain stars do look more likely than the rest.

5. Sasha Banks

In 2016, Sasha Banks was the biggest female wrestler on the roster next to Charlotte Flair, with the two women breaking boundaries with their rivalry.

Many expected it to be the start of Banks taking over Raw, but her 2017 was much less impressive. She won her fourth women's championship from Alexa Bliss, but she again failed to successfully defend the title once before losing it.

2018 could be Banks' year as she is still a credible and extremely popular name, and she ended up taking the win on Raw 25, gaining the most momentum of any woman right before the Rumble. Her feud with Absolution has kept The Boss out of title contention, but she could easily sell one more match with Bliss.

It is even possible a win by Banks could lead to Bayley winning the championship from Bliss just in time to set up the match fans have long waited for at WrestleMania.

While it seems most likely Bliss is still the favorite to carry the title into the April 8 showpiece, WWE has often used the Road to WrestleMania to change the title.

With multiple more likely opponents for Bliss at the Showcase of the Immortals, Banks is low on the list, but it would not be a surprise to see her pull out the victory and etch her name in history.

4. Nia Jax

Credit: WWE.com

If WWE never had a women's Rumble, it's possible Nia Jax would have been the next woman to enter the men's Rumble, with her imposing 6'0" height and 240-pound stature making her a formidable opponent to anyone in the ring.

She is the latest impressive monster heel to take over the women's division, and she could end up as the greatest with time.

However, she has not had many chances to succeed so far. Presented as an indomitable force, she has not had the results to back it up yet. A win on Sunday would be the perfect opportunity to push Jax to the next level though being the strongest and most imposing performer in the Rumble has rarely led to success. Big Show's Rumble record easily proves that.

Jax vs. Bliss could work for 'Mania if Jax officially turned on the Raw women's champion though it is hard to believe WWE would choose this match over Bliss vs. Asuka for such an important event.

The stop-and-start rivalry between Jax and Bliss has been such a mess that it seems unlikely WWE would choose now to finally decide on a course of action for the pair.

The past month has thrown Jax into the spotlight more than before. Her dynamic with Enzo Amore and budding rivalry with Asuka indicate WWE has a plan for her. Whether that includes a Rumble victory will be determined on Sunday.

3. Becky Lynch

SmackDown Live's women's division likely will not win the Royal Rumble this year because the options for the brand are limited at best.

It is hard to point to who can face Charlotte at WrestleMania in a singles match that would match up against the multiple exciting possibilities for Raw. One woman stands out in the crowd as the likeliest candidate: Becky Lynch.

Lynch has long been seen as SmackDown's leading female talent, with Charlotte's late addition to the roster only adding more depth to the division rather than taking away from The Irish Lass Kicker's importance to the brand. Despite this, she has not even challenged for the SmackDown women's championship since WrestleMania 33.

Charlotte vs. Lynch is match that has been done before and been quite good in the past. However, the new dynamic of Charlotte as a face—allowing the two to be best friends on air—makes for a compelling new narrative that could lead to a dynamic shift for either woman. It is easily be the best match on paper for SmackDown right now.

However, Lynch's spotty record may just indicate she has no chance. She was also a favorite to win Money in the Bank in 2017, and she was passed over on that front.

It is hard to imagine who else on SmackDown even has a shot, but someone could sneak out of the pack.

2. Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey's debut with WWE is coming, and it would be fair to expect she will be treated as a big deal.

In just a few years in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), she became the most popular and recognizable female mixed martial artists in the world. She would already be a household name come the moment she debuted in WWE.

Is Rousey ready to take over WWE? No. She is only beginning her training, and she will likely only be around part-time given her movie career with the recent announcement from Variety of her attachment to Peter Berg's Mile 22. It is possible filming would make it hard, if not impossible, for her to even appear at WrestleMania this year.

Without firm details, though, a Rousey win still sounds like WWE's ideal outcome. This is the same company that has had Batista and Triple H win just after making returns to the ring.

A true star winning the Rumble builds excitement for WrestleMania more than anything, and no one would forget the women's event if Rousey won and immediately laid out a challenge to Charlotte.

The last time Rousey appeared on WWE programming was the Mae Young Classic to support runner-up Shayna Baszler, who will likely also be in the Rumble.

If WWE wanted to slowly build Rousey but also use her to give someone a rub, Baszler might play substitute, but it seems more likely her friend will be dominating NXT for a while.

1. Asuka

Credit: WWE.com

How do you not bet on a woman who has been undefeated since 2015 in WWE?

She already holds a clean victory over Alexa Bliss, and the Raw women's champion has regularly put over just how scared she is of facing the Japanese. This victory would not only solidify Asuka's dominance but set up a clash WWE has already been building since the end of 2017.

It is interesting to note the only "loss" on Asuka's resume is a battle royal in NXT where she was eliminated, so her undefeated streak would still be unspoiled by a loss in the Rumble. Still, it would make the streak even more impressive to add a Rumble victory. It would make it clear no one could match up to Asuka.

Bliss and Asuka have limited history so far, and they could have a match worthy of the Grandest Stage of Them All. It would be a welcome headline attraction for the division. In fact, it seems likely this match will happen regardless of whether The Empress of Tomorrow wins the Rumble or is cheated out of victory.

Everything so far has pointed to Asuka winning. It almost feels too obvious, but WWE has not shied away from the obvious in past years. Her legacy is only beginning to form, but she would quickly become legendary if she won on Sunday.

5. Randy Orton

Credit: WWE.com

Randy Orton's position this year is eerily similar to last year, just with a different tag team partner.

His alliance with Shinsuke Nakamura has felt unnecessary at best, but it has kept them both relevant without tying them to anyone ahead of 'Mania season. That formula got Orton a Rumble victory last year.

It is not unheard of for a wrestler to win back-to-back Rumble matches. Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin all have done it, though they were in their prime and at the peak of their popularity at that time. Orton may end up among those legends due to his success, but he has passed his peak popularity.

Even his win last year felt a bit late for the dominant performer. AJ Styles vs. Orton is a match that can work, but would fans accept it if Orton was booked to win a second Rumble in as many years? This would be the ultimate safe pick with a star who was not even considered a big enough part of the brand's history to book at Raw 25.

The Viper has two Rumble victories under his belt, and that feels like the right number to define his legacy with the company. A third would put him in rarefied air with Austin in a time when the roster is more packed than before, and he has become a secondary star on SmackDown.

Even though Styles vs. Orton could be great, it may not be the right time.

4. John Cena

It wouldn't be Royal Rumble season without all the talk surrounding what John Cena will do at WrestleMania.

Betting against Cena to win any match is a mistake, but a Rumble victory is looking less likely as hints begin to pile up that fans will finally get to see Cena vs. The Undertaker at the Showcase of the Immortals.

However, lingering questions remain if Taker can still compete after stumbling through his match last year at 'Mania. If The Deadman is deemed unfit for competition, that would leave Cena without an opponent for WrestleMania, and it would be easy to book him against Styles one more time.

These two have been stealing the show for the past two years, and this could be the final clash of their rivalry. With Styles now a face and the Cenation leader on a part-time schedule these days, it would be the perfect moment for Cena to put over Styles while having one of the greatest matches he has had on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

Raw 25 did not build up the idea Cena was a favorite in the Rumble, with the now part-time star putting over Elias massively. Taker's promo on the night was vague enough that it could have been directed at The Champ, but nothing is certain.

It is just best to assume Cena is always in the running.

3. Finn Balor

Finn Balor's direction in WWE has been tough to pin down since he returned to action in April.

While treated as one of Raw's top stars, his feuds have blurred together, and he has not had one shot at a championship even with his repeated insistence he wants an opportunity to regain the Universal Championship he never lost.

2018 began with Balor forming an alliance with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, which has led to repeated main event appearances on Raw. While this may not be sustainable, it could also be a sign The Extraordinary Man Who Can Do Extraordinary Things is on a path to gold this year.

This was only further emphasized by Balor's appearance on Raw 25 where all the legends put Balor over as a big deal, basically passing on their legacy to him. It is no secret Triple H is a big fan of Balor while it is expected WWE chairman Vince McMahon is not. It will all be a matter of who gets his way with the Irishman's booking.

If Balor wins, he would likely not challenge Brock Lesnar. Instead, his pairing with two of Styles' best friends would be setting up a second clash between the two men.

While this might be hard to explain given Balor's insistence he wanted the Universal Championship back, Styles vs. Balor would be a money match for 'Mania.

2. Shinsuke Nakamura

Since his initial signing with the company, fans have expected Nakamura to take over WWE. He did become the top star in NXT from the moment he debuted, but his time on the main roster has been much less successful. It has felt like the Japanese superstar has been forgotten as of late.

He has been treated well enough—even booked to defeat Cena and Orton clean on SmackDown—but he has continually fallen short of sustained success with repeated losses on pay-per-view. It could be argued Nakamura should have won the WWE Championship in his feud with Jinder Mahal.

Now it feels like his Road to WrestleMania could decide how he is perceived by fans for years to come. One way to instantly make clear Nakamura is a headliner for WWE would be a victory in the Rumble to set up his long-awaited clash with Styles, a man he has already had great matches with outside of WWE.

Often, the Rumble winner has no real story coming into the event, so they can immediately start a feud with the world champion after winning.

While Nakamura has been involved with SmackDown's main event scene, he has mostly just been linked together with Orton to stay relevant. Now would be the perfect time for him to break out.

1. Roman Reigns

Credut: WWE.com

From rumors to the occasional hints in various stories on air, fans have seen enough signs to know almost for certain Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship is going to be the main event of WrestleMania 34. Therefore, he's the most straightforward and obvious bet to win the Rumble.

Three years ago, going into the Rumble, Lesnar was set to defend his world championship in a triple threat, while Reigns was the favorite to win the Rumble. It could be seen as poetic for WWE to repeat that story this year as the two head toward an even bigger match than they had at WrestleMania 31.

Many fans would not be happy with the result, putting over a star who does not need it, but that has not stopped the company in the past.

Reigns' victories have rarely been well-received, with his first Rumble victory a prime example. Hopefully, if The Big Dog does win, it will be better booked rather than once more feeling like a coronation.

Losing the Intercontinental Championship at Raw 25 may not build Reigns' momentum, but it does take away an obstacle.

Now he can focus directly on the world champion, and he often rebounds from big losses with huge wins. That is the mark of being one of WWE's top stars.