WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Match Card and Bold Predictions for PPV

It's strange to think about how much the Royal Rumble has changed over the past 30 years. For example, the idea of surprise entrants used to be a foreign concept. Once upon a time, Vince McMahon announced all of the Rumble participants at the top of the show or on WWE Superstars the day before the show. Today, surprise entrants are a focal point. WWE seems more preoccupied in recent years with creating memorable moments than building memorable narratives.

But, hopefully, the 2018 Rumble will be different. The roster is massive, and with only 30 spots available, this Rumble could have very little filler and a whole lot of plot. Here's the updated match card for the 2018 Royal Rumble—which will air Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 7pm ET on the WWE Network—along with some bold predictions for the key matches.

Updated Royal Rumble Match Card

Credit: WWE.com

2018 WWE Royal Rumble Match Card

• SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin (2-out-of-3-Falls Match)
• Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan vs. Cesaro & Sheamus
• WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn — 2-on-1 Handicap Match for the WWE Title
• Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane (Triple Threat Match)
• The first-ever 30-Woman Over-The-Top Royal Rumble Match
• The 2018 30-Man Over-The-Top Royal Rumble Match

The Undertaker Will Get Involved in the Rumble

Credit: WWE.com

This past Monday, on Raw's 25th anniversary show, the Undertaker made a brief, awkward appearance. He discussed the longevity of his career, hinted at retirement and ended by growling "Rest in peace" under his breath. He looked fantastic, but he didn't wrestle or attack anyone, disappointing fans who thought he would kick-start a WrestleMania feud.

Because his appearance was so truncated and unresolved, Undertaker might make an appearance in the 2018 Royal Rumble, either as an actual competitor or as a surprise cameo—the lights might go out, and he might appear in the center of the ring.

And whoever he attacks? Will be his opponent for WrestleMania 34.

It's looking more and more like his "retirement" at WrestleMania 33 was premature.

Asuka Won't Win the Royal Rumble

Credit: WWE.com

Asuka is the most feared woman in WWE. She's been undefeated ever since arriving in NXT. And at the anniversary show, she threw all of her teammates out of the ring after they won their match and stood alone, victorious.

But although she is the favorite to win the first women's Rumble, Asuka might instead fall short. One can imagine a scenario in which multiple women gang up on her to throw her over the top rope. And even if she ends the night in defeat, WWE can still plug her undefeated singles record on the main roster.

Brock Lesnar Will Lose the Universal Title

Credit: WWE.com

This is a fairly bold prediction. And perhaps this reflects what a good job WWE has done in building Braun Strowman up as a threat. But there is an outside chance that Strowman will walk out of the Royal Rumble as champion, probably by pinning Kane.

Think about it: He provides the same sort of monstrous destruction that Lesnar does, and he can provide that week in and week out. Lesnar only provides that when he deigns to show up.

Strowman has become the biggest antihero babyface on the roster in the past three months. This would be a perfect time to give him that extra push to the top.

And lastly, Roman Reigns will likely be in WrestleMania's main event. Who would be better as an opponent for Reigns? A man who has no personal beef with Reigns? Or a man who tipped over an ambulance with Reigns trapped inside?

Braun deserves to be world champion. And who knows? If Vince McMahon makes an impulsive, last minute decision, he just might be.