WWE Royal Rumble 2017: Match-by-match predictions for the show

by Vaughn Johnson

Published Jan. 29, 2017, 3:33 a.m. ET

It has been a long time since the Royal Rumble has felt this grand, but such is the case when it comes to this year's event, which is set for Sunday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

WWE has pulled out all of the stops to make sure the 30th annual Royal Rumble is a lot more memorable than the ones of recent years.

With that being the case, let's not waste anymore time and get right down to the predictions.

2017 Royal Rumble match

This is the most star-studded Royal Rumble field in recent memory with a plethora of names that could potentially win the match, which makes it more exciting heading in.

Although I could easily pick names like The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Braun Strowman, Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose, I'm going off the beaten path a little here.

Triple H said in a recent interview that the outcome of the match would be one that no one expects, which tells me none of the names I just mentioned will be the last man standing.

Part of me thinks that the winner will be someone that has not been announced and hopefully one of those unannounced names turns out to be former NXT champion Samoa Joe.

Joe hadn't appeared on NXT television for weeks until he was finally shown sitting in the front row at NXT Takeover: San Antonio Saturday night.

He has nothing left to prove in NXT and the next logical place for him to go is to the main roster. What better way to debut a star like Joe than in the Royal Rumble and have him win it all?

We have seen surprise entrants win the Royal Rumble before such as John Cena in 2008 and Edge in 2010, but we have never seen someone debut on the main roster by winning the match.

I think this would be a good time to break that pattern and create a new star in the process, and since Joe has not been officially assigned to either brand he could be a free agent that gets to choose which title he challenges for.

I know it may be a crazy prediction since he isn't technically in the match, but that's my pick.

Prediction: Samoa Joe WINS the Royal Rumble

WWE championship – AJ Styles (c) vs. John Cena

All signs point toward Cena finally beating Styles and claiming his record-tying 16th world title, but I don't think that's going to happen.

All of the signs pointing toward Cena winning is the reason why I believe Styles will find a way to defeat the 15-time champion yet again and hold on to his WWE championship.

Cena has been talking a lot of trash in recent weeks and even conveniently forgot the champ's name on the Today Show, which leads me to believe the Royal Rumble will be the time for Styles to prove himself worthy of being a top star … yet again.

Prediction: Styles RETAINS the WWE championship

WWE Universal championship – Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns

As much as it would upset a lot of fans, I just don't see a scenario where Owens holds on to the title, so I'm going with Reigns.

I'm fully aware that Chris Jericho being in a shark cage doesn't fully prevent him from having some type of affect on the match, but I think Reigns will overcome that and claim the Universal title.

Prediction: Reigns WINS the Universal championship

WWE Raw Women's championship – Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Bayley

The match should be good, but I don't see Charlotte losing the title just yet. I also don't see her flat-out beating Bayley, so I'm thinking that the champion will find some nefarious means to retain.

Prediction: Charlotte RETAINS the Raw Women's championship

WWE Cruiserweight championship – Rich Swann (c) vs. Neville

As much as I want to pick evil Neville, I think Swann will retain here.

Prediction: Swann RETAINS the Cruiserweight championship

Kickoff match – WWE Raw Tag Team championship – Sheamus (c) & Cesaro (c) vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows

After the "Dusty finish" from a couple of weeks ago, there will be two referees working this match.

I'm not sure why that is the case, but I'm going with Anderson and Gallows to finally win the titles regardless. The Club will finally reign supreme.

Prediction: Anderson & Gallows WINS the Raw Tag Team championship

Kickoff match – Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

Since Banks beat up Jax with a crutch on the latest episode of Raw, I'm going with Jax to win, but after a valiant fight from the former champion.

Prediction: Jax def. Banks

Kickoff match – Alexa Bliss, Mickie James & Natalya vs. Becky Lynch, Naomi & Nikki Bella

I don't think James loses her first match since rejoining the main roster, so I'm going with the bad gals.

Prediction: Bliss, James & Natalya def. Lynch, Naomi & Bella

Also, I would like to give a shoutout to @tholzerman on Twitter, who called that the 2018 Royal Rumble was going to be in Philadelphia way back in December.

if you want an exclusive to sit on, in addition to the RAW before Mania this year, the 2018 Royal Rumble is also gonna be in Philly
— Slutty TH Costume (@tholzerman) December 13, 2016

Vaughn Johnson

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