The Royal Rumble is nearly upon us. For the WWE Universe, it is one of the most exciting times in pro wrestling due to the uncertainty and surprises of the event and for the official beginning of the journey known as The Road to WrestleMania.
Typically the biggest and best feuds of the year start from the Royal Rumble and continue through to the biggest event in sports entertainment.
Over the past 20 years in the Royal Rumble match, we have had some interesting pairings for the #1 and #2 entrants. In 2011 (CM Punk & Daniel Bryan) and 2014 (CM Punk & Seth Rollins), the Rumble started off with independent wrestling legends.
In 2013, Dolph Ziggler was the #1 entrant and rival Chris Jericho made a surprise return at #2 to re-ignite a heated rivalry.
In 2008, a legendary feud was born with Undertaker and Shawn Michaels were the first two entrants. There was history made in 2006 when Rey Mysterio and Triple H were #1 and #2, as they were the final two in the match and both lasted over an hour.
Finally, who can forget 1999 when the Rumble match started with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon as the first two entrants, a Rumble that was improbably won by Mr. McMahon himself.
This article will cover five intriguing match-ups that are possible for the #1 and #2 entrants to the 2017 Royal Rumble match. They include legends, debuts, returns, and heated rivalries.
Continue on to see who would make a great start to the Royal Rumble match!
#5 Samoa Joe & The Undertaker
According to many news sources, it seems all but a given that Samoa Joe is going to be in the Royal Rumble. He lost the title back to Shinsuke Nakamura in Tokyo and has not been seen in the latest tapings for NXT.
Whether he shows up next week or not until the Rumble will remain to be seen.
Also read: Royal Rumble 2017: 5 Dream entrants we would love to see
How amazing would it be for Samoa Joe to make his debut at #1 and his first taste of the main roster comes in the form of the Deadman at #2? The Undertaker is entering the Royal Rumble match with hopes of winning it ten years after he won it for the first time in 2007.
#4 Triple H & Seth Rollins
We all know that there is no love lost between Seth Rollins and Triple H after Hunter screwed Rollins over to handpick Kevin Owens as the next WWE Universal Champion once Finn Balor went down with an injury.
It’s all but certain that Rollins and Triple H will clash at WrestleMania, but there might be a skirmish before that.
We know that Monday Night Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon has a huge dislike for Seth Rollins as well. It would make complete sense for her to keep Rollins as far away from winning the Rumble as possible making him the #1 entrant.
She further cements her insurance plan by putting her husband in at #2.
#3 Brock Lesnar & Braun Strowman
The last edition of Monday Night Raw saw some fireworks right off the bat with many of the competitors in the Royal Rumble. One of the most interesting moments of Monday’s open was the standoff between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman, but unfortunately, there was no physicality.
Judging by the reaction of the crowd from last Monday, the WWE Universe wanted to see Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman go at it. Imagine if they are the first two entrants of the Royal Rumble.
It would be an explosive start to the match, and you’d have to feel sorry for the #3 entrant.
#2 Finn Balor & The Undertaker
It is to be expected that Finn Balor will be back in time for WrestleMania, but the Demon has given us hints that he could be ready to go and be a surprise entrant at the Royal Rumble next week.
We do know that the Undertaker will be in the match as he tries to repeat history from 2007 and win his second Royal Rumble match.
The Demon and the Deadman are two entities that the pro wrestling world should see clash before Undertaker decides to hang it up for good. It could headline any pay per view on the calendar, but the seeds could be planted by having these guys start the Royal Rumble match.
#1 Goldberg & Brock Lesnar
Goldberg made a triumphant return to the squared circle at Survivor Series by shocking the WWE Universe with his defeat of Brock Lesnar in under a minute and a half.
It had been 12 years since Goldberg had last competed. After the match, he let the WWE Universe know his intentions to keep going by trying to win the Royal Rumble.
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman have made it well known that this defeat is not sitting well with them. They responded to Goldberg’s entry with Lesnar’s entry in the Rumble as well.
Imagine the fight that would take place at the start of the Royal Rumble if they were the first two entrants.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
