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The Christmas period is over and we’ve officially entered 2018, and that can mean only one thing – the road to WrestleMania 34 is almost upon us. With thousands upon thousands of wrestling fans entering the final stages of preparations for their trip to New Orleans, it only makes sense for us to shift our focus to the big kickstarter for the next few months: the Royal Rumble.
The Rumble has always been one of the most popular events on the WWE calendar and that’s not something that the company takes lightly because more often than not, the WWE Universe is treated to some enjoyable moments at the January showcase.
This year there are many possibilities as we count down towards the event in Philadelphia, with several superstars being in the running to win that golden ticket to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
With that being said, here are the five most interesting storylines heading into the Royal Rumble.
#5 Shane & Bryan
The majority of people will agree when we say that the storyline between Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan has been a bit off. While it’s certainly had some good moments, their constant interactions have meant that they’ve been hogging most of the spotlight on a weekly basis over on SmackDown Live.
Still, we’re gearing up for Mania season, and as we approach the Rumble we still can’t figure out whether or not it’ll be Shane or Daniel that eventually turns heel. Obviously, there’s no guarantee that one of them actually will go through with it, but let’s be honest with ourselves, it’d be a tiny bit ridiculous if they were both positioned as babyfaces for the remainder of this story.
#4 WWE Title Situation
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are the hottest act going on the blue brand right now, and that’s not exactly going to come as a surprise to most. Their interactions with the aforementioned Shane and Bryan have been solid over the last few months, and now, they’ve turned their attention towards trying to become WWE champion.
The handicap match stipulation that will see them take on AJ Styles at the end of the month is certainly an interesting one, and it draws comparisons to when Cena took on both Triple H & Shawn Michaels back in 2009. It doesn’t seem as if they’d break Owens and Zayn up so soon, but with Mania being just around the corner, just imagine how great a WWE title match between the two best friends would be.
#3 Women’s Rumble
You’ve been asking for it, and in just a few short weeks you’ll get it – the first ever women’s Royal Rumble match. It’s something that has been in the works ever since the start of the women’s revolution and to be honest, it seemed inevitable that it’d finally get the green light for 2018.
There are so many storylines heading into this one that we can’t wait to see how the whole thing unfolds, and while 30 entrants may seem a little bit excessive, the idea that the women are being given such a huge opportunity is extremely satisfying. This is arguably the biggest step forward that WWE has made when it comes to making the female superstars feel like they’re on an even playing field with the men.
#2 US Title’s Big Return
The United States Championship should be one of the most prestigious titles in all of professional wrestling, but at this stage, New Japan’s equivalent already feels like a bigger deal. The belt has been through a series of changes over the last few years, with the reigns of Rusev and John Cena feeling like an eternity ago.
Thankfully, the current US Championship Tournament appears to be injecting a certain sense of intrigue into the belt for the first time in a long time. With the likes of Roode, Woods, Ryder, Rawley and former WWE champion Jinder Mahal all still in the running, there’s a genuine sense of excitement as we move closer towards legitimising the belt once again.
#1 Surprise Entrants
If you don’t get excited about the possibility of surprise entrants in the Rumble, then you need to check your pulse. For decades now we have all sat and waited for big superstars to make their long-awaited return to a WWE ring, whether it be due to injury or just because they haven’t been competing for so long.
Things will be no different in 2018 and if anything, there’s, even more, room for potential than usual. With the independent scene being hotter than ever there are a variety of names that could make their presence known at the Rumble, and in addition to that, just think about how many iconic female superstars will be popping up for the first time in god knows how long.
One thing is for sure, you’re not going to want to miss a minute of action this year.
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