First of all, I notice John Morrison and Drew McIntyre haven't been announced as participants in the Royal Rumble. Seeing as there has only been 5 matches made for the PPV I imagine we might get an Intercontinental Title match added last minute. If that happens, Drew McIntyre to retain. If not, oh well, the undercard matches must be getting 20-30 minutes each.
Michelle McCool versus Mickie James for the Woman's Title is an intriguing one. I am probably most looking forward to this out of all the undercard matches, as weird as that may seem. I seem to hold McCool in higher regard than most, because I do think she is a more than competent worker, so I think this match will end up being quite good. The storyline going into this, despite the criticism it is getting from other wrestling sites, is probably the best storyline WWE has going. However, that could quickly change depending on the result. I think Mickie James HAS to win this match. She has been bullied by the heels, she's been embarrassed, etc, she has to go into this PPV and give McCool her comeuppance and win the title. It simply does not work any other way, the good guy has to triumph. If not, and if McCool retains, WWE has made a huge mistake. If she wins WWE is essentially telling their young female viewership that fat is bad and you must look like skelator to succeed. Don't do that WWE, please.
My Prediction: Mickie James
The ECW Title Match, Christian versus Ezekiel Jackson will be a match I watch closely, because I really don't know what to think of Ezekiel. I think, so far, he plays his part as the big intimidating guy who also has some unseen intelligence really well, but I've thought that since he was paired with Brian Kendrick. My only indication since has been he doesn't completely suck in the ring, but he has never really had the chance to show how good he is or isn't. This makes things hard to predict quality-wise, but I am fairly confident in Christian's ability to get a good match out of almost everyone. That in mind, I think this will be a passable match at the least, and a good match at best. As for the winner, I would really be getting Christian ready to move on to RAW or Smackdown (preferably Smackdown) soon, so I think a Jackson win will work here. Regardless of the result though, I imagine they'll have a rematch at Elimination Chamber, and Jackson will win that to either retain or win the title.
My Prediction: Ezekiel Jackson
Sheamus versus Randy Orton for the WWE Title is a match I am indifferent about. Sheamus, for me, is the worst booked champion in a long time, even worse than Rey Mysterio. He gets so little TV time that it isn't even funny. This makes me think he is just a transitional champion and we will see him drop it to Orton. But, he is sort of protected by the idea that if Triple H wins the Rumble he will want to face Sheamus at Mania, but if that was the case then WHY has he been booked so badly? Make an effort if you want him in your WrestleMania main event.
My Prediction: Randy Orton
Now, I have absolutely no interest in Undertaker versus Rey Mysterio for the World Title. It might be because it has happened already for free on TV. There is a chance Mysterio will win, but if he does the only one he could face at Mania would be Batista. That is just playing Devil's Advocate to myself though, because I am pretty confident Undertaker will win.
My Prediction: The Undertaker
Finally, the Royal Rumble Match. For this, I'm not going to give a straight prediction, because the more I think the more I change my mind. I normally enter a few prediction contests for PPVs, and each one I've predicted a different winner. I mentioned earlier the five guys who could realistically win, and here is my fantasy-booker view at the five.
Batista winning: This will open the door to the likely WrestleMania matches of vs Rey Mysterio and vs The Undertaker, as well as possibly vs John Cena and vs Triple H. Batista is currently portraying the dominant monster, so I can see him coming in in the first half (10-15) and getting the most eliminations (six or seven). He is heel though, and as you can see there is not much to do. Him vs The Undertaker seems like a bit of a waste (though, they did put on a great match at WrestleMania 22), and Him vs Rey Mysterio has been done to death, so of the five I'd say he's the least likely.
John Cena winning: A win could put him against anyone. I and many others hope for vs Undertaker, there is also vs Randy Orton (I can hear groans from readers already), vs Batista, vs Sheamus, and vs Triple H (stop groaning). He is still a huge face as before, so he will always be WWE's go to guy for things like this if they have no one else, but he really doesn't have any programmes going on that makes him a clear winner. As much I'd love to see Him vs The Undertaker, I doubt they'd do it because of the amount of effort they've put into Michaels/Taker. Him vs Batista is the match I can see him having at Mania, but to make that match happen all he has to do is eliminate Batista. He is my fourth most likely to win.
Kofi Kingston winning: I REALLY REALLY want this to be the result. Him vs Randy Orton, to me, is the match that should be happening at Mania with Kingston going over as the next big superstar in WWE. The thing is, with how he has been booked in recent weeks, his momentum has completely died down, and that is WWE's fault only. He did beat Miz on the go-home RAW, which raises his chances somewhat, and I feel his win would still be hot, just not as hot as it should be. I can imagine him in the final four with Jericho, HHH and Michaels; Michaels and Trips battling on the apron, Kofi meanwhile eliminates Jericho out of nowhere (maybe takes the Codebreaker, falls back onto the ropes, ducks a Jericho clothesline and tosses Jericho out), Michaels hits the SCM on Triple H to eliminate him, turns around into the Trouble In Paradise and Kofi wins. He is my third most likely to win.
Triple H winning: Okay, this is going to sound really smarkish. This allows for vs Sheamus mainly, but with vs John Cena, vs Batista and vs Orton. Only one of them is fresh, two have been done to death, and one would be a perfectly reasonable main event for Mania. Him vs Sheamus really shouldn't be happening because of how bad they've booked Sheamus. On top of all this, HHH hasn't had a very good year, and has no reason to win. Yet, he is my second most likely to win, because he is Triple H and he has, to me, presented as most likely to win on WWE TV by looking dominant lately.
Shawn Michaels winning: This is all about vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania. 'Nuff said really. He is my most likely to win, but I'm not too confident of him winning because he can easily win an Elimination Chamber match and still get the match against The Undertaker at Mania, and another month of Michaels being angry and trying to get the match would be GREAT TV. I'd rather he did do it at Elimination Chamber, to be honest. Regardless of winning or not, I think his story is the most important going into the Rumble, so I can see him coming in early (4-6) and lasting till the end, staying in the longest.
So, to summarise, here are a few lists:
Most Likely:
1. Michaels
2. HHH
3. Kingston
4. Cena
5. Batista
Preffered:
1. Kingston
2. Cena
3. Michaels
4. Batista
5. HHH
Better Mania-wise:
1. Kingston
2. Michaels
3. Cena
4. HHH
5. Batista
Better TV-wise:
1. Cena
2. Kingston
3. Michaels
4. HHH
5. Batista
Most Eliminations: Batista
Earliest Entry: Michaels
Latest Entry: HHH
Longest Time In Match: Michaels
Other Guys To Watch For: Chris Jericho, Big Show, CM Punk, Kane, Ted DiBiase, Cody Rhodes, The Miz, Yoshi Tatsu.
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