[Cactus Jack]

My favorite PPV of the year is nearing. Saturday Night's Main Event should be one of the last big shows before the go-home in terms of lead-in.

Any predictions on the winner, strong showings, or even surprise entrants?

I'm thinking that Punk would have had to have negotiated a Wrestlemania Main Event into his contract, so wondering if his storyline with Heyman owing a favor plays out here. Was thinking it'd play out that way until Punk's interview on tonight's RAW, which seemed to make it almost too obvious.

What's John Cena's role going to be in all of this? Thinking that we see a late entry before his eventual Wrestlemania opponent screws and eliminates him.



Think we'll see a strong showing from:

Penta - enters somewhere between 3-7, gets some high spots and maybe more than 1 elimination before a big name throws him out;

Bron Breaker - will probably enter in the teens, look like a monster throwing out midcarders, get a big elimination or two, then get thrown out by a big name (and being protected by the "fatigue" factor);

Drew McIntyre & Seth Rollins - no way that they aren't booked strong at minimum;

[-STAT-]

I love reading all the dirt sheets online, seems like some rumors that you see out there come true and most are just that, rumors.

Also seen where the participant list got leaked, who eliminated who and the eventual winner, doubt it is true but it was fun to look at it. Think it had The Rock as the #30 entrant, with Cena eliminating him to win the Rumble, now I would be HIGHLY surprised to see that happen.

As for who I think wins, I think it'll be CM Punk, but CJ like you said, I can see an alternative where he doesn't win, gets screwed by Seth Rollins, then Punk calls in that favor to Paul Heyman after helping with the bloodline story. But Punk has never main evented a Wrestlemania, and at this point outside of Roman Reigns, Punk is the biggest draw in the company. A Rhodes-Punk WM main event would sure be a dandy, may not be what fans or even the causal viewer wants, of course they want Reigns or Rock, but Punk-Rhodes would be the route I'd go. But CJ I am like you, Royal Rumble has always been my favorite pay-per view as well.

[Bluecat]

Hard to say. Normally you can narrow it down to a couple but so many stories that it is hard to pinpoint it down.

[Cactus Jack]

Odds are looking like Cena. I just don't understand why they'd go that direction. Other than adding some legacy points on a guy who wants to act and would only be a prt-timer at best going forward, what do they gain?

A Punk win seems to be more about giving fans what they want.

[Khalisimo]

lol

[Bluecat]

Wasn't expecting Jey to win it. Not even in my top 5 of potential winners. I can see it though. Cena will get there somehow. Roman, Seth, and Punk have something brewing. Drew, I have no idea what the plan for him is. Sami has a feud with KO coming up because he didn't help him win over Cody.

[TheTruth!]

Was not expecting Jey to win. I thought for sure Cena was gonna AA him at the end to the floor but I guess not.

[Bluecat]

I think we also may see what the plan for Cena may be as well. Hope I am wrong but I am thinking quite possibly his final tour may be to help get some fresher faces over. I think he can do both and still have a good run to the finish line.

[Cactus Jack]

Wasn't expecting Jey to win it. Not even in my top 5 of potential winners. I can see it though. Cena will get there somehow. Roman, Seth, and Punk have something brewing. Drew, I have no idea what the plan for him is. Sami has a feud with KO coming up because he didn't help him win over Cody.

Wondering if we're going to see a three-way match between Roman, Seth, and Punk.

[Bluecat]

Wasn't expecting Jey to win it. Not even in my top 5 of potential winners. I can see it though. Cena will get there somehow. Roman, Seth, and Punk have something brewing. Drew, I have no idea what the plan for him is. Sami has a feud with KO coming up because he didn't help him win over Cody.

Wondering if we're going to see a three-way match between Roman, Seth, and Punk.

I could see them going that route for sure. The next few weeks leading up to Elimination Chamber will answer a lot of questions. Mania season is by far the best season of wrestling.

[Cactus Jack]

Wasn't expecting Jey to win it. Not even in my top 5 of potential winners. I can see it though. Cena will get there somehow. Roman, Seth, and Punk have something brewing. Drew, I have no idea what the plan for him is. Sami has a feud with KO coming up because he didn't help him win over Cody.

Wondering if we're going to see a three-way match between Roman, Seth, and Punk.

I could see them going that route for sure. The next few weeks leading up to Elimination Chamber will answer a lot of questions. Mania season is by far the best season of wrestling.

Three-way matches can be a bit awkward, so wondering if they even find a way to make it a four-way with someone else. McIntyre would be a candidate, but he's expected to move into a fued with Damian Priest.

One path they may take is having Punk calling in his favor at Elimination Chamber and that somehow leading to his Main Event at Wrestlemania, whether it's a multi-man or traditional match.

Uso challenging Gunther is the most obvious way to go with him after the Rumble win. Doing anything else would be a fairly large swerve.

[Bluecat]

Wasn't expecting Jey to win it. Not even in my top 5 of potential winners. I can see it though. Cena will get there somehow. Roman, Seth, and Punk have something brewing. Drew, I have no idea what the plan for him is. Sami has a feud with KO coming up because he didn't help him win over Cody.

Wondering if we're going to see a three-way match between Roman, Seth, and Punk.

I could see them going that route for sure. The next few weeks leading up to Elimination Chamber will answer a lot of questions. Mania season is by far the best season of wrestling.

Three-way matches can be a bit awkward, so wondering if they even find a way to make it a four-way with someone else. McIntyre would be a candidate, but he's expected to move into a fued with Damian Priest.

One path they may take is having Punk calling in his favor at Elimination Chamber and that somehow leading to his Main Event at Wrestlemania, whether it's a multi-man or traditional match.

Uso challenging Gunther is the most obvious way to go with him after the Rumble win. Doing anything else would be a fairly large swerve.

This is going to play a huge part in the story. Of course Cena seems to be aiming at main eventing Mania as well. HHH got a lot of big decisions to make. I for one really like all the story possibilities.

---

Gotta wonder if Punk uses his favor to knock Jey out of the main event. Persuade Paul to talk to Roman about using his Tribal Chief status or something to get him out of the match for Punk.

[Cactus Jack]

Wasn't expecting Jey to win it. Not even in my top 5 of potential winners. I can see it though. Cena will get there somehow. Roman, Seth, and Punk have something brewing. Drew, I have no idea what the plan for him is. Sami has a feud with KO coming up because he didn't help him win over Cody.

Wondering if we're going to see a three-way match between Roman, Seth, and Punk.

I could see them going that route for sure. The next few weeks leading up to Elimination Chamber will answer a lot of questions. Mania season is by far the best season of wrestling.

Three-way matches can be a bit awkward, so wondering if they even find a way to make it a four-way with someone else. McIntyre would be a candidate, but he's expected to move into a fued with Damian Priest.

One path they may take is having Punk calling in his favor at Elimination Chamber and that somehow leading to his Main Event at Wrestlemania, whether it's a multi-man or traditional match.

Uso challenging Gunther is the most obvious way to go with him after the Rumble win. Doing anything else would be a fairly large swerve.

This is going to play a huge part in the story. Of course Cena seems to be aiming at main eventing Mania as well. HHH got a lot of big decisions to make. I for one really like all the story possibilities.

---

Gotta wonder if Punk uses his favor to knock Jey out of the main event. Persuade Paul to talk to Roman about using his Tribal Chief status or something to get him out of the match for Punk.

Four way with Cena would be a great way to work him in. Have Gunther and Jey as Night 1 Main Event and Reigns, Rollins, Cena, Punk as Night 2.

Could also see Heyman's favor to Punk being used as a way of screwing Cena. Would be a nice swerve since everyone expects it to somehow involve Heyman snaking the Bloodline.

If it's just Cena and Punk, the storyline would have to involve Punk's initial exit and feeling like he should have already been in the main event of Wrestlemania.

[Cactus Jack]

I was thinking while watching, historically speaking, how deep was this Royal Rumble? I'd have to imagine that in terms of former winners and former champions, this one is up there.

1992 is widely cited as one of the deepest Rumble fields with Flair, Hogan, Savage, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Piper, Sid, Jake Roberts, DiBiase, British Bulldog, Snuka, Duggan, Haku, Sgt. Slaughter, Tito Santana, and Big Bossman.

This year had Cena, Reigns, McIntyre, Punk, and Rollins. Former winners like Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, and Nakamura were pretty much afterthoughts. Same for former champions like Balor, Priest, AJ Styles, Braun Strowman, and The Miz. Then you've got names like Breaker, both Usos, Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Penta, Zayn, Dom Mysterio, Logan Paul, LA Knight, Carmelo Hayes and Chad Gable.

Had 2025 included an Orton or Rhodes to add to the number of total wins and/or total number of Championships, we might have gotten a record that wouldn't be matched for some time. Total championships may be a bit unfair given the NWA/WCW and the current brand split, but I'd be interested to know how this card stacks up in terms of total wins and championships, or if any other fields come close to matching the overall star power.