WWE Royal Rumble 2018: Early predictions for all the matches
The 32nd edition of the annual Royal Rumble pay per view is just two weeks away now, and the build towards the event has commenced in a full swing. The superstars have been announcing their entries into the Royal Rumble in the last few weeks through promo segments on television as well as through posts on social media.
Currently, eight matches are announced for the Royal Rumble PPV, which will be held on January 27 in Chase Field, Phoenix.
Brock Lesnar (c) vs Braun Strowman for Universal Championship, Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Sasha Banks for the WWE Raw Women's Championship, Daniel Bryan (c) vs. AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, and Becky Lynch vs. Asuka (c) for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship are the four singles matches for World championships on both brands.
Considering the latest booking trends here are the predictions for the 8 matches announced so far.
#8 Asuka (c) vs. Becky Lynch - WWE SmackDown Women's Championship match
This match can practically go either way as both the competitors have a chance to emerge victorious at Royal Rumble PPV. But Becky Lynch is one of the strong favorites to win the Royal Rumble so that gives Asuka the upper hand in this encounter.
Asuka might manage to retain the Smackdown Women's Championship either cleanly or through a disqualification victory. There are high chances of a disqualification finish for this match, as WWE would not want Becky Lynch to lose cleanly before her rumored clash with Ronda Rousey at Wrestlemania 35.
Expect Asuka to retain the Smackdown Women's championship which would then free up Becky Lynch for bigger things awaiting her in the near future.
Prediction - Asuka wins and retains the WWE Smackdown Women's Championship
#7 Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Kalisto vs. Hideo Itami - Fatal four-way match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Four quality in-ring superstars Buddy Murphy, Kalisto, Akira Tozawa and Hideo Itami from WWE 205 Live are expected to steal the show at the event through their performance. All the three contenders have earned the opportunity to fight for the primary championship on WWE 205 live but it does not look like any of them are going to win the championship at the event.
Buddy Murphy is expected to retain his Cruiserweight championship after a hard-fought battle.
Prediction - Buddy Murphy retains the WWE Cruiserweight Championship