WWE Royal Rumble 2019 predictions: Women's Royal Rumble match
Get all WWE Royal Rumble 2019 live commentary, live updates, and highlights here
For the second year in a row, WWE will present a female version of the Royal Rumble match. The 2018 match was a huge success and main evented the pay per view. That edition was won by Asuka and featured the WWE debut of Ronda Rousey at the conclusion of the bout.
Last year, Asuka was the rather obvious winner as she was in the midst of a near three-year undefeated streak and was receiving a heavy push on television.
This year, the winner isn't quite as obvious with participants still jockeying for position for the WrestleMania card.
Charlotte Flair is the current bookmaker's favorite and "The Queen" is hot right now; ever since she underwent a rejuvenation of sorts in her Survivor Series dream match with Ronda Rousey. Those two have unfinished business and the long-rumored WrestleMania contest between the pair is still a realistic possibility despite WWE having already run the match once.
Becky Lynch was also a very heavy favorite ever since she dropped the Smackdown Women's title to Asuka at the TLC pay per view in December. However, at the time of writing, she is booked to face Asuka for that same belt on the pay per view undercard. Does that preclude her from entering the 'Rumble should she be unsuccessful in her title challenge?
Possibly not. There is a precedent. An irate Kurt Angle entered the 2005 'Rumble after he failed to win the WWE Championship from JBL earlier in the show and stole Nunzio's spot to participate in the encounter. Lynch's hard as nails persona could conceivably do the same thing.
Are there other contenders? Of the confirmed participants, few stand out as realistic winners; Carmella is the number 30 entrant and was Smackdown Women's Champion last year but failed on top. She is unlikely to receive another shot in the near future. Natalya has been to the well before but is nearer to the end of the career than the start and her big title match was contested on Raw not a pay per view. The Riott Squad? Naomi? Mickie James? Not likely.
There is always the chance that WWE may decide to put over a returning legend a la Trish Stratus or Lita but why would they when Flair and Lynch are two of the hottest commodities in all of WWE, male or female.
I am predicting that the pair will be joint winners in the same vein as Bret Hart and Lex Luger in 1994. However, unlike those two, they won't receive their title matches separately. They will clash with Ronda Rousey in a triple threat title bout at Wrestlemania. I am sure of it.
Prediction: Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch (co-winners)