WrestleMania season is finally upon us with the 2021 Royal Rumble kicking off tonight. The CTJ Report will give its last second predictions for the kickoff program to The Road to WrestleMania.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Asuka & Charlotte Flair(c) vs. Shayna Baszler & Nia Jaxx
This feud has been disjointed from Day 1. As much as I really like Charlotte Flair, the decision to pair her with Asuka at the last second to face the former champs(Shayna & Jaxx) felt contrived especially when you had legit tag teams already in place. Asuka doesn’t feel like a double champ the way Bayley felt like a double champ over much of 2020. Asuka, who legitimately is one of the 5-6 best female wrestlers in the world, has been an afterthought. The fact Asuka is the only major titleholder not defending their championship tells you a TON. I also feel it’s a waste of Baszler as she should be challenging for the RAW women’s title and not saddled in a tag team no one really wants. I expect miscommunication between Baszler & Jaxx will cost them dearly.
Who will win: Asuka & Flair.
SmackDown Women’s Championship: Sasha Banks(c) vs. Carmella with Reginald
Sasha Banks was the MVP of the women’s division last year and capped it off by capturing the SmackDown Women’s title from her former best friend Bayley at Hell In A Cell. She has since been locked in a feud with a resurgent Carmella who is hell bent on showing that she is indeed untouchable. With her manservant Reginald by her side Carmella has become a threat to the title. Both women are looking to build off of their first match at TLC. The Boss will have to keep her head on a swivel because Reginald will look to interfere.
Who will win: Sasha Banks retains
WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre(c) vs. Goldberg
This is not the feud the supposed top title holder in the company needs. Instead of using a good workhorse heel like Sheamus(WWE teased Sheamus turning on Drew but dropped it) or building up someone else WWE decided to turn to an aging part-timer. The angle of Goldberg fighting for the respect of past superstars against an arrogant champion is particularly dumb considering McIntyre spent much of 2020 doing battle with Randy Orton to seek revenge for the past superstars that Orton put on the shelf(Edge, Big Show, Ric Flair & Shawn Michaels). It’s a feud that doesn’t make sense and one that needs to end tonight.
Who will win: Drew McIntyre retains
WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns(c) vs. Kevin Owens
This is the one feud that WWE has gotten right. Roman Reigns has been brilliant as the egotistical, menacing Tribal Chief while Owens has been equally as brilliant as the resilient babyface. Their TLC match was a barn burner and I expect their match tonight(which by the way is a Last Man Standing match) should equal if not exceed their previous encounters. This match should be brutal & violent. Reigns has to show Owens once & for all why he is the Tribal Chief.
Who will win: Roman Reigns retains
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Confirmed Participants: Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Mandy Rose, Shayna Baezler, Nia Jaxx, Natalya, Dana Brooke, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley
Some interesting things will happen tonight in this match. Flair, Baezler & Jaxx will be wrestling for the 2nd time in the same night. We’ll see if fatigue will play a factor. Flair will look to become the 1st 2-time winner in its young history. Which Alexa Bliss will show up? Will Bayley cost Bianca Belair a shot at winning or will the EST prove to be too much for the Role Model? Who will return from hiatus? Almost certainly you should see Naomi return but what about The Man Becky Lynch? Perhaps Ronda Rousey makes her return(her contract is scheduled to expire right after WrestleMania) or will a certain, controversial free agent make her presence felt?
Who should win: Bianca Belair. A match between her & the Boss Sasha Banks just screams money.
Who will win: Bianca Belair
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Confirmed Participants: Daniel Bryan, Edge, AJ Styles, Mustafa Ali, Sheamus, Randy Orton, The Miz, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, Big E, Otis, Braun Strowman
There’s enough star power already for this match that it doesn’t necessarily need any surprises but expect them anyway. Mustafa Ali will look to capitalize in place of the injured Kofi Kingston(nice storytelling BTW) and get his WrestleMania moment. Shinsuke Nakamura has an opportunity to join a small list of men who have won the Rumble at least twice(one of those men is Randy Orton). AJ Styles will definitely play a factor with his 7-foot behemoth bodyguard Omos lurking. If you’re The Miz winning the Rumble will guarantee you a title match and you’ll still have the Money in the Bank contract in tow. Braun Strowman looks as jacked as ever and will pose the biggest threat in that ring. For Daniel Bryan it will be a chance to capture the one win that’s missing from his Hall of Fame career. The big question: will The Fiend Bray Wyatt make his ominous return?
Who should win: Bryan. He will serve as the perfect challenger to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.
Who will win: Edge. The Hall of Famer came back to end his career on his terms. What better way to do that than win the Royal Rumble & challenge Drew McIntyre at the Show of Shows.
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