Royal Rumble 2013 Predictions

[Goldash]

This is going to make me an unpopular man around the forums and the IWC, but I realistically think Rock will win the WWE Championship and Cena will win the Rumble.

WWE has become so predictable the past few months that this seems the only logical route to take. It sets up an inevitable "Twice in a Lifetime" Wrestlemania rematch where Cena finally goes over and recaptures the WWE Championship, while putting Punk in a possible match against Undertaker (the return of whom Trips oh so coyly referenced on the Slammys).

The only reason I'm saying Cena is there seems like no other wrestler on the roster (save Ziggler, who is already Mr. Money in the Bank) who could be a bankable #1 Contender against either Punk or Rock.

If Rock indeed wins, I'm not sure what good it will do for the prestige of the WWE Championship. If Rock wins, he not only has to compete in the Chamber but show up regularly on television. I doubt the WWE wants its Champion spending more time on film sets than on tour, unless they have plans of building Rock into the same cocky heel he was when he was feuding with Austin at Wrestlemania XIX.

However, Rock is far too popular and enigmatic at this stage in his career to embark on a heel turn. The fans will cheer for him face or heel, especially against the divisive Cena. Unless Punk retains and sets up another Punk/Cena main event or a wrestler emerges out of left field to challenge for his belt (such as Sheamus did last year), I'm pretty sure WWE's going to go with the safe money and shoot for Rock vs. Cena II, as unsatisfying as that may sound.

...that is, unless Daniel Bryan removes himself from Team Hell No and becomes "The Dazzler" in front of our eyes. 

[wwe682]

hmmmmmm I feel like Punk is gonna retain because i think the Shield or a returning Brock Lesnar and I see Kofi winning the Rumble an seeing Ryback and Kane eliminating people left and right b4 they eliminate each other.

[Goldash]

I would love to see a Kofi/Punk main event but I doubt WWE sees him as viable enough. I really want him to break out of midcard hell for once, he's too talented to be jobbing.

[Tiago]

I can see either Ryback or Dolph Ziggler winning the Royal Rumble. I don't think Kofi Kingston will ever be anywhere near a Main Event push like he was on late 2009.

[DevildrummerX]

Honestly I see Orton winning the Rumble. There are a lot of rumblings(no pun intended) of a Ziggler babyface turn, and I really don't see the WWE leaving the title of Del Rio for any period of time. So Orton wins....maybe turns heel and faces Ziggler for the strap at 'Mania after Dolph cashes in at Elimination Chamber.

[Undamaged Threat]

Rock will win the WWE title & either Cena or Ryback will win the Rumble.

Kofi is stuck in Mid-Card hell & Dolph is currently Mr. MITB. Having him win the Rumble while still holding the briefcase will make him overrated to people's eyes including me (unless he loses his MITB contract between now and the Rumble).

[Brent Delivine]

Hmmmm, I might be abit out of the loop here seeing as I haven't watched any WWE product in the last 2 months but I am going to say CM Punk will retain in an unclean finish and for the Royal Rumble I am not too sure. It might just be me, but I don't think a lot of people deserve to win the Royal Rumble, so i'm going to put my money on a return/surprise entrant to win it, like Undertaker or Christian. I would say Ziggler but since he has Money in the Bank in his possession at this current point of time I doubt WWE will throw Royal Rumble Winner at him also. If I had to pick a different superstar though, i'd have to go with Wade Barrett seeing the roll he is on currently or Cody Rhodes to hype him up.