For once, a Royal Rumble has nothing to do with Harry, Meghan or The Queen!
WWE Royal Rumble 2020 is the wresting show which marks the beginning of the Road to WrestleMania. First staged in 1988, the Royal Rumble event is a feature of the WWE calendar. It’s a largely unpredictable (unless you happen to be in the know) 30-man match-up in which last one left standing wins.
This year’s show takes place on Sunday January 26 at the Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
WWE Betting at Unibet
Men’s champion will get choice of Wrestlemania options
The thirty plus-size wrestlers who have qualified for the Royal Rumble draw lots which gives them an entry number.
That number represents an entry time into the ring. Obviously, the later you can delay your entrance, the more chance you have of lasting the distance. The draw is supposed to be completely arbitrary but this is the WWE and its millions of fans want to see their favourites and anti-heroes doing battle in the latter stages.
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Approximately every 90 seconds or so, a new fighter is propelled into the ring. To eliminate a rival, you must be throw him over the top rope and have both feet hit the floor. Of course, there are usually more fighters entering the ring than leaving it so the canvas gets pretty crowded. The last man standing chooses whether he wants to challenge for the WWE Championship or Universal Championship at WrestleMania.
Arguably, Brock Lesnar’s decision to take part in the Royal Rumble has been the headline this year. The WWE champion will be the top seed but is really on a hiding to nothing. His main focus will be on Wrestlemania which is why he’s on offer at 10/1 with William Hill for the 2020 Royal Rumble.
We are unlikely to know the confirmed line-up for the men’s event until shortly before the event kicks off in Houston and some names being quoted by bookmakers appear wide of the mark. Legends such as John Cena and The Rock demand the limelight and are unlikely to appear in a supporting role.
Even Tyson Fury, who has flirted with WWE, gets a 22/1 quote from Unibet – I can just imagine how it would go down with the boxing authorities if the Gypsy King put out a shoulder in a novelty wresting event just weeks before his world title fight with Deontay Wilder!
Reigns a short price to regn in Texas
More likely contestants are ROMAN REIGNS, AJ Styles, Erick Rowan and Randy Orton. Reigns is a four-time world champion in WWE, having held the WWE Championship three times and the Universal Championship once. A former pro footballer, Reigns is the current face of the WWE and his paymasters don’t like to see him beaten which explains why he’s a best 3/4 with Unibet to win the Royal Rumble.
Rey Mysterio, Ricochet, Drew McIntyre, Elias, King Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Otis, and Tucker are other confirmed starters as this year’s big pay-per-view event. Scotsman McIntyre is 5/1 with Unibet but has a love-hate relationship with the WWE. Whether they would want the 34-year-old to win one of their showpiece tournaments is debatable.
WWE Royal Rumble Recent Winners and Draw
2010: Alberto Del Rio (No. 38)
2011: Sheamus (No. 22)
2012: John Cena (No. 19)
2013: Batista (No. 28)
2014: Roman Reigns (No. 19)
2015: Triple H (No. 30)
2016: Randy Orton (No. 23)
2017: Shinsuke Nakamura (No. 14)
2018: Braun Strowman
2019: Seth Rollins
The draw is obviously all-important. No-one, no matter how strong, can battle away through more than 20 equally-determined opponents. But that won’t be decided until just before the event.
WWE Royal Rumble Predictions
One of the most talented members of the WWE roster, AJ STYLES has been relegated to the mid-card in recent months but with the US Championship now gone from around his waist, he could be ready to light the Rumble up again at 33/1 with Unibet.
REY MYSTERIO is a lightweight compared to most of his opponents but he usually does well at Royal Rumble, lasting for well over an hour on one occasions. Losing the WWE United States Championship to Andrade at a non-televised event at Madison Square Garden could be freeing up Mysterio to win the Royal Rumble and challenge Brock Lesnar to a match to end their feud. The Ultimate Underdog is a massive 66/1 with William Hill.
Fans’ favourite CM PUNK also makes some appeal at 9/1 with Unibet.
