Monday 22 January 2018

Bookie .vs. Blogger: Comparing Our Rumble Top 5s (21/1/18)

With this being the go-home week of television before Sunday's WWE Royal Rumble, myself and 'The Bookie' have been in contact for the first of two Bookie versus Blogger installments where we share our top five selections to win the men's battle royal. The edition you're reading today has been done ahead of tonight's episode of Raw. We plan to compare our lists for one final time once we've watched both Raw and Smackdown.

Here are our lists as of today.

The Bookie's Picks

1. Shinsuke Nakamura
Has been my favourite all along, but I'm waning on his chance of winning. I'm sticking to my guns, though.

2. Braun Strowman (Replaces Roman Reigns)
David and I have discussed this and we have came up with a way where Strowman wins the Rumble, but doesn't go on to challenge for either championship at WrestleMania.

3. Finn Balor (Replaces Dolph Ziggler)
Finn Balor is a new entry. I want to agree with the speculation that Balor and The Club could turn heel and go to Smackdown Live. It will help Finn greatly.

4. The Miz (Replaces Rusev)
Another Raw defection. Have The Miz, The Miztourage and maybe even Elias move. Smackdown would be greater.

5. Rusev (Replaces The Miz)
Once again, it would be great to see Rusev finally given what the fans and he deserve, but I doubt it'll happen.

No John Cena and now no Roman Reigns on my list. I don't want Reigns to win and don't think WWE really will troll Philadelphia by having him win the battle royal, so I am happy to take him on and be wrong.

This is the most wide open Rumble for years. I can't wait to sit with a a few beers and watch it on Sunday. Hope you enjoy it and cheers for reading.

Blogger's Picks

1. Dolph Ziggler
With Bobby Roode now US Champion, Dolph Ziggler's position at the top of this list is beginning to concern me. I would like to see how Tuesday's episode of Smackdown plays out (is Mahal getting a rematch? Will Dolph return? Etc).

2. Roman Reigns
Not much to add that hasn't been written before. He could win now, or WWE could hold off until the Elimination Chamber and have The Big Dog book his ticket to Mania with a win inside the Chamber.

3. Finn Balor
As The Bookie wrote above, we've both entertained the idea of Balor jumping to Smackdown following a Rumble win.

4. Braun Strowman (Replaces Baron Corbin)
Another thing The Bookie mentioned in his part is that we've both handicapped a way where Strowman wins the Rumble, but ends up not getting a title shot. This would involve Triple H to set up a meeting between the two at Mania.

5. Baron Corbin (Replaces Shinsuke Nakamura)
There was a toss-up between putting Baron Corbin or Shinsuke Nakamura in this spot. I still cannot see how Nakamura earns a Mania title shot at the Rumble and ends up in a fatal five-way for the belt at Fast Lane (if all the advertising ends up going the way it's looking). Therefore, I've gone with the person who isn't listed for the Fast Lane 5-way despite not being so high on his chances considering he has only recently been in a feud with WWE Champion, AJ Styles.

As noted, we plan to return once we've both watched Raw and Smackdown.

7 comments:

  1. Do you think Seth Rollins has a chance to win Royal Rumble if Ambrose isn't cleared for Mania

    I know Rollins vs Jordan is possible but if triple H faces Strowman then who would Kurt face if there's no Jordan or Triple H for him

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rollins has a chance, but he isn't in my top 5 because I sense it'll be versus Jordan at Mania.

      I don't know about Angle. The other matches seem to make the most sense to me.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, at this point my pick is either Ziggler and Balor Because Storyline wise, they both make sense to challenge AJ at Wrestlemania. I am not expecting Nakamura

      Delete
    3. Who faces Nakamura at Mania, in your opinion?

      Delete
    4. Randy Orton. When ever WWE does some tag team storyline that obviously leads to break up and match at WrestleMania

      Delete
  2. Still think it's Nakamura. They can change that Fastlane ad at any time. There just isn't any other choice from SD that makes any sense.

    I am intrigued by the idea of Balor winning, but it's the same thing with Nakamura (does Vince like him enough to give him that kind of spot) plus he's on the wrong show. Very interesting times...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm agreed with David here where, it pretty much has to be Ziggler unless he comes back on Smackdown in a US title picture (although that would be bizarre from my point of view. What would be the point?)

    Atleast in the royal rumble win he can say he gave up the us title as he knew he could achieve better.

    ReplyDelete

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