Samoa Joe's Royal Rumble Odds Continue To Descend

Samoa Joe's odds to win this year's Royal Rumble have continued to descend as we enter a new week.

In a post published on Thursday morning, I noted that this week's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter had reported that one of the plans on the table for WrestleMania 33 is to have Samoa Joe in a huge match. The newsletter's editor - Dave Meltzer - suggested that one way to kick start this direction would be to have Joe debut at the Rumble and have a good showing.

After reading the piece of news, I looked at Joe's price to win the Rumble. The best price available was 40/1 from Ladbrokes.com. However, just as I was about to publish the Samoa Joe post, the firm had snipped him to 25s while WilliamHill.com and other bookies had him at 33/1.

You aren't going to find him at these prices now.

The best number available, as of the time of publishing, is 10/1 from Ladbrokes' Royal Rumble page. It had been 12/1 throughout the weekend.

The lowest price is 6/1 from SportingBet.com.

The best Rumble odds for some of the big names who are or could be in (Click image to expand)

If Joe is set to be in a high profile match at this year's WrestleMania, then - in my opinion - it would have to be against The Undertaker or John Cena.

I initially guessed Undertaker, but there are reports that the opponent for Taker will be from the Raw brand. So, if I'm to be pedantic, it cannot be Joe as he isn't associated with either show for the time being.

The more I think about it, the more I'm beginning to think his opponent will end up being John Cena.

In late-December, WWE published a one-minute YouTube video titled 'What Bond Does Samoa Joe Share With John Cena?' It contained clips from their time together in UPW and mentioned that they were friends off-screen.

This being out there already is double-edged: Is it a tease, or rather a hint, for something that's about to come or a huge coincidence for the time being?