Bookie .vs. Blogger: Comparing Our Rumble Picks (Week 2)

It has been two weeks since myself and a bookmaker who likes pro wrestling compared our top five picks for the 2018 WWE Royal Rumble in what was the first instalment of a 'Bookie .vs. Blogger' series that we'll be running regularly here at WWELeaks.org.

After watching WWE TV in the weeks following our last meeting, we've readjusted our top 5s and butted heads once again.

Before I get to our current top 5s. Here's how our lists looked a fortnight ago.

Now, let's see how these rankings have changed over the last fourteen days...

Before we begin, here's some additional information that may explain some of the Bookie's picks. He told me that 'with the announcement that the 2018 Elimination Chamber will be a Raw-branded PPV, this has me thinking Vince McMahon won't have Brock Lesnar defend the Universal Championship inside the chamber. Therefore, I believe the chamber match will determine a number one contender for the Universal Title. This should be won by Roman Reigns'.

Number 5

Bookie: My wild card.. drum roll please... Chris Jericho. I've just looked at the list of Smackdown superstars and he stood out to me as WWE could be happy to promote him after his WrestleKingdom match and give his first Royal Rumble win to go with everything else he has won.

Blogger: I doubt Jericho will even be there because of Fozzy touring Europe at that time. I've moved Seth Rollins into fifth. Bobby Roode has been ousted for now. I have not bet on Rollins.

Number 4

Blogger: I don't know why, but I feel compelled to put Braun Strowman in this spot. In a post published earlier, I wrote that I have a feeling it'll be he and Triple H going at it at WrestleMania 34. Just like with Rollins, I have not bet on Strowman.

Bookie: Roman Reigns - I would much rather have had Braun Strowman here myself, but I cannot miss Reigns off the list as he is still the favourite to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. He could win it here and then have Stephanie put it on the line inside the Elimination Chamber.

Number 3

Bookie: John Cena - while he's technically a free agent, he's high on my list because they might give him his record breaking title win on the biggest night of the year.

Blogger: For months, I had John Cena and Roman Reigns as my top two. Then - after AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura teased a possible Mania match for the title on the last day of WWE's European tour - I moved Nakamura into second place. This was against my better judgement and, after seeing how he was eliminated first in the Survivor Series main event, I don't like his chances. HOWEVER, this is WWE. They could have a feeling a Rumble win will rehab him or something. He's gone down to third.

Number 2

Blogger: Yes, you've guessed it. Roman Reigns is back in second place. With the Elimination Chamber being  a Raw branded show, I believe they could have the Universal Championship title shot on the line. If so, this would point to a Smackdown Rumble winner. Or is this too obvious?

Bookie: While Sami Zayn is in the dog house, Kevin Owens isn't. The company still thinks highly of him as he was the first subject of the 365 programme on the WWE Network. Also, I believe a Smackdown superstar has to win the Rumble as of this moment in time, so he has rocketed up my list from number five.

Number 1

Bookie: Shinsuke Nakamura is still my number one despite being eliminated early from the Survivor Series match. A strong showing would have been better, but I feel Nakamura is a favourite to face AJ Styles while he's the champ.

Blogger: My number one hasn't changed as well. It's still John Cena simply because of the 'Free Agent' deal.

And there you have it. We'll be back in another few weeks to compare our top fives once again.

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