My Rumble 2024 Favourites

It's the afternoon ahead of the WWE Royal Rumble. You know what that means.

I have to share my final guesses on who will win the two battle royals. And, like years previous, I am conflicted with how things will play out.

I'll start off with who I believe is the easiest from the two Rumble markets.

Bayley is my pick to win the women's Royal Rumble. It's either her or Becky Lynch, but I'm going with what will become the most intriguing story leaving the Rumble.

We've seen Bayley being told by her Damage CTRL colleagues that, should Bayley win the Rumble, she should challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship (instead of aiming for Damage CTRL member, Iyo Sky's WWE Women's Championship). 

Bayley herself has targeted Ripley in her promos for the Rumble, but - I believe we will see Bayley challenge Sky for the title at WrestleMania.

They have been teasing Bayley is kind of an outsider in Damage CTRL so a Rumble win would further along that story and lead to the schism between Bayley and her group.

Bayley is currently odds-on to win the ladies' Rumble. I backed her at 14/1 when I first saw the tease of animosity between her and the other members of Damage CTRL.

Becky Lynch is the second-favourite and I think that's fair because the company has been teasing a WrestleMania meeting between Lynch and Rhea Ripley.

A few weeks ago, Ripley told Lynch she wanted the Lass Kicker to win the Royal Rumble so she could defend her title against her at Mania, so they could get to that match tonight (obviously) or let it run into the Elimination Chamber.

It's worth noting that, should Becky win her shot via a match at the Elimination Chamber, she'll do so in Rhea Ripley's home country of Australia, so - in storyline - Lynch would be securing Ripley's wish in front of Ripley's supporters.

Nia Jax has been part of the Ripley-Lynch story for the past few weeks, so I believe they'll have Jax be the person who ruins Lynch's night this evening. 

I also believe Jax will end up facing Rhea Ripley at Elimination Chamber (with Ripley as the hometown babyface), but that's getting somewhat off track.

So, my pick is Bayley. But, if I am wrong, it has to be Becky Lynch.

For the men's Royal Rumble, I have decent prices on CM Punk (14/1)  and The Rock (16/1). I also have a few short-priced wagers on Cody Rhodes.

With Rhodes, I believe if the plan is to wrestle Roman Reigns for a second consecutive WrestleMania, the logical way to get to that bout is by having the Rumble win tonight.

Rhodes is a member of the Raw roster, so he would have to get to Smackdown's Reigns via a Rumble win. 

Punk, on the other hand, is a Raw roster member so he could easily become a contender to fellow Raw colleague Seth Rollins' strap another way.

That is if Rollins defending the title is the plan considering the champ is currently injured.

With all that said - IF WWE's plan is for Roman Reigns to defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against The Rock - on the weekend of April 6 and 7 - then they have to do Rock winning tonight to hype the heck out that one.

The elephant in the room is - will The Rock's people be happy with him wrestling so soon after the Vince McMahon scandal re-erupted this week?

I would make the most profit from my wagers if it's a Rock and Bayley double, so I am wishing those two are the winners. 

But, if I'm wrong: it's got to be Becky Lynch and/or Cody Rhodes.