Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Paul Hey…

Sorry, I got carried away for a sec. Friends, we have made it through the longest year we’ve had in a while: January. To reward you for surviving the last 31 days: THE 2025 ROYAL RUMBLE!!!

The Royal Rumble is the first of the big four PLEs. It’s always been a fan-favorite due to the battle royal. For years, we’ve watched men and women enter the squared circle in hopes of avoiding being tossed over the top rope. It’s that moment in history that each person aspires to earn: the first paved stone on the Road to WrestleMania.

We know what’s at stake: a trip to WrestleMania and a shot at the top prize.

While the battle royal steals the show, there are other high-powered matches on the card as well. Tonight’s card features two title matches.

In what has been building to an ultimate showdown, Cody Rhodes will defend his Undisputed Championship in a ladder match against Kevin Owens. These two have built a fun rivalry over the last couple of months. Both guys are elite performers and this match will definitely have its spots.

MY PREDICTION: Cody Rhodes

We also have a two-out-three-falls match for the WWE Tag Team Championship. #DIY will defend their titles against Motor City Machine. These two teams have been putting on some BANGERS on Smackdown across the past month. This match will have some length with it being two out of three falls. We know they won’t give one team a clean sweep of two falls, so buckle in for a fun tag match. This match could go either way, but ultimately I think there is a clear winner.

MY PREDICTION: Motor City Machine

I know what you’re thinking: two regular matches, that’s it? I assure you, those two bouts will be far from “regular.”

And now, onto the battle royals.

It’s never a Royal Rumble without one or two surprises.

Who can forget this moment:

Or how about:

But the moment that most people will point to as the biggest Royal Rumble surprise is:

So obviously we are in store for some tonight. As of Thursday, there were 15 confirmed entrants for the men’s rumble.

• Carmelo Hayes
• Bron Breakker
• Chad Gable
• Penta
• Logan Paul
• Shinsuke Nakamura
• Sami Zayn
• Rey Mysterio
• Drew McIntyre
• Seth Rollins
• Roman Reigns
• Jey Uso
• CM Punk
• John Cena
• LA Knight (YEAAAAA)

Obviously there will be 15 more enter. Damian Priest’s showing on Smackdown leads me to believe he’ll show up here. We’ll see Jacob Fatu and like Tama Tonga as well. Will Solo return? Who knows. Could we see the Final Boss, The Rock? Maybe. I think we see some comedic relief with R Truth. I think Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor will be in there as well. Jimmy Uso and Ludwig Kaiser are locks as well in my opinion. I think we’ll get Trick Williams from NXT like last year. The Miz usually shows up for the Rumble as well. I think Andrade, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods will be included as well.

As for possible surprise entrants:

So what happens? Who wins? What kind of stories are told?

I can’t predict all of this, but I will say this: nothing is OFF LIMITS tonight.

Listen, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes 3 at Mania — sign me up. But I don’t think that happens with Roman winning the Rumble. I think ultimately, the bloodline guys eliminate each other for the most part.

MY FINAL FOUR PREDICTION: CM Punk, John Cena, Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu.

This is where I think things could get fun! Obviously you have Punk and McIntyre beating the crap out of each other on one end of the ring. That leaves Cena and Fatu. I think they go back and forth, but I think Roman (likely the fifth remaining participant) aids in Fatu’s elimination.

That leaves three: Cena, McIntyre, Punk.

Two routes you can go here:

1. Look at the initials of those who are left: CMP

OR

2. This is the route I think they’ll go. Let’s dial it back to the 1992 Royal Rumble. The final three were Flair, Hogan, and Sid. Sid dumps Hogan over the top rope, points and laughs at Hogan, Flair takes advantage and pushes Sid to the ropes, Hogan pulls Sid over, and Flair wins.

Let me set the scene for you: After the fourth final participant goes over the top rope, Cena will turn his attention to Punk and McIntyre. I think McIntyre will dump Punk over and point and laugh as he just cost him his shot at main eventing WrestleMania and paying him back for costing him at WrestleMania 40 when Damian Priest cashed in his MITB contract to take the title from McIntyre. And that’s when Cena strikes. Cena will push McIntyre to the ropes, lift him up over, and Punk will do the rest by playing the role of Hogan and pulling him out.

YOUR MEN’S 2025 ROYAL RUMBLE WINNER: JOHN CENA

NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. That’s not my prediction. I do think we flash back to the 1992 Royal Rumble. But I think McIntyre eliminates Cena on his retirement tour, derailing Cena’s hopes at a record-breaking championship victory at Mania. And then I think Cena plays the role of Hogan and helps Punk pull over McIntyre.

MY PREDICTION: CM PUNK

That was fun. How about a shot at the women’s match?

As of Thursday, there were ten entrants confirmed:

• Iyo Sky
• Ivy Nile
• Lyra Valkyria
• Liv Morgan
• Raquel Rodriguez
• Bianca Belair
• Naomi
• Charlotte Flair
• Bayley
• Nia Jax

I think you’ll see some talent from NXT like Giulia and Roxanne Perez. I think we’ll see newly signed Jordynne Grace as well. And while Charlotte’s return has been publicized, I think we’ll see one more for sure (and two more are wishful thinking)

My long shot wishes for returns:

So who is heading to WrestleMania from the women’s side?

MY PREDICTION: CHARLOTTE FLAIR

Tonight should be really fun. It’s the first stop on the Road to WrestleMania.

Sit down.

Buckle in.

Enjoy the show.