10 Early Wrestling Predictions For 2018

9. Roman Reigns WON'T Win The 2018 Royal Rumble Match

Braun Strowman Wwe
WWE.com

Roman Reigns' march to the Universal Championship is inevitable - though less inevitable is a Royal Rumble win.

Reigns has become adversely synonymous with the Rumble in recent years. His very presence on that stage is enough to trigger an ever louder backlash than Reigns routinely receives - and WWE knows this. Reigns was trotted out in the #30 slot this year purely to make Randy Orton's win palatable to the hardcore fans. A return to the Wells Fargo Center, site of the most toxic reaction yet, may move WWE to postpone his number one contendership. The Reigns mega-push has been marked by manufactured obstacles - as if just one more heel antagonist is the magic ingredient to full babyface acceptance.

Under the less harsh lights of a B-level pay-per-view, paired with the opponent who unfairly eliminates him in Philly, WWE is presented with a less pressurised platform on which to make 'The 2 In 23-2' official for New Orleans.

Reigns Vs. Samoa Joe on PPV - the man who at present is his Everest - is the last mountain to overcome, at least by the nominal standards of his by-the-numbers push.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!