10 Early Favourites To Win WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Match

1. Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns
WWE.com

WWE is building something with Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. It's erected on foundations of hate and despair - but they're building something.

Roman Reigns is now synonymous with the January spectacular. In 2014, WWE foreshadowed Reigns' reign to prominence by positioning him as the man to take Batista to the limit. In 2015, he won the whole thing in a notorious exercise in anti-PR. In 2016, the narrative was again woven around him. It was One Versus All. The predictability of the result rendered the whole thing pointless - and dispiriting, given that absolutely nobody was behind the underdog story. It was to Royal Rumble 1998 what Cruise Control was to Speed.

In 2017, WWE knew what they were doing when they marched Reigns out in the #30 slot. They want to firm up this connection because it cements his legacy. Reigns as Mr. Royal Rumble creates an expectation in the minds of the audience in a similar vein to Shawn Michaels as Mr. WrestleMania. At the grandest stage, Michaels guaranteed the performance of a lifetime. At the Rumble, Reigns increasingly guarantees dominance, imbuing his every appearance with major significance. Moreover, Brock Lesnar Vs. Roman Reigns is happening. That might be why Reigns took the pin at SummerSlam.

Just let it wash over you. It's easier that way. Also, Roman Reigns is brilliant.

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!