10 Early Wrestling Predictions For 2019

9. Daniel Bryan Will Win The Men's Royal Rumble Match

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Process of elimination:

We can rule out Braun Strowman. Autumn's top heel is spring's midcard also-ran, traditionally; WWE is metronomic in its narrative repetition, but the company tends to actually try between January and April. On that basis, we can rule out also Samoa Joe, and a back-to-back victory for Shinsuke Nakamura, who'd have to get booked on SmackDown to meet the bare minimum requirement. It's probably too soon for Andrade 'Cien' Almas. Bobby Lashley is a dud. You could tell that to his face, and he'd still smile that daft smile of his, so he won't be heartbroken to hear it.

WWE has thus far protected Drew McIntyre, but he doesn't project himself as a WrestleMania-worthy headliner, not yet. That singles programme seems destined for the post-'Mania picture.

Daniel Bryan's booking pattern, while counterproductive (and fatalistic, gauging by crowd reactions) does point towards the WrestleMania sign. Bryan failed to muster interest, naturally, in Big Cass. His renewed friendship with Kane yielded not a lot. And now, The Miz has realised Bryan's deepest insecurities about returning to the ring, and this development at least, one would hope, is purposeful.

The redeemed Bryan Vs. WWE Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton is synergistic poetry, and the latter is far more interesting now than in 2014. This is 'Mania-worthy.

But, as has become custom, Bryan will not headline WrestleMania...

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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!