10 Expectations Vs. Reality For WWE Royal Rumble 2020

2. Who's Going To Win The Women's Royal Rumble Match?

CM Punk Dolph Ziggler
WWE.com

Expectation:

Shayna Baszler is being phased out of NXT, slowly, and the brand executed this plan to perfection this past Wednesday; rather than have a newcomer defeat her in an obvious and transparent development, Shotzi Blackheart shockingly eliminated her from the battle royal. This was believable, NXT can use the moment to build Shotzi in the background, and that it happened at all indicates that Baszler is main roster-bound.

WWE has an opportunity to atone for Asuka's basic push, which betrayed her special aura, by presenting her analogue Baszler as an immediate threat to the RAW Women's Title on the grandest stage, and really, it makes sense. Reintroducing a former NXT Champion in a meh midcard feud never made sense, nor was it dramatically effective, and it makes less sense now that NXT needs to be portrayed as third brand in its own right. Baszler Vs. Becky Lynch has been built already, and while the Survivor Series match bombed, WWE's appalling main roster Women's division leaves few if any other options.

Will they take it?

Reality:

Ronda Rousey wins, because the memories of the other Big Four Women's bomb aren't as vivid.

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!