10 New Directions For WWE After Royal Rumble 2024
Destiny awaits Cody Rhodes; CM Punk's last chance; Roman Reigns last dance?
There's a very simple answer to where WWE goes next following Saturday's Royal Rumble: Elimination Chamber. In fact, the correct answer in the short term would be Monday Night Raw. Triple H's creative team and roster don't get to holiday whilst toasting the success of their latest Super Bowl - WrestleMania build continues immediately.
Who'd have it any other way? No, that 2024 Rumble won't be considered the best ever, but the highs were sky high. Winners Cody Rhodes and Bayley can look forward to massive matches to come in Philly this April, but they're not the only ones padding bank accounts with blockbuster bouts on that bumper weekender.
Newer faces like Jade Cargill and returning heroes like Andrade will all want to be involved come 'Mania too. Meanwhile, battling brothers will brawl to settle things once and for all, and another top star will have to use Australia's jaunt at Chamber to lock in his once-seemingly impossible headline dreams.
There's a lot for fans and WWE staff alike to sink their teeth into. So, post-Rumble, here's where the Hunter-led juggernaut goes next.
Are you ready?
10. NXT Stars Going Main Roster
Carmelo Hayes, Bron Breakker, Tiffany Stratton, Roxanne Perez - those are all names ready to take the next steps on Raw or SmackDown. Most have achieved all there is to achieve on the developmental NXT brand, so it's time for Shawn Michaels to watch them fly on the main roster. HBK must be proud of what he saw at Royal Rumble.
The final decision on their futures rests with Triple H though. He'll either make Carmelo's trips to SmackDown TVs permanent, or he'll fire him back down to NXT for more seasoning. Surely not. Hayes, similar to Breakker, Stratton and Perez, is ready to move on. The guy has been for a while.
Time to make it happen.
Of course, another alternative is that Trips waits until after WrestleMania to properly introduce these workers to Raw and SmackDown full time. There's a lot to juggle right now, but it must be heartening for WWE to see the positive crowd reactions all four got on Saturday.