10 Outside Bets To Win WWE Royal Rumble 2018
8. Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal probably thought nonstop about how he'd address his adoring public on a long-awaited tour of India as WWE Champion. A pillar of the rationale to award him the title in the first place, the anticipated millions that would be willing to see him perform at the top of the card most likely had him grinning like a Cheshire Cat (but not the sort of WWE scripted him to say Shinsuke Nakamura would eat).
The India tour was ultimately re-jigged for 'weather concerns', shortly before Mahal's schedule was too. He was shunted from a match against Triple H in Abu Dhabi, replaced by Roman Reigns because, shockingly, 'The Big Dog' is actually a star.
A quick skim through his Twitter profile reflects how Mahal has at least aped one legendary WWE Champion since losing the belt to AJ Styles in November. Now merely working one night on the company's trip east, Jinder has patently lost his smile. Like Shawn Michaels, he can probably expect to lay down for Triple H on the trip, but unlike 'HBK', he's not likely to be getting his treasured title back whenever he fancies. A Royal Rumble win though? Infinitely more possible, if highly unlikely.
The win is, at this point, a token gesture. As Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus have both done, he could even open WrestleMania with the win. He's got no chance of closing it.