10 Outside Bets To Win WWE Royal Rumble 2018

2. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan Shawn Michaels
WWE.com

There could be no better way for Daniel Bryan to return to wrestling in 2018 (as he seems so rigidly determined to do) than as a surprise entrant and winner of the Royal Rumble.

His lack of entry in 2014 was the story of the match, just as his early elimination was in 2015. By 2016 , he was set to retire, and at this year's event he was confined to doing sod all as the SmackDown Live! General Manager. He'll be inexorably linked most to the one he wasn't in, but a surprising atonement such as this would likely afford WWE some forgiveness from longstanding fans.

Bryan's not been shy about admitting that his future may lie elsewhere if he can't get cleared to wrestle for WWE, so sure he is of his own health having gone nearly two full years without the grind of their heavy schedule. Ultimately though, if the organisation still won't say 'YES!' to Bryan's pleas, maybe they'll look to another famous Royal Rumble face with more than a hint of involvement in the former WWE Champion's past...

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett