10 Reasons Why The 2019 Royal Rumble Will Be The Best Ever

1. The Great Unknown

Monday Night Rollins
WWE.com

In recent years, WWE has paved the Road To WrestleMania much too linearly. We knew the destination before even set off on the journey, which would be fine, if we were going to Disneyland. We weren't going to Disneyland. We were going to less celebrated tourist traps Twice In A Lifetime and RomanWinsLOL.

This year is different. Of the seven matches expected to make the main card, at least four are accumulator-killers, and those with more obvious outcomes - Lesnar Vs. Bálor in particular - will succeed in spite of the predictability. His fans aren't rooting for Bálor to win; they are hoping for an eye-catching display of grit and ingenuity in the mouth of the Beast. Sasha Banks is in a similar position. She isn't headlining 'Mania, but is the perfect, traditional Rumble title bout challenger, in that, if she excels here, she enters contention for next year's 'Mania, à la Chris Benoit between 2003-4. You wouldn't expect WWE to switch its flagship prize to AJ Styles - but looking at the state of SmackDown's babyfaces, it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

With a spectacular, stadium-sized backdrop propping it up, enhancing the show through production even the modern, lazy approach can't make ugly, Sunday's super-show holds the potential for something very special.

Soberingly, you could make that same argument for WWE on the whole - but WWE, at last, has the impetus do make something special of it.

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!