10 Wild Outside Bets To Win WWE Royal Rumble 2020

7. Jinder Mahal

John Cena Royal Rumble
WWE

"You want it to be one way. But it's the other way."

- Marlo Stanfield, The Wire.

Jinder Mahal is coming back, baby, and if you think WWE remembers that he was last seen mucking about in a golf cart, or that they can't reheat him with the time-tested prolonged absence/vignette one-two punch, then buddy, you are sadly mistaken.

Mahal signed a five year contract extension shortly before undergoing surgery on his injured patella, and historically, if WWE invests in a performer, they tend to push f*ck out of them, even if that performer is basic and has been stigmatised as a main event bust forevermore. There's another longstanding rule to consider - failed main event talents will become dancing fools - but that vascular look should see Mahal resurface in a featured midcard role at a minimum.

Happily, for those not entirely numbed by the WWE machine, the narrative picture demands a babyface Rumble winner, and so the complexion of both major title pictures should see Vince rein in the old impulses.

A Roman Reigns-sized beatdown on the post-'Mania SmackDown is a more likely scenario. Mahal was drafted to RAW, so if WWE was bothered about continuity, we may instead see Jinder Mahal Vs. Cain Velasquez at Money In The Bank.

Probability: 15%

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!