10 Wild Outside Bets To Win WWE Royal Rumble 2024

9. Carmelo Hayes

Brock Lesnar Royal Rumble
WWE

CM Punk Vs. Seth Rollins is all but certain to headline night one of WrestleMania. Until last week, Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes was destined to main event night two - until the Rock made his return and all but declared his intentions to wrestle Roman Reigns.

If that match is happening at WrestleMania, the Rock probably isn't entering the Rumble. He looks about as ready to enter a WWE ring this month as Tyrus. Or Farmer Burns.

Punk could win the Rumble, and WWE could use the eponymous Elimination Chamber gimmick as a Seth Rollins title defence. There are ways in which to isolate the Undisputed WWE Universal title picture away from the 'Road' to 'Mania.

Another way would be to go very bold and book Carmelo Hayes to go all the way and steal the thunder of his number one contender pal Trick Williams. A Rumble win for a three-way NXT title match?

That doesn't seem consistent with Triple H's steady, missionary booking patterns, but then, he did bring CM Punk back when he didn't need to and few people expected him to. He did something shocking and exciting once in his life. Lightning could strike twice!

But what if the Rock himself enters the bloody thing...?

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!