5 New Directions For WWE After Royal Rumble 2025

One Royal Rumble winner was an obvious choice, but the other was an absolute shock few could've called. Charlotte Flair returning to win the women's match was something many saw coming pre-PLE. Then, there was Jey Uso. The stunned look on John Cena's face as both his feet planted on the ringside mats couldn't match open jaws in the live crowd. People were shook. SHOOK!

This was a legitimate surprise that worked well for Triple H and WWE. The company can look back on a fine card that gave the biggest moments room to breathe. Sure, the gaps between each bout did get exhausting (there are only so many video packages one can watch!), but that's the most minor of grumbles when the Rumble was so entertaining and dropped clues aplenty about where Raw and SmackDown's biggest stars go next.

That includes Flair, Uso, Cena, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes and more.

WWE even found room to give TNA Champ Joe Hendry some spotlight in Indianapolis. The same goes for now former TNA worker Jordynne Grace. Both looked great during wildly contrasting berths in each Rumble, and it's safe to assume the future looks bright if Hunter and Shawn Michaels show some patience with them in 2025.

As always, there's no rest for the weary. Creative attentions immediately turn to Elimination Chamber on 1 March, and then to WrestleMania 41 beyond that. Expect title changes aplenty, a few more twists and turns, and maybe even Punk finally living out his dream of headlining on the grandest stage.

What of 'Super Cena'? His retirement tour took an almighty thump on Saturday night, but there's no way he's missing 'Mania...

5. Charlotte Flair Challenging For Gold Again

Contrast and compare responses to Charlotte Flair's Rumble win next to Jey Uso's. Social media (which, granted, is always a haven for haters and negativity on its best day) wasn't willing to give Flair the same plaudits as 'Main Event'. On the whole, a lot of people can see Charlotte winning another title at WrestleMania far enough away. It sure didn't help that she eliminated rising star Roxanne Perez after the NXT star had lasted an incredible 1:07:47 in the match.

Now, Flair has her pick of either Rhea Ripley or Tiffany Stratton. The latter would be WWE's most refreshing choice, because they've been there done that with Charlotte vs. Rhea in the past. A bout vs. Stratton represents one of those 'first time ever' scenarios pro wrestling bloody loves. There will be loads of chewed fingernails in April if Hunter makes that match a reality.

Not many will be hoping to see a Flair for gold in 2025.

One thing's certain though: Charlotte will be in a featured spot come Las Vegas. Injuries have mounted up for her over the years, so it'll be interesting to see just how capable she is of living up to the billing at 'Mania. Doing the honours for a hot young star like Tiffany would win Flair back some lost brownie points amongst those who have soured on her. Will it happen? Only time will tell.

Presenting Charlotte as the clear babyface whilst Stratton is getting cheered could be awkward. Here's hoping WWE get this one bang on. The rest of Tiffy's 2025 could depend on it.

4. Sami Zayn Going Heel?

WWE's cameras seemed to make a concerted effort to capture Sami Zayn gazing up at a celebrating Cody Rhodes as his good pal Kevin Owens bled beneath them both. Zayn wasn't exactly thrilled that Cody was so callous about the ladder bump he'd just given KO, which could be something to keep an eye on. Sami might argue that Rhodes went too far vs. Kevin. Meanwhile, the champ will argue back that Owens left him no choice.

An Owens and Zayn reunion could be incoming. They'll be tied on and off forevermore, because it's just a dynamic that works - WWE know they can come back to this time and time again. Fans never seem to get bored of it. That might have something to do with the beautiful story these real life friends have told as allies and enemies since the ROH days.

KO sold the match-ending bump he took superbly. He didn't convulse or even really move around at all. No, Kev lay with his butt in the air and his neck jammed in between two rungs of a ladder. It looked for all the world like Cody had just broken his freakin' neck. What a match, what a spot, what a bump and what an aftermath.

Something about Sami staring up at Rhodes said more than a million words could. He was shocked by the violence, and whilst he'll definitely understand that Owens has been the (occasionally justified) aggressor lately, Zayn might blame how Cody has handled teaming with Roman Reigns and dealing with Kevin's line of questioning.

Watch this space. Something cool could be brewing.

3. Jey Uso = World Heavyweight Champ

Some folks probably lost money on the men's Royal Rumble on their betting apps of choice. Most had either John Cena or CM Punk down as the more likely winner. Then, in one of those organically magical moments WWE throws up, Uso pushed Cena to the floor and there was a slight delay before the pop. People are real happy for Jey, but they were genuinely shocked that John didn't win when it came down to that final two.

This was extra surprising considering Uso just lost a World Heavyweight Title match to GUNTHER at the latest Saturday Night's Main Event. It looked like that defeat would bring the curtain down on Jey's main event aspirations during 'Mania season, but nope. He won the 30-man Rumble, and will probs now take the big gold belt from GUNTHER this April.

That's huge for him, and only the meanest of meanies could be upset about it. Uso has worked his tail off since 2020 to emerge as a singles star, and now things are finally paying off for him. If you thought that last year's Intercontinental Title win was his ceiling (which this writer very much did!), then you were (also) wrong. Bigger things are in the pipeline for Mr. Yeet.

Surely, there's no stopping him now. GUNTHER has enjoyed a fine love affair with the World Title, but fans seem ready to embrace a change there. Putting the title on a likeable babyface like Jey and watching him fly with it sounds like too good an opportunity to turn down.

What a moment that title win will be.

2. John Cena Finding His ‘Mania Spot

Everyone thought they had it all figured out before WWE rolled into Indianapolis. John Cena would win the 30-man Royal Rumble to tie Steve Austin's three-peat record, challenge either Cody Rhodes or GUNTHER for their respective titles, then break another record (Ric Flair's) by becoming a 17-time World Champ. Look, Cena still might take one of the bigger belts during this retirement tour, but it now looks less likely than ever he'll do so at 'Mania.

Those out there who can't stand the guy won't like it one bit, but Logan Paul could be in the frame to wrestle Cena on the biggest card(s) of the entire year. After all, John eliminated the YouTuber turned wrestler even though Paul entered the match as #30. There's no way a loudmouth villain like Logan leaves that alone over the coming months, especially when he's been so outspoken when daydreaming about a WrestleMania showdown with Cena.

That's something Paul reportedly pitched behind the scenes. Initially, it seemed Triple H said no, but...plans might've changed. Cena will need someone high profile to work with in Vegas, and Logan is a lightning rod who's always going to receive boos from the core audience no matter what he does or how much of a natural he is between the ropes.

Yes, Elimination Chamber is still an open door for Cena and a World Title at 'Mania, but it does look like somebody else will scoop that glory in Toronto then finally make his own ambitions ring true in just a few short months...

1. CM Punk Winning Elimination Chamber

Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns have CM Punk's attention now. Realistically within the context of WWE's storytelling, they always did, but both those guys are in the crosshairs because they were involved when Logan Paul eliminated Punk with a sneaky tip over the ropes at the Rumble. Logan vs. Punk could be something the promotion books eventually, but not at WrestleMania.

Nah, Punk has some other business to do there. Namely, main event either night one or night two.

That used to eat the man alive personally. Maybe that's not the case anymore, but Punk definitely wouldn't sniff at the chance to headline opposite Cody Rhodes and potentially win the WWE Title for the first time since 2011. To get there, Punk will need to win out at Elimination Chamber then pick his target. If Jey Uso goes for GUNTHER (to prove he can beat the big Austrian once and for all), then Cody will be free for a wee wrestle in Vegas.

WWE laid the groundwork for this by having both guys go nose to nose on Raw. They followed that up by having Punk invade SmackDown for a verbal sparring session with Kevin Owens, but the real meat on the bone comes with Punk vs. Cody. That's a money match; it's the kind people would trip over one another to see.

Weirdly, it'd be two former AEW stars clashing in the 'Mania main event. OK, so they were WWE stars first and foremost, but the fact Punk and Cody spent time in All Elite won't be lost on anybody once the bell rings.

Chamber first, 'Mania after that. Here we go!

Where else can you see WWE going after Royal Rumble 2025? For more wrestling, check out 10 WWE Jobbers Who Became World Champion and 6 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (31 Jan - Results & Review)!