WWE Royal Rumble 2017: Predicting 10 Biggest Spots
5. David Slays Goliath
One of the best things about the Royal Rumble match is that it allows WWE to develop several stories within the confines of a single match. The company rarely have the opportunity to place so many wrestlers in the ring at the same time, and the event always provides a number of major story threads, no matter who walks out the winner.
Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn has been one of Raw’s most prominent stories in recent weeks, and Zayn earned his Rumble spot by pinning Seth Rollins on last night’s show. Look for WWE to continue the interactions between him and Braun. If last week’s Raw is anything to go by, Sami’s business with the monster is far from over, and after weeks of being thrown around like a ragdoll, Zayn is long overdue a spot of good fortune.
This is the perfect environment for Zayn to gain a measure of revenge on Strowman without harming Braun’s monstrous aura. Having Sami defeat Braun in one-on-one competition could prove harmful, but an opportunistic Rumble elimination keeps him protected while also giving Zayn a nice spot of shine.
Remember Maven and The Undertaker in 2002? Expect something similar here. Sami is still chomping at the bit to prove himself against Strowman, and eliminating him from the Royal Rumble would make a huge statement. WWE could go for the standard “gang-up” spot to get Braun out of the match, but that would be a cop-out, and a missed opportunity to restore some of Sami’s dented credibility.