WWE Royal Rumble 2017: Rating Each Entrant's Chances Of Winning

11. Dean Ambrose

Royal Rumble
WWE.com

Along with AJ Styles and The Miz, Dean Ambrose has held SmackDown's upper tier together since the Brand Split. He was already in a great position as WWE Champion prior to the Draft, but the Split allowed him to become a top level babyface in his own right while taking his character to a new level.

Things are going well for Ambrose at the moment, and the Intercontinental Title is safe around his waste. It's one of WWE's most prestigious belts at the moment, and its value is only going to increase with Dean as champion.

That being said, the IC Title is a big hindrance to Dean's chances in the Rumble. It effectively fastens him to the upper-midcard for the time being, and if he were walking into the match without the belt, he'd likely be among the favourites. An Ambrose win isn't completely out of the question, however, and his track record against AJ Styles and John Cena suggests he'd be able to deliver in a big WrestleMania 33 match.

Chances: Moderate.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.