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

2. Randy Orton

Royal Rumble
WWE.com

Randy Orton only emerged as one of the Royal Rumble's new favourites earlier this week. Having spent much of the build flying under the radar, Orton's odds of winning have gone through the roof in recent days, and new reports suggest that he'll win the Royal Rumble, Bray Wyatt will become WWE Champion at Elimination Chamber, and the duo will face-off for the gold at WrestleMania.

It makes perfect sense. The Orton/Wyatts storyline has spiked Randy's popularity in the wake of the Brock Lesnar/SummerSlam debacle, and the break-up has been on the cards for weeks. Having their eventual blow-off match revolve around the WWE Championship means they'll be settling their differences in the biggest possible way on the grandest stage of them all.

The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer has gone so far as to state that "if Orton doesn't win, it's because WWE have changed their mind." It'd be inaccurate to call him a "sure thing" given the company's propensity to alter their plans at the last minute, but Orton continues growing in strength ahead of this weekend's show.

Chances: Heavy favourite.

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.