WWE Royal Rumble 2019: 10 Things That Must Happen

Wrestle'MAN'ia 35 is on the horizon, people...

Vince McMahon
WWE.com
"It's time to shake things up around here."

Vince McMahon has said those words so many times over the past few years that we've lost count. Apparently, "shaking things up" means a few weeks of inspired TV before WWE go back to precisely what they were doing before such grand statements. Could the Royal Rumble, that timeless spectacle which turns 31 this year, change that?

To paraphrase big Braun Strowman to wee Finn Bálor on this past Monday's Raw, it better.

WrestleMania 35 is right around the corner, and there's no way WWE want to roll into New Jersey's MetLife Stadium with a flat tyre. So, what do the company have to do in order to ensure Rumble 2K19 is a worthwhile show that balances surprise with logic? The answer is simple: uphold the direction taken by recent storylines.

That's not all. WWE must also make sure the pre-show is worth watching, throw in a bit of wild brawling and get the results of both Rumble matches right. They have to, because 'Mania season's success may depend on a hot opening chapter...

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.