On Jan. 14, 2002, just six days before WWE’s 15th annual Royal Rumble pay per view, Stone Cold Steve Austin offered up a strategy on how to win the namesake match of the event.
As Michael Cole struggled to maintain control of an interview with Austin, he pointed down just above his waistline and said, “That’s a beer belly.”
Sensing context was needed, Stone Cold went to explain that “by lowering my centre of gravity, it makes it harder for a man to throw me over the top rope.”
Twenty-two years later, in the days ahead of the 37th annual Royal Rumble, Jey Uso offered up a similar strategy.
“Waffle House. Just Waffle-Housing it up, dog.”
Simple, yet effective.
On Saturday, inside Tropicana Field in Tampa, Fla., 30 men and 30 women will be applying their own form of tactic in an attempt to secure a spot in the main event of WrestleMania.
If there is one wrestler to study tape on when it comes to Rumble strategy, it’s Austin. The Rattlesnake is the only three-time winner in the history of the event, and one of only three to win consecutive Rumbles, joining Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels.
When asked what other sorts of strategy goes into Rumble preparation, Uso noted that much of his usual offensive arsenal will be off-limits in an over-the-top-rope battle royale.
“I’m not going up for a splash, I know that,” said Uso, admitting he’ll be abandoning his finishing maneuver. “No turnbuckle, dog. Or outside the ropes at all. I’m not splashing nobody, Uce. I mean, why would I climb up if somebody can just (throw me out)? There goes my dream of main-evening WrestleMania, Uce. It’s out the door, damn.”
While there are plenty of strategies to theorize, putting them into practice is easier said than done. Even more difficult when it’s likely Uso will come across some antagonists over the course of the evening.
“I think it’s about if I’m going to run into my brother Jimmy, or my brother Solo, or a couple of the guys that I did wrong with The Bloodline back in the day,” said Uso. “You know, I’ve still got a couple enemies back there, dog. So, I’ve got to watch my back in there.”
But if Uso does run into trouble, the game plan will alter to conquer and divide.
“I’ll try and see if Sami Zayn, me and Sami Zayn get tight, you know. I’ll probably find Cody in there and say, ‘Hey, boys, what’s up? Let’s get a faction going on in here, let’s get to the top four, we get to the final four and then …,’ you know what I mean?”
As Uso attempts to check all the preparation boxes in the days leading up to the Rumble, there is one unknown lurking for all wrestlers: your entry number.
“The last couple Rumbles that I did, man, you find out the number the day of,” recalled Uso, who has been in Nos. 23 and 24. “You go in there and you sit in this room, and they legit just hand you a paper and you can’t look at it, you don’t know until it’s go time, Uce. It’s, boom, ‘Oh damn, what number are you, Uce?’ You wanna go around asking people, like, ‘What kind of candy you got?’”
Uso hasn’t officially been announced as an entrant in this year’s Rumble, but he did say that it’s “a high possibility I’ll be in there, for sure.” And while the veteran has strategized a way that sees his hand raised after the final bell, he’s also aware that several other wrestlers can lay a strong argument to see themselves in the main event of ‘Mania.
“Damn, man, I’d have to say Cody Rhodes would be No. 1,” offered Uso, when asked to name a favourite outside of himself. “And even though I don’t like him, I’d say Drew McIntyre. He’s got a different twinkle in his eye these last couple of weeks, Uce. The man’s on a mission right now. I’ll have to keep my eye on him. Also, I mean damn, CM Punk. Hopefully, I can cross paths with Gunther. There’s a lot of options, Uce, for sure. I don’t know who the NXT homies are, but there’s a bunch of guys coming up down there, coming up here, now. It’s wide open, Uce, but I’m happy for it.”
Indeed, the options are plentiful for this year’s edition of the Rumble. The gambling markets are giving the edge to Punk, and have been for several weeks. Gunther was the runner-up last year to Rhodes, with both also receiving decent attention from the oddsmakers as well.
Meanwhile, McIntyre has already tasted a Rumble victory, securing the win in 2020, and remains in contention this year. WWE legend The Rock has teased stepping back in the ring, looking for a shot at the WWE title, currently held by his (real-life) cousin Roman Reigns.
It’s one of the most unique events promoted and exhibited by WWE, and as Uso excitedly said, “You’ve literally got, like, (30) dudes in the ring at one time, which never happens, only (at) a Royal Rumble.”
Predictions
Men’s Royal Rumble match
While Uso’s stock has risen as a singles wrestler, one wrestler seems destined to win this match: CM Punk.
Punk’s return to WWE was met with much fanfare, after just over a year spent in AEW, and his momentum has only continued to rise. Even with The Rock suggesting he’d like a match with Reigns at ‘Mania, that shouldn’t exclude Punk from also being there. Perhaps it will in the form of a triple-threat match, where Punk finally gets his long-awaited, signature WrestleMania victory, pinning both Reigns and Rock.
Prediction: CM Punk wins men’s Royal Rumble
Women’s Royal Rumble
Much of the intrigue surrounding the women’s Royal Rumble match comes from wrestlers who are not, and will not, be announced for the match.
While the usual standard-bearers of the women’s division such as Bayley, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair will make appearances within the match, it’s also expected that former stalwarts of the division will stroll down the ring.
Sasha Banks and Naomi haven’t been seen on WWE television since leaving under some controversy while holding the tag team titles in May 2022. Multiple wrestling news outlets have speculated on their returns, which could come in the Rumble.
Jade Cargill, meanwhile, is another wrestler who could surprise as a Rumble entrant. The former AEW TBS champion signed a mega-money deal with WWE in 2023 but still hasn’t had a match on television. Cargill could conceivably make her WWE in-ring debut in the Royal Rumble. The betting markets, meanwhile, are suggesting that a victory is well within reach, with Cargill going off around +300 at most books.
The consensus favourite, though, is Bayley, who’s going off around even money. It’s been teased that her faction Damage CTRL will eventually give her the boot, making her a sympathetic babyface in the process, a character and situation she has thrived in previously.
Prediction: Bayley wins the women’s Royal Rumble
Roman Reigns (C) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight for the undisputed WWE Universal Championship
This will be a fun match with a ton of shenanigans throughout, but Roman Reigns is not losing the title just a couple months ahead of WrestleMania, with his championship reign now over 1,200 days.
The aforementioned shenanigans may include an appearance from The Rock, kickstarting the hype train ahead of a potential WrestleMania match.
Prediction: Roman Reigns (C) wins fatal fairway match to retain undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Logan Paul (C) vs. Kevin Owens for the United States championship
YouTube influencer turned pro wrestler Logan Paul has held the United States title for a little over two months and feels confident his reign will carry on beyond the Rumble.
At SmackDown on Jan. 5 in Vancouver, Paul addressed his challenger for the title, native of Marieville Que., Kevin Owens and said, “You beating me for the U.S. title is like the Canucks winning the Stanley Cup.”
Great heat aside, if Paul were to take a quick peek at the NHL standings, he may come to notice that the Vancouver Canucks are indeed Cup contenders.
Having said that, while Owens and Paul should be a pretty solid matchup, there is little fruit to bear by having Owens defeat Paul. The current champ is good for business, and removing the title risks having Paul in limbo as just an attraction match at ‘Mania, with no stakes, something he has already done. It’s better off leaving the strap around Paul’s waist and setting up a solid storyline heading into WrestleMania.
Prediction: Logan Paul (C) defeats Kevin Owens to retain United States championship