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The Wrestling-News.Net staff are here to deliver their predictions on pay-per-view events for 2012. Guiding you through the WWE Royal Rumble 2012 predictions are Wayne Daly, Jay O’Dwyer, Michael Taj Gallagher and Jon Curry.

Let’s get to it…..

John Cena vs. Kane

Wayne: This has all centered on whether John Cena will “Embrace The Hate” as Kane has wanted him to and something that we have slightly seen Cena do for the past couple of weeks, more so after Zack Ryder was written out of current WWE storylines at the hands of Kane. As for the match itself, I can see both guys ensuing in a brawl before Cena finally snaps and lets loose on Kane, resulting on Kane picking up the DQ finish.
Wayne’s Predicted Winner: Kane

Jay: This match will just be a brawl, which Cena attempting to get revenge for his fallen comrade Zack Ryder. Not much to say on this as I feel the story has gone quite flat in recent weeks after such a fascinating beginning. I can see Kane winning leaving it to carry on until Elimination Chamber so Cena has something to do before starting to focus fully on his WrestleMania showdown with The Rock.
Jay’s Predicted Winner: Kane

Taj: With all that has happened involving these two since Kane’s shock return, this match is unlikely to end with a pinfall or submission. After weeks of backstage assaults, numerous chokeslams, Zack Ryder being taken out and almost dragged to hell; John Cena has begun to “embrace the hate” and is unlikely to relent on The Big Red Machine when he gets his hands on him at the Royal Rumble. This match will, most likely, not be a match, but an all out brawl between the competitors; during and after the bell. At present, I see Cena finally losing control of his “dark-side” and, because of this, Kane may have a bigger fight than he realised.
Taj’s Predicted Winner: No Contest

Jon: I think this feud has been something different than we’re used to in WWE, and that is something of a slow build. They added the element of Zack Ryder, and Kane taking him out and it looking like it was Cena’s fault and that everything he did was for nothing, and using that to further Kane’s angle of making John Cena “Embrace the Hate.” I’m not sure we have a clean finish here, as I think this feud continues on to Elimination Chamber.
Jon’s Predicted Winner: Kane via disqualification.

Triple Threat Steel Cage Match For The WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Mark Henry vs. The Big Show

Wayne: With Daniel Bryan transitioning into a cocky heel and using anything to his advantage to win as we’ve seen in recent weeks, it remains interesting to see how he will be able to get out of a situation against two behemoths such as Mark Henry and The Big Show. D-Bry is going to be heading to WrestleMania I believe however the question remains as either a champion or challenger. Keeping up with Daniel Bryan’s “ultimate opportunist” (sorry Edge) type of character, I can see either The Big Show or Mark Henry ploughing Bryan through the cage, only for Daniel Bryan to be announced as the winner.
Wayne’s Predicted Winner: Daniel Bryan

Jay: This has been one of the more intriguing storylines in WWE as of late. The Big Show/Henry rivalry resulting in Daniel Bryan cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Big Show to become World Heavyweight Champion. Henry getting involved with D-Bry & then D-Bry slowly but surely turning heel, a position that has pretty much been cemented after this past weeks episode of Smackdown. Not forgetting the “accident” with poor defenceless AJ & this one looks to be a cracker. Show & Henry have put on some fantastic matches over the past few months, and everyone knows how good D-Bry is in the ring. I think this will be a great match come Sunday. As for the winner, I’ll go with D-Bry retaining.
Jay’s Predicted Winner: Daniel Bryan

Taj: With the slow progression of his apparent heel turn, it would seem silly to have Bryan drop the title at this stage. After escaping with the title (something he has been doing anything to keep) in matches with The Big Show and Mark Henry, D-Bry is now caged with both men in a match he seems “destined” to lose. With Big Show and Mark Henry having overwhelming hate for eachother, this is likely to culminate in superhuman feats of strength similar to those seen on WWE programming over the past few months. With the distraction of Show and Henry trying to one-up each other, the moment will likely present itself for Daniel Bryan to escape the clutches of the two behemoths with his championship around his waist.
Taj’s Predicted Winner: Daniel Bryan

Jon: This has by far been one of the most entertaining angles in WWE, Daniel Bryan continues to shine like no other since his heel turn late in 2011. Big Show and Mark Henry have been feuding on and off since the summer, and over the title since October, so to me this is the blow-off to their story. Daniel Bryan has been a nice injection into said feud as he adds a little bit of freshness, and Bryan has had several title defenses over the last month coming out on top in various ways against both Big Show and Mark Henry. That said I think all 3 men move onto whatever feud they will be going into WrestleMania, and at most, maybe feud until the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view next month.
Jon’s Predicted Winner: Daniel Bryan

WWE Championship Match
Special Guest Referee: John Laurinatis
CM Punk (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler

Wayne: This is a huge stage for Dolph Ziggler and given his performances in 2011 and his current win streak in recent weeks over CM Punk he appears to have the advantage and even more, as John Laurinaitis has openly admitted that he will screw over CM Punk so that he doesn’t walk out of St. Louis with his WWE Championship. With all that said however, I can see Laurinaitis taking a bump and another referee coming out to end this match, but Ziggler will pick up the victory and hold the title for a few weeks before dropping it at the Elimination Chamber PPV.
Wayne’s Predicted Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Jay: I honestly have no idea how this will turn out, it could really go either way. Punk is as always the fan favourite & most people expect him to retain the title. However, Dolph has shown just how good he over the last year or so. Putting on 5-Star matches with Daniel Bryan & more aswell as proving that his mic skills have greatly improved showing he’s ready to take the next big step in his career. When you factor in that undeniable variable of “Mr. Excitement” John Laurinaitis as the special guest ref, it could go to either of these two. Just because it’s something I’ve been hoping for for sometime now, I’m picking Dolph to win the title.
Jay’s Predicted Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Taj: With titles rarely, if ever, changing hands at the Royal Rumble, I do not see a buck in the trend this Sunday. Whilst I agree that Ziggler is almost at the championship-worthy stage in his career, it makes no sense to have him be a transitional champion until an upcoming Raw or the Elimination Chamber PPV (I’m of the view that it will be Cena vs The Rock for the WWE Championship). With the addition of Special Referee “Big Johnny” John Laurinaitis, this will be a match with a guaranteed “dodgy” finish where Laurinaitis is likely to be in the middle of things in his attempt to “screw” CM Punk. I don’t see it as simple as a quick count and Triple H or Mick Foley are likely to appear to even-the-odds and allow The Best In The World to retain in a match that hopefully steals the show despite its screwy finish.
Taj’s Predicted Winner: CM Punk

Jon: This feud has been good, it has been establishing Ziggler as a top superstar on the RAW brand, as he has defeated Punk I believe 4 times in 5 weeks according to Michael Cole. Very unusual, yet refreshing to see a young talent go over as much vs the top champion, and the added factor of Laurinaitis already stating he will screw Punk out of the title makes you think that this could be Ziggler’s night, but something tells me Mick Foley interferes to counteract any screwjob by Laurinaitis.
Jon’s Predicted Winner: CM Punk

30-Man WWE Royal Rumble Match

Wayne: For the first time in a long while it’s nice to say that it’s kind of tough to predict who may win the Royal Rumble match. You have top stars such as Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Sheamus, Wade Barrett and Cody Rhodes as people’s top picks, however if you factor in the announcement that champions can enter the match, then that allows CM Punk and Daniel Bryan to enter the match if they manage to retain their titles, or even allows the new champions should titles change tomorrow night to enter the match. There is also the potential return of WWE legends or those who haven’t been active on television in quite a while, which is why I believe a return of a superstar will lead to that said superstar winning the Royal Rumble match.
Wayne’s Predicted Winner: The Undertaker

Jay: After a few years of easily predictable Royal Rumble matches, this year is a massive change as no one is quite sure what to expect with this one. Will the recently returned Chris Jericho “End the world as we know it” and win the Rumble match, or will it be one of the earlier title match losers. Or even perhaps a young superstar ready to push their career to the next level, someone like Cody Rhodes, Wade Barrett or even Sheamus. Obviously we’ll get the traditional surprise entrants that give the match that extra buzz that makes it so special to wrestling fans all over the world. I honestly couldn’t say with any degree of certainty who is going to win this years Rumble, so I’ll just pick who I would like to see win. And with that I’m going with Wade Barrett to take the Barrett Barrage to the main event at WrestleMania.
Jay’s Predicted Winner: Wade Barrett

Taj: No, that isn’t a new debuting ring name for a surprise entrant, I simply can’t pick one superstar who is clearly going to end the night as the last man in the squared circle. There are quite a few active members of the roster who could be classed as worthy of one of WWE’s greatest accolades. Wade Barrett and the Barrett Barrage has been on a roll over the past few months and it could be finally seen as his time. With the emergence of the new stipulation that those who compete in the night’s championship matches can also compete in the Rumble, it could also be a sign that a star such as Dolph Ziggler could lose his match but emerge victorious in the Rumble and cement his place on the Road to WrestleMania. Other “possible” winners include the newly returning superstars in Chris Jericho, Randy Otron and Mick Foley. Fundamentally, we will have to tune in to find out who emerges victorious as the highly anticipated Royal Rumble will prove to have more than its fair share of twists, turns and “OMG” moments.
Taj’s Predicted Winner: Absolutely No Idea

Jon: This match in my opinion is very difficult to call the winner, the easy route would be to say Randy Orton because it’s in his hometown of St. Louis, MO, though I don’t think he needs another Rumble win, he is still, even though fresh off a return this past friday, one of the elite stars on SmackDown, so he can easily get into a title matchor #1 contender’s match at WrestleMania.That coupled with the litany of rumored stars to be in the match, also with WWE saying all superstars including Champions are eligible for the Rumble, it’s interesting to see who they have actually participate in the match. However his promo on RAW still has me interested in Jericho claiming the Royal Rumble will be “The end of the world, as we know it” and not having a clue what that means,and being very intrigued, that’s the direction I’m leaning towards.
Jon’s Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho

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