Royal Rumble 2025 predictions roundtable: Who wins WWE's golden ticket to WrestleMania 41?

The road to WrestleMania kicks off in earnest on Saturday night, with the 38th annual Royal Rumble taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The card isn’t as loaded as your typical WWE premium live event, due in large part to the two titular Royal Rumble matches, which see the last man and woman standing be guaranteed championship matches at WrestleMania 41 in April. Apart from those chaotic clashes, Cody Rhodes puts his Undisputed WWE Championship on the line against Kevin Owens in a ladder match and DIY puts the WWE Tag Team Championship up against Motor City Machine Guns in a two-out-of-three falls match.

Join Uncrowned’s Horsemen (Kel Dansby, Robert Jackman, Drake Riggs and Anthony Sulla-Heffinger) as we come off — but not topple over — the top rope by answering five burning questions about the 2025 Royal Rumble and make predictions for the matches on Saturday's big card.

1. What is one thing you NEED to see out of the Men's Royal Rumble? (This can be a feud, surprise entrant, winner, etc)

Jackman: A big surprise. Perhaps it’s because I was re-watching the clip of Edge's return last night, but I feel like it’s been a while since the Rumble gave us a real marmalade dropper (as we Brits call them). I’m not too fussed as to exactly what it is — perhaps an appearance from The Rock, for example — but I really hope we get something that knocks us for six on that front.

Yes, I realize that hoping for “a big surprise” in a Rumble is a little cliched — like those kids who wish for world peace — but I’m sticking to it.

Riggs: Penta has to look like a madman. I would love the surprise of him actually pulling off the win, and considering how he’s been presented since his WWE arrival, it wouldn't be the craziest thing. But, of course, that would be such an extreme and instant “to the moon” push that it won’t happen. He’s a ready-made, perfect mid-card champion waiting to happen. A Bron Breakker rivalry would deliver the goods beyond belief, but getting that man into the world title scene would break the WWE norm and really deliver a boost to the whole Lucha scene. It feels like that’s something WWE is trying to hone in on, so I’m hopeful. Nonetheless, Penta has to keep shining.

Sulla-Heffinger: Trick Williams. More specifically, I need a staredown moment between Williams and Carmelo Hayes. Those kinds of Rumble showdowns are always special, and even if they don’t get to fight one-on-one in the big match, it could set the stage for a renewal of their NXT rivalry whenever Williams is inevitably called up to the WWE main roster. Normally, I would say that call-up will happen after WrestleMania 41, but with "SmackDown" being three hours long and Hayes needing to build some serious momentum, I can see WWE making the move sooner rather than later. Saturday’s the perfect time for it.

Dansby: Triple H’s first few Royal Rumbles have lacked the magic that made the match a must-watch spectacle in years past. The absence of nostalgic and surprise entrants has taken away some of the unpredictability that defines the event. This year, WWE needs to bring back the excitement by embracing the chaos and fun that the Rumble is known for.

Give the fans a few cheap pops — bring back an unexpected legend, like Batista or Kurt Angle, even if just for a brief cameo. Capitalize on big-name returns from injury, with stars like AJ Styles and Ilja Dragunov making shocking comebacks. Beyond the nostalgia, the match should also be used to elevate a future main-eventer. Whether it’s a dominant performance from John Cena — a legend on his final run — or a star-making showing from someone like Carmelo Hayes, the Rumble needs to feel momentous again.

2. What is one thing you NEED to see out of the Women's Royal Rumble? (This can be a feud, surprise entrant, winner, etc)

Riggs: I need two specific things out of this one. First, the return of Asuka, who would fit right into any position on the current roster and give us some banger matches and feuds with practically anyone. Secondly, Jade Cargill’s return and exposure of Naomi. I still think they missed an excellent opportunity to book it into Tiffany Stratton’s title win, but we’ll see how this plays out. That admittedly would've been a bit overbooked, but it already was. Let’s build towards Cargill vs. Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41.

Dansby: The women’s Rumble should serve as a clear launchpad for the top two championship matches at WrestleMania 41. Both Rhea Ripley and Tiffany Stratton have had strong title reigns, but their recent feuds — most notably against Nia Jax — have felt more like filler than meaningful storytelling. WWE needs to establish clear and compelling challengers for both champions.

The final two women in the Rumble should signal the next big title programs. The winner, of course, earns their choice of champion, but the runner-up should also have a defined path — perhaps by proving themselves inside the Elimination Chamber. Whether it’s Becky Lynch, Bayley, or an unexpected rising star like Lyra Valkyria, the Rumble must set the stage for WrestleMania 41’s marquee matchups in the division.

Sulla-Heffinger: Charlotte Flair’s return to dominance. With Flair’s participation already confirmed, it seems like a pretty easy leap to have her win the Royal Rumble for a second time in her career. If Flair wins, there’s legitimate intrigue as to who she will challenge because there’s no clear-cut feud for her right away. A trilogy WrestleMania 41 match against Rhea Ripley would be absolutely breathtaking and a brand-new showdown with Tiffany Stratton would be equally as enthralling. Even if Flair loses and looks dominant in the process, she could step into a program or WrestleMania match with the champion who isn’t picked.

Jackman: This one is pretty easy for me. I think we really need to see some progress and direction with Jade Cargill. Her debut at 2024's Rumble was perfectly executed, after months of fleeting backstage teasers, and you could almost feel that energy when she had that staredown with Bianca Belair.

While WWE has given her a decent push over the past year, I really don’t think they’ve fully captured that potential. The “whodunnit” angle around the backstage attack has dragged on a bit, and most of her matches before then were against lesser competitors. Let’s see her get the kind of booking she deserves.

3. Should WWE do away with having two sets of tag team championships?

Dansby: No. If anything, the tag team division is finally regaining momentum, and keeping two sets of titles is essential for maintaining that progress. The recent surge in quality matches, including Saturday's highly anticipated two-out-of-three falls match between the Motor City Machine Guns and DIY, proves that tag team wrestling can once again be a centerpiece of WWE programming.

One of the biggest criticisms of WWE’s modern era has been the devaluation of tag team wrestling. Triple H’s NXT was revered for its deep, competitive tag scene, and he now has the opportunity to recreate that magic on the main roster. Merging the championships would cut valuable opportunities in half — right when the division is beginning to thrive again.

Jackman: I don’t think so. To my mind, the big advantage to having the two sets of belts is that you have that extra flexibility if you need it.

Tag team wrestling can be more chaotic (in a good way), so it’s good to have belts that can change around at the drop of the hat — as WWE has done a few times recently on "SmackDown." But you still have that second set of titles if you really want to build up a team and protect them, like they used to do with The Usos.

When I’ve been to live shows, the tag team matches are often a crowd favorite, particularly for those smaller "Raw" and "SmackDown" offerings. I think it’s great that they can have regular tag matches with actual titles on the line.

Riggs: Yeah, it would be for the best, considering how one-sided the brands are. We saw the lack of contenders in full force this past Monday. The War Raiders and The Judgment Day delivered another good title tilt, but it made no sense at all for The Judgment Day to rechallenge them. The brand split isn’t as loose as it was at its worst, but it’s not the tightest. Let one universal pair of champions float the titles around both shows.

Sulla-Heffinger: Yes. The "SmackDown" tag-team division has so much talent and momentum that it’s easy to forget who actually holds the World Tag Team Championships on "Raw." (It’s the War Raiders, by the way. This isn’t a gripe against them.) Part of the hype surrounding the blue brand’s division is that it has Motor City Machine Guns among its ranks, WWE’s shiny new tag-team toy, but the reality is there just isn’t the same level of depth on "Raw." Maybe the heel New Day makes a run, maybe A-Town Down Under or the Creed Brothers step up, but I think there’d be a lot more excitement if there was one set of belts, similar to the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Whoever wins the two-out-of-three falls match between DIY and MCMG on Saturday should face War Raiders to unify the belts and just have the champions roam brands.

4. Is the Royal Rumble match the best gimmick match in professional wrestling history?

Jackman: It’s the most accessible, for sure. I ended up watching 2024's event with two friends who hardly knew the first thing about wrestling, and I wasn’t surprised that they enjoyed it.

I also think it’s a real credit to the strength of the gimmick that WWE is still coming up with new twists and spots after nearly 40 years.

Dansby: Without question. There’s simply no match that generates the level of excitement, unpredictability and long-term booking possibilities that the Royal Rumble does. Fans tune in not just to see who wins, but for the countless stories woven into the fabric of the match — rivalries reigniting, shocking betrayals, ironman performances and those unforgettable surprise returns.

No other match allows a company to feature 30 (or 60, counting both Rumbles) talents in a way that makes sense. It's a perfect blend of chaos and storytelling, with the unique ability to set up multiple feuds in a single night. While WrestleMania may be the grandest stage, the Rumble remains the most thrilling night of the year for many fans.

Sulla-Heffinger: This depends on how you define “best.” Royal Rumble is my favorite event of the year because of the chaos and relative unpredictability of the entrants, but I will stop short of saying it’s the best gimmick match in the business. Let’s be honest here, it’s a glorified Battle Royal. (This is my heel turn.) As far as the best goes, in my opinion, it has to be the Elimination Chamber. The Elimination Chamber itself was wildly innovative at its inception and is parts of Hell in a Cell, Royal Rumble and a gauntlet match all rolled into one. I think we tend to overlook how much fun the Elimination Chamber is because of its proximity to both the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania.

Riggs: It was, at least until the surprises started getting ruined a few years back. That’s been the most unbearably annoying aspect of Rumble season, and I’m not afraid to express it. Shock value is what makes wrestling special. Yes! Kayfabe IS dead! Surprises are not! When appropriately executed, nothing is better than an unexpected reveal that the company didn't confirm. I’ll agree with Anthony on this one. I’ve always loved the Elimination Chamber, and even though it’s not what it once was, it’s still an awesome concept.

5. Book the finish for Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

Dansby: AND NEW!

Just kidding.

Kevin Owens is one of the most beloved stars in WWE, and fans would love to see him get another world title run. But this isn’t the time. His role here is to elevate Cody Rhodes and solidify Rhodes' reign with a definitive victory. Owens has pushed the champ to his limits, making this the first true test of Rhodes’ title run.

Rhodes needs to win this match clean — no shenanigans, no controversy. His story for the past two years has been about chasing the belt. Now, for the first time, he’s the one being chased. He must stand tall, ready to welcome his next challenger — the Royal Rumble winner — into the spotlight. WrestleMania 41 is approaching fast, and Rhodes must walk in looking every bit the champion he spent years fighting to become.

Sulla-Heffinger: It would be one of the most stunning moments in recent WWE history if Rhodes doesn’t walk out of Lucas Oil Stadium as Undisputed WWE Champion. So how do we protect Owens, who has been doing some extraordinary work during this feud, and set him up for WrestleMania season?

It feels like Sami Zayn is destined to get involved here, so let’s have him NOT do that and let Rhodes win clean. Now I know I said I wanted to protect Owens, and even a loss could do that. Owens has been teetering on this line of delusion for the duration of this feud, so when Zayn doesn’t come out to help him, Owens can go berserk in a promo on "Raw" or "SmackDown," calling out and blaming his best friend for costing him the championship. There’s some great storytelling to be had and a date in Las Vegas for the latest installment of the Owens-Zayn rivalry.

Riggs: Again, I like where Anthony’s head is at and expect we’ll see some interaction between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens after the match. Or should I say: After Owens loses. I’d love the absurd surprise of Owens winning, obviously, but let’s not get crazy — that’s not happening, and shouldn’t. This Rhodes vs. Owens feud is so lost on creativity that I couldn’t be more tired of it. The shock win would drag it out even longer, which doesn’t help anyone other than the moment itself.

Now if I had complete booking fantasy freedom control, I’d bring back Randy Orton here to interfere and cost Owens the match — then RKO Rhodes as he celebrates the win. The Rhodes and Orton program must happen at some point, and the road to WrestleMania 41 feels more fitting than the big show itself. Meanwhile, Owens descends into complete psychosis, trying to murder Orton again while Zayn holds him back, taking them on their own side journey.

Jackman: OK, let’s go for something different. You put the men’s Royal Rumble on first and have CM Punk win that. Rhodes and Owens then throw everything at the wall for an absolute barnstormer of a ladder match (remember Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara at Beach Break a few years ago?) with Cody eventually triumphing in a decisive win.

As Rhodes starts to walk up the ramp, still looking pretty bruised and broken from the match, you have Punk walk out for the staredown. Punk just needs to give him that look to say “I told you so” and I think the crowd would go wild.

Sure, it might sound a little flat on paper, but what we saw on Monday’s "Raw" was just how much that these two can do just by being in the same ring as each other. There seems to be real hunger for a Punk vs. Rhodes showdown, so having a closing sequence that sets that path in stone would be a big deal.

Predictions:

Men’s Royal Rumble winner: CM Punk (Dansby, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger); Logan Paul (Jackman)

Women’s Royal Rumble winner: Iyo Sky (Riggs, Jackman); Becky Lynch (Dansby); Charlotte Flair (Sulla-Heffinger

Cody Rhodes (c.) vs. Kevin Owens in a ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (Dansby, Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger)

DIY (c.) vs. Motor City Machine Guns for the WWE Tag Team Championships (2-out-of-3 falls): Motor City Machine Guns (Jackman, Riggs, Sulla-Heffinger); DIY (Dansby)