The world of wrestling is full of surprises, thrills and fiery rivalries, and the recently announced big event on January 27th is Royal Rumble 2024. In this article, we'll explore the top favorites to win the Royal Rumble and potentially challenge the current champion WWE Universal, Roman Reigns, at WrestleMania 40.
GUNTHER: With his uncompromising style and reputation as a "title hunter," Gunther is one of the favorites to win the Royal Rumble and the current Intercontinental champion who is currently completing a record 495 days with the belt. His imposing physique and aggressive tactics make him a force to be reckoned with in the ring, in addition to the fact that he is one of the biggest villains today, he had a great performance in the Royal Rumble 2023 where he was the first entry and was only eliminated by the winner Cody Rhodes at the last moment.
SOLO SIKOA: The talented Samoan wrestler, Solo Sikoa, has impressed fans with his strength and indomitable aggression both on the SmackDown and Raw shows, in addition, he is a loyal follower of the Bloodline group led by Roman Reigns, he has saved the champion at different times. If he wins the Royal Rumble, we will have an epic showdown between two Samoan wrestlers, Reigns and Sikoa, at WrestleMania.
CODY RHODES: Cody Rhodes, also known as "The American Nightmare," is a rising legend in WWE, being the last winner of the Royal Rumble in 2023, he is the highlight of the moment, fighting great battles against Judgment Day and even against Bloodline, Cody was Roman Reigns' last challenger for the WWE world title at WrestleMania 39 and only lost due to Solo Sikoa's interference. Both fighters had a recent meeting on SmackDown on October 13, suggesting that the rivalry between Rhodes and Reigns hasn't finished yet. His technical skill and charisma carry with him an illustrious family legacy, and he could use the Royal Rumble as a springboard to achieve stardom and challenge Roman Reigns again.
BOBBY LASHLEY: The "All-Mighty" Bobby Lashley is a true giant, with a career marked by notable achievements. His overwhelming power and winning record make him a serious threat to Reigns' supremacy, in addition, Lashley has new friends in the Street Profits who together are a new threat on SmackDown, annihilating everyone who gets in his way, he could easily enter the route of the WWE world title, winning the Royal Rumble as a passport.
LA KNIGHT: LA Knight is a fighter who doesn't spare words to express his confidence and talent, in addition to being a fighter loved by the public currently on SmackDown. His eloquence on the microphone is as sharp as his in-ring skills, and a Royal Rumble victory could cement his position as one of Reigns' top challengers.
SETH ROLLINS: With his vast experience and remarkable winning record, Seth Rollins is one of WWE's veterans and the current Raw Heavyweight Champion, but you might be wondering why the Raw champion would participate in the Royal Rumble Match? There is a theory that by the end of this year Rollins could lose his belt to a very favorite fighter, perhaps "American Nightmare" himself, Cody Rhodes, if that happens there is no doubt that he would be one of the biggest threats in Roman Reigns' reign, and the challengers mentioned in this list, he is the fighter who most knows the current world champion Roman Reigns from numerous confrontations throughout history, in addition to being his partner in the former group called The Shield. He has already been world champion several times and could be willing to do anything to be at the top of the mountain in 2024. With so many talented candidates, choosing who will face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 will be crucial. Roman Reigns has been one of the most dominant Universal Champions in recent WWE history, and his opponent needs to be up to the challenge. While all of the aforementioned wrestlers have the potential to deliver an epic fight, the most intriguing scenario appears to be a showdown between Roman Reigns and young Solo Sikoa.
The two Samoans have deep roots in Samoan culture, and this could add an extra layer of intensity to the rivalry. Roman Reigns is a polarizing figure who calls himself "Tribal Chief," while Solo Sikoa seeks to assert his Samoan ancestry. This rivalry has the potential to captivate fans and create an emotionally charged narrative heading into WrestleMania 40. However, WWE is known for its unpredictable twists and turns, and any of the aforementioned wrestlers could excel at Royal Rumble and challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40 .
