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WWE Royal Rumble 2024: Odds, Picks & Predictions

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One thing I’ve always appreciated about the WWE is that it starts to heat up right as football season is winding down. WrestleMania season - which begins with the Royal Rumble this Saturday night - serves as the perfect form of entertainment to get me through the doldrums of the rest of winter.

That said, this year’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event is one I’ve been excited about for a while. As is tradition, the winner of the Royal Rumble gets to challenge a current champ to a title match at WrestleMania 40.

This year’s event carries the same stakes, although an injury to Seth Rollins, the current World Heavyweight Champion on Monday Night Raw, has thrown some intrigue into the men’s match.

Without further ado, here’s a preview of both the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches.

WWE Royal Rumble 2024: Odds, Picks & Predictions

(Odds courtesy of BetOnline)

Women’s Royal Rumble Betting Odds & Preview 

Bayley +135
Becky Lynch +200
Jade Cargill +300
Nia Jax +800
Raquel Rodriguez +900
Bianca Belair +1000
Mercedes Mone/Sasha Banks +1200
Liv Morgan +1400
Asuka +1600
Shayna Baszler +2500

The Women’s Royal Rumble feels like a two-person event, as both Bayley and Becky Lynch have clear paths to a title match. Bayley has led the faction “Damage CTRL” for over a year now, but she has fallen out of favor with the group, which also features the SmackDown Women’s Champion, Iyo Sky.

Meanwhile, Becky Lynch has had a relatively quiet year where she has returned to her babyface ways after a questionable run as a heel. With the crowd back on her side, Lynch has spoken about wanting a shot to take down Raw Women’s Champion, Rhea Ripley, who has become the top female performer in the company.

I think we can essentially throw out the rest of the top 10, although Bianca Belair at 10/1 is intriguing, given her popularity and ability. However, Belair recently had a title run and doesn’t seem poised to earn another shot.

The most intriguing name on this list is definitely Mercedes Mone, who wrestled under the name Sasha Banks in WWE before leaving the company in dramatic fashion. However, listing Mone/Banks on these odds is more for intrigue than anything else, although the Royal Rumble has been known for its fair share of shocking returns and enormous surprises.

Ultimately, I have to go with the favorite, Bayley. She was one of the Four Horsewomen who came into WWE simultaneously and completely altered the women’s professional wrestling landscape. However, she’s never won a Royal Rumble and hasn’t competed in an individual match at the Showcase of the Immortals. Given that she seems about ready to turn on Iyo Sky and her Damage CTRL faction, the opportunity and storyline make this the right time for her to win.

The pick: Bayley +135

Men’s Royal Rumble Betting Odds & Preview 

CM Punk +125
Cody Rhodes +200
Gunther +300
The Rock +900
Drew McIntyre +1000
Jey Uso +1000
Sami Zayn +1400
Kevin Owens +2500
Solo Sikoa +2500
Brock Lesnar +3300

The favorite CM Punk is easily the most intriguing wrestler to watch on Royal Rumble night. Punk returned to - something that seemed practically impossible after his bitter fallout with the company - in Chicago at November’s Survivor Series event.

Ever since Punk’s return, speculation has mounted suggesting he and Rollins were on a collision course for WrestleMania. It all makes sense. Punk has spoken openly about wanting to headline a WrestleMania main event, and placing the World Heavyweight Championship on him makes sense. So by that logic, Punk being +125 to win the event seemed like tremendous value.

However, there are significant questions about whether that Punk-Rollins match will actually happen. Rollins suffered a significant (and real) knee injury at RAW two weeks ago in a title match with Jinder Mahal (a match that felt completely unnecessary, but that’s the WWE). Rollins professed on this Monday’s episode of RAW that he will defy the doctors and fight at WrestleMania no matter what. But what Rollins says and what his knee allows him to do are two entirely different factors right now. His availability could impact who actually goes over in the Royal Rumble.

Going down the board, I think we can throw out the second favorite, Cody Rhodes. He won the event last year and did nothing with it, ultimately losing to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Rhodes has continually said he has to “finish his story,” but I don’t see WWE giving us Rhodes vs. Reigns again at WrestleMania 40, which would be the only realistic way to end his story.

While I think Gunther is a superstar, there’s still the problem of his Intercontinental Championship, so I think we can throw him out and keep him in mind for next year’s event.

Drew McIntyre and Jey Uso are both intriguing options at 10/1 odds. McIntyre is fully capable of carrying the belt and has done some tremendous character work as a villain. However, there are questions surrounding McIntyre’s future with WWE, as reports are he has yet to reach a contract extension. Uso is related to Reigns and is currently in a feud with the champ and his “Bloodline” faction. However, Uso and Reigns haven’t really interacted in months, and now doesn’t feel like the right time for them to trade pleasantries.

The wild card in all of this is The Rock, who is always listed on Royal Rumble odds boards just because of his star power. However, there’s actually a real chance The Rock returns to WWE after he showed up to RAW weeks ago and took some subtle jabs at Roman Reigns, indicating there could be a match on the horizon.

Ultimately, I do think Rock and Reigns tango at WrestleMania 40, but The Rock doesn’t need to win the Royal Rumble to earn his right to challenge him. Plus, I don’t see The Rock, who seems extremely busy, spending over a month back with the company, as this match doesn’t need much build-up beyond the name brands.

While Rollins’ injury throws a potential monkey wrench into WWE’s plans, I think CM Punk returned with the promise of headlining one of WrestleMania’s two nights. Whether it’s against Rollins is an entirely different question. But I do think Punk wins, although watch out for Rhodes as a break glass in case of emergency option.

The pick: CM Punk +125

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday:


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