It is a well-established tradition that the ‘Road to WrestleMania’ begins at the Royal Rumble with the winners of the titular matches earning a spot on the card on the grandest stage of them all.
WWE Royal Rumble: Who might win
WWE is classed as sports entertainment and while the outcome of these matches is largely predetermined, exactly who the winner will be is a closely guarded secret and draws more than the odd punt.
The best indicators of who may win a Royal Rumble are who the WWE have chosen to ‘push’ in the months ahead of the event with a curveball often thrown in when a big name star returns. In 2008 John Cena shocked the WWE Universe when he returned from injury earlier than expected and won the Rumble match.
Based on the available information and prevailing attitudes within the WWE, leading online sportsbook Bovada have determined their favourites to win the match.
The shortest odds available have been pinned on one man on a newfound singles charge in Big E (+500) and another superstar who made his return at the 2020 Rumble and is rumoured to be set for a big push on the road to Wrestlemania in Edge (+500).
Brock Lesnar remains in contractual limbo but that hasn’t kept the Beast from being made one of the favoured possible entrants. Lesnar opens at +800, despite his absence from WWE programming since mid-2020.
For the women’s match, Rhea Ripley is made favourite (+700), while MMA mavens Ronda Rousey (+750) and Shayna Bazler (+800) are also possible winners with a high likelihood of success.
Alexa Bliss (+1000) and Sasha Banks (+1000) have been the stars of the women’s division in 2020 and could go on to the showcase of the immortals.
The long shots
Dark horse candidates for the men’s match include former WWE champion and UFC fighter CM Punk (+2000), heavyweight boxing champion and one-time WWE competitor Tyson Fury (+5000), former UFC double champion Conor McGregor (+10000), and the most electrifying man in all of entertainment The Rock (+1400).
Wildcard longshots include the recently released Zelina Vega (+10000) along with Paige (+1600), Kairi Sane (+2500) and the company’s Chief Brand Officer and former women’s champion Stephanie McMahon (+15000).
ODDS TO WIN 2021 MENS ROYAL RUMBLE
Big E +500
Edge +500
Keith Lee +800
Brock Lesnar +800
Kevin Owens +1000
Roman Reigns +1000
AJ Styles +1200
The Rock +1400
Daniel Bryan +1400
Bray Wyatt +1600
Drew McIntyre +2000
Seth Rollins +2000
Aleister Black +2000
CM Punk +2000
Adam Cole +2200
Andrade +2500
Braun Strowman +2500
Goldberg +2800
Killer Kross +3300
Ricochet +3300
Finn Balor +3300
Samoa Joe +3300
John Cena +3300
King Corbin +3300
Randy Orton +4000
Lars Sullivan +4000
Tommasso Ciampa +5000
Johnny Gargano +5000
Matt Riddle +5000
Walter +5000
Velveteen Dream +5000
Tyson Fury +5000
Buddy Murphy +6600
John Morrison +6600
Rey Mysterio +6600
Kofi Kingston +6600
Sheamus +6600
Pete Dunne +6600
Mustafa Ali +8000
Angel Garza +8000
Bobby Lashley +8000
Xavier Woods +10000
Shinsuke Nakamura +10000
Dolph Ziggler +10000
Erick Rowan +10000
The Miz +10000
Conor McGregor +10000
Dean Ambrose +10000
Rusev +10000
Elias +10000
Humberto Carrillo +10000
Robert Roode +10000
Shane McMahon +25000
Vince McMahon +25000
ODDS TO WIN 2021 WOMENS ROYAL RUMBLE
Rhea Ripley +700
Ronda Rousey +750
Shayna Baszler +800
Alexa Bliss +1000
Sasha Banks +1000
Bayley +1200
Bianca Belair +1400
Nia Jax +1400
Paige +1600
Charlotte Flair +1600
Io Shirai +2000
Asuka +2000
Lacey Evans +2000
Liv Morgan +2500
Ruby Riot +2500
Kairi Sane +2500
Nikki Cross +2500
Mandy Rose +2599
Sonya Deville +2500
Carmella +2599
Naomi +3300
Ember Moon +3300
Natalya +3300
Candice LeRae +4000
Toni Storm +4000
Dana Brooke +4000
Tegan Nox +4000
Dakota Kai +5000
Kay Lee Ray +5000
Tamina +6600
Mercedes Martinez +6600
Sarah Logan +6600
Jessamyn Duke +8000
Deonna Purrazzo +8000
Chelsea Green +8000
Marina Shafir +8000
Lana +8000
Piper Niven +8000
Mia Yim +8000
Billy Kay +8000
Peyton Royce +8000
Xia Li +10000
Zelina Vega +10000
Stephanie McMahon +15000
