Royal Rumble 2013 Preview / Predictions / Results

Matches Announced For This Show

WWE Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. The Rock
Events leading to this match: The announcement that The Rock would be getting this match was made several months ago. Punk and Rock have had a verbal war which became physical during Rock's random appearances throughout 2012. Punk's current reign as champion began in 2011 which makes 2012 the first year since 1987 that the WWE Championship did not change hands. Over the past few months, a group called The Shield has been interfering in Punk's matches to help him retain the title. Vince McMahon has rules that if the Shield interferes in this match then Punk will be stripped of the belt.

The Royal Rumble Match
Rules of the match: The match begins with two men in the ring. Then every 2-minutes another wrestler will enter the ring until all 30 participants have entered the match. A wrestler gets eliminated from the bout by being tossed over the top rope and having both feet land on the arena floor. The winner of the match will get a shot at either the WWE or the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXIX.

Last Man Standing Match: World Heavyweight Championship: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Big Show
Rules of the match: The only way to win this match is to incapacitate your opponent so they are unable to stand up by the time the referee counts to 10.
Events leading to this match: Alberto recently won the title from Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match. Big Show invoked his championship rematch clause to get this title shot.

WWE Tag Team Championship: Team Hell No (c) vs. Team Rhodes Scholars
Events leading to this match: When these two teams faced off against each other a few months ago, the champions not only got the victory but they also put Cody Rhodes out of commission for a few weeks. When Cody returned to action, he not only sported a new mustache, but more importantly, his team beat the champions in a non-title match to earn this shot at the belts.

Pre-Show Match for the United States Championship: Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. The Miz
Events leading to this match: This match will be streamed on wwe.com during the 30-minute live pre-show for this event which starts at 7:30 PM EST. The issues between these men began when the champion interrupted an episode of Miz TV featuring Ric Flair. During that encounter, Ric Flair passed the torch of the Figure-Four Leglock to The Miz.

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I think CM Punk retains. I believe there will be interference of some sort (not the Shield) that will keep the belt on Punk and setting up the guy who interferes vs The Rock at Wrestlemania. I'm guessing Brock will do the interfering.

Not sure who wins this Rumble....but...I'm gonna go for Randy Orton. I don't want him too, but I feel that it will be him. Beating Sheamus at the very end.

I'm not sure how the end of the last man standing match plays out...but either way I see Ziggler leaving the building with the belt. I'll go with Show winning and then Ziggler cashing it in on him.

Road Scholars will be new Tag Champs. Team Hell No will then slowly split. I think they need to split to be honest.

Cesaro will retain. I like the Miz but Cesaro is riding a high wave and I think it'll be a mistake to take the belt off of him yet..especially on a pre show telecast on it. He deserves better.