The 2017 Royal Rumble is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular events of the entire year, and we’re still only in January! That is how good this PPV card is looking. The show that features the annual 30-man over-the-top-rope main event will also feature John Cena’s attempt to tie Ric Flair’s timeless record of 16 World Championships.

The first Royal Rumble since the brand-split, it will surely include incredible drama from both the RAW and SmackDown Live rosters. Which brand the winner will come from will be interesting to see.

With the 30-man Royal Rumble match also comes long-awaited returns, many of which are usually surprises. However, there is one person everybody is dying to see…the Deadman himself, The Undertaker, in his first ring action since WrestleMania 32 last year. This will surely shed some light on who 'The Phenom’s' opponent will be at WrestleMania 33.

This event will also feature the in-ring return of Brock Lesnar and Goldberg, who have not come face-to-face since Goldberg defeated The Beast Incarnate in just 1 minute 24 seconds. Included on the card with the 30-man match will be four championship matches.

The event will be held on Sunday, January 29 at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast around the world in over 100 countries from the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. I also always like to remember that WWE is a legitimate public corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Every decision they make and every champion they crown could directly effect their stock price, so every decision is ultimately about maximizing profit.

WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rick Swann vs. Neville

In the recent month since running in and attacking Swann at the WWE Roadblock PPV, Neville has deemed himself King of the Cruiserweights. I have to agree with him, Neville just seems like he is an entire class above all of these guys in the relatively new cruiserweight division. Swann is doing his best holding down the title, but the division needed a spark, and Neville is the guy to do it. The only way I can see Neville losing this match is outside interference, but at the end of the day I believe we give the king his crown.

WINNER: Neville

RAW Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley

Now that the excruciatingly long feud between Charlotte and Sasha Banks is over, where we saw the title change hands six times, Charlotte can finally move on to perhaps the most energetic superstar in the company. Bayley brings unmatched charisma every time she enters the ring, but it is too soon in this rivalry for the title to switch hands. WWE needs to build the reputation of Bayley a little longer before she should claim the title.

WINNER: Charlotte Flair

WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. John Cena

This is one of the more difficult matches of the night to predict. AJ Styles has undoubtedly had a very successful first title reign up to this point, and will absolutely get many more opportunities to hold the belt as the one of the top full-time performers in the company, even if he loses.

On the other hand, John Cena’s days as a full-time performer are just about over. It is safe to say that his best days are behind him and he can no longer focus purely on WWE. Ultimately, I think WWE wants Cena to tie Ric Flair’s record of 16 World Championships, and this may be their final opportunity. If AJ keeps the title here, he would presumably lose it at WrestleMania 33, giving Styles a loss in the company’s biggest event for the second straight year, which he definitely doesn’t deserve.

Styles got the better of Cena at Money in the Bank, SummerSlam, and No Mercy, but I think Cena gets his revenge here, tying Ric Flair with his 16th World Championship victory in the best match of the night.

WINNER: John Cena

WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns

This match will feature Kevin Owens best friend and tag-team partner, United States Champion Chris Jericho, as Jericho will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage to avoid outside interference. An interesting twist on a match, also done earlier in the year on NXT, will be the beginning of the end for the team of Jeri-KO.

Owens has done well in replacing Finn Balor as the Universal Champion, but this is the end for is first major title reign. Like AJ Styles, Owens will surely have many more opportunities as a young star in the company. The title will finally change hands as thing long (somewhat boring) rivalry finally comes to end which will lead to the split of Jeri-KO and incite a feud leading to WrestleMania.

WINNER: Roman Reigns

30-Man Royal Rumble Match

This year’s 30-man event is as star-studded as ever, with a great combination of old talent infused with fresher faces. 2 men start in the ring, every minute and a half or so new entrants are introduced to the match and can only be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope. The winner of this prestigious match will get an opportunity at the WWE World Championship or WWE Universal Championship. This year’s match is extra-interesting because there are so many superstars who could genuinely win the match. The only question is: Will WWE go with a fresh face or stick with ol’ reliable?

We currently have 19 known entrants: Goldberg, Lesnar, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Chris Jericho, Braun Strowman, Baron Corbin, Sami Zayn, Mojo Rawley, The Undertaker, Dean Ambrose, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, Cesaro, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Bray Wyatt, and Randy Orton.

Perhaps we will get some more known entrants in the coming days, but the WWE always leaves some room for surprises. Hopefuls for the rumble this year include injured Erick Rowan and Finn Balor. I am also making a crazy wish that we see Kenny Omega make a debut in the match, similar to AJ Styles at last year's event. This year, I have high hopes, and expect at least a couple debuts and hopefully at least one return.

Samoa Joe has clearly spent enough time on NXT, the so-called minor league of the WWE, and is clearly poised to make his in-ring debut on the main roster. That we know for certain.

I also hope that we get surprised with another call-up from NXT in “The Perfect 10,” Tye Dillinger. It wouldn’t only make sense for him to be the number 10 entrant in the Royal Rumble…it would be a Perfect 10!

The final NXT superstar I hope to make his surprise main roster debut is Shinsuke Nakamura. However, we will know more about his availability to the main roster after Saturday night when he defends his NXT Championship against Bobby Roode. If Roode claims the championship it is possible we could see the debut of this incredible superstar, and trust me when I say it would be absolutely electrifying.

My old-time hopefuls would be major returns. While Shawn Michaels has consistently denied his return to the WWE in recent months across various news sources, I’m not buying it. I believe he will make an absolutely incredible return in his hometown of San Antonio to a raucous crowd, adding even more to the prestige of the match as another former champion. I’m also expecting his old Degeneration-X partner, Triple H, to appear in the match.

So, now we get down to the actual potential storylines that we could see play out throughout the match and finally get some clarity on my favorite question right now: Who will The Undertaker face at WrestleMania?

The return of ‘The Deadman’ will surely be a focal point of the match. Where will the Undertaker enter in the match? If my prediction of Roman Reigns holds true, we could possibly see Undertaker win the match and set up a feud with the hopeful future of the company. However, I think the more likely scenario is Undertaker as the first entrant in rumble, putting up a valiant fight, and eventually meeting the ginormous Braun Strowman in the ring for his demise.

One thing we do have to watch out for is how the tag teams within the Royal Rumble act. It is very easy to imagine a scenario where The Wyatt Family controls the action leading to Orton or Wyatt to the victory and title opportunity. It is also very easy to imagine Orton turning on Wyatt setting up what would surely be a memorable feud on the road to WrestleMania. If a SmackDown Live superstar is to win the Royal Rumble, it will be one of these two.

After Seth Rollins lost to Sami Zayn to lose his spot in the rumble match, I still expect him to be involved in some capacity as they would not keep, perhaps the most talented performer on the roster, away from the PPV. Expect Triple H, last year's Royal Rumble Champion, to be a surprise entrant in the match, with Rollins eventually appearing to eliminate Triple H, furthering there rivalry on the road to WrestleMania 33.

So...,

Who will actually win this match?

I will give my top three predictions.

3. Randy Orton or Bray Wyatt

I would love to see it come down to these two in the final moments of the rumble. If any SmackDown Live superstar is going to win the Royal Rumble, it will be one of these two. Bray Wyatt is long overdue for his main event push and is one of the best characters in WWE history. His popularity is at a peak and it would be the optimal time to pull the trigger on Wyatt. Or, they could go with the proven steady-hand in Orton and give him his illustrious second Royal Rumble win, putting him in the company of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Batista, and Triple H.

2. Shinsuke Nakamura

This is more of a hopeful, speculative pick than anything. The WWE would love to increase the prestige of the Universal Championship and dramatically heighten RAW television ratings which have been struggling since the brand split. Well, here’s your golden ticket WWE! Anybody who has ever watched Nakamura can see that the company’s new red belt would be a perfect fit around the waist of this Japanese sensation. He’s clearly one of the best performers on the planet and its time for him to make the move to the main roster.

1. 1a) The Undertaker, 1b) Goldberg, or 1c) Brock Lesnar

After the stare-down among these three competitors on the final RAW before the Royal Rumble, it would not surprise anyone to see a historic triple-threat match at WrestleMania 33.

The company needs a proven top-star with incredible appeal to increase the prestige of the relatively new Universal Championship. If Nakamura does not make his main roster debut, I expect the WWE to go with the one of the old talents.

Lesnar needs this match to regain credibility after an ugly defeat at Survivor Series 2016 to Goldberg. If they go with an old talent, The Beast Incarnate may get his second Royal Rumble victory, and first since 2003, setting up a WrestleMania 33 matchup with Roman Reigns.

I think the more likely scenario though would be Goldberg eliminating Lesnar and go on to win the match. Goldberg is on another stratosphere right now in terms of popularity, appeal, and strength in the ring after defeating Lesnar in just 1 minute, 24 seconds just a few months ago. It is easy to envision Goldberg getting his first career Royal Rumble victory, which would also set him up for a match with Reigns.

However, if the WWE goes with an old talent, I truly hope, and believe, they will go with The Undertaker. In The Deadman;s return, it would only seem right, as his retirement seems imminent, for him to get his second Royal Rumble victory, capping off a historic career and etch his name further into history. This would also set up the ultimate dream matchup, newly crowned 16-time WWE World Champion John Cena vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33, in a career vs. title match. That would for sure be the biggest possible money maker for the company in it's biggest event of the year. So, WWE, make it happen!