Final Picks for Roman Reigns, CM Punk and WWE Royal Rumble 2024 Match Card

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The 2024 Royal Rumble is one of the most important events on the WWE calendar, as it sets the stage for the Road to WrestleMania 40. With a card full of talented Superstars, wrestling fans have turned their attention to who walks out of Florida victorious.

All eyes are on the men’s and women’s 30-person battle royales—and rightfully so based on their WrestleMania importance—but there are two additional championships on the line and the very real possibility that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson could show up to Tropicana Field.

Here are the final picks for Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and the rest of the marquee matches on the 2024 Royal Rumble match card.

2024 Royal Rumble Match Card

Men’s Royal Rumble Match: CM Punk and Cody Rhodes

Women’s Royal Rumble Match: Jade Cargill

Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight

WWE United States Championship: Logan Paul vs. Kevin Owens

Roman Reigns Should Lose the Title

Roman Reigns has been a focal point of WWE programming for well over two years, but it’s almost time for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to change hands.

At the 2024 Royal Rumble, the feud between Reigns and Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson should kick into high gear when the WWE legend shows up at Tropicana Field in Florida and interrupts the champion’s Fatal 4-Way for the title.

With Reigns taking on the role of a cousin jealous of his relative’s success and The Rock working to bring harmony back to the family, Johnson should hit the ring and decimate his cousin with a series of signature moves.

Despite the Tribal Chief using every heel tactic in the book to ensure a victory, Randy Orton should swoop in after The Rock levels Reigns and win the championship. The now-former titleholder could then spend the following weeks furious, taking out his anger on several unsuspecting WWE Superstars while The Rock is back in Hollywood.

The Rock vs. Reigns doesn’t need a world title, so WWE Creative should find a way to add it to another bout as a way to make it feel as important as this family dream match.

CM Punk and Cody Rhodes Head Back to 1994

Anyone who is a student of wrestling has seen the classic finish to the 1994 Royal Rumble that saw Bret Hart—still nursing a knee injury exacerbated by his brother Owen—and Lex Luger hit the ground at the same time, resulting in co-winners.

While some modern fans would scoff at the idea of CM Punk and Cody Rhodes falling over the top rope and hitting the ground simultaneously, it would be the perfect booking situation for the company heading into WrestleMania season.

WWE previously set the stage for Rhodes to dethrone Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship ultimately, but that was before Punk made his triumphant return almost a decade after he walked out on the fans.

With Punk on a collision course with Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship and Rhodes tied to Reigns, having them both touch the floor at the same time would result in a tie and allow each man to main event a night of WrestleMania 40.

The Rock and his possible desire to fight Reigns for the world title could complicate matters in February and March, but for the January Premium Live Event, Punk and Rhodes should share the spotlight with a simultaneous victory.

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