Royal Rumble 2017 preview

Read on for my ideas for booking tomorrow's WWE special event.

-- Kickoff:
- Sasha vs. Nia:
Nia, because we've seen Sasha in the title picture a lot already. Next month is Charlotte vs. Nia vs. Bayley for the title. Might as well do Sasha vs. Emmalina and FINALLY pay off all those vignettes of her coming back to the main roster.

- Cesaro/Sheamus vs. Club:
Sheamus and Cesaro win and move on to a feud with Rusev and Jinder. The Club experiment isn't really working out. Good to have them around to fill out the roster, but they're not showing themselves as a team to push.

- Becky/Nikki/Naomi vs. Alexa/Mickie/Natalya:
Naomi surprises Alexa after Natalya takes it to Nikki and Mickie hits a finisher on Becky. Mickie needs to be protected.

-- Rumble:
- Swann vs. Neville:
Swann with the surprise win to hold on to the belt for a few more weeks. Feud continues, then we get Neville vs. Gallagher for the title for a bit. Neville vs. Tozawa for the title at WM33?

- Charlotte vs. Bayley:
Charlotte wins. Bayley gets the title at WM33. 

- Owens vs. Reigns:
I'm RRREEAAAALLLLLYYYYYY tired of this feud. Just have Owens win and move on already. Owens needs the win more than Roman does. Maybe have Braun be the instrument of Reigns' demise? Braun vs. Roman in a big no holds barred match at WM33 works for me.

- AJ vs. Big Match John:
I'd be tempted to have this close the show after Bray's win and have the Wyatts attack, but I think you pretty much have to end the show with the Rumble. How about John does an interview and implies Taker is ducking him by moving to Raw, then AJ wins after a DONG and the lights going out? Orton wins the title in the Chamber match, and we get AJ vs. Angle at WM33.

- Rumble match:
Joe debuts.

If Balor's ready to return, he wins. Balor vs. Owens vs. Y2J at WM33, although I don't know how much juice is left in JeriKO at this point. They've been doing their thing for a LONG time.

There are a number of other options, but I'm going with Bray if Balor's not ready yet. Someone pitched Bray vs. Orton for WM33. I like it. Brock/Goldberg, Cena/Taker, etc. don't need the Rumble win or title involved, and Jericho winning would be pretty tired. They can easily have Owens "inadvertently" cost his buddy the win to set up their feud at Wrestlemania. If they think Balor can be back for WM33, do Owens vs. Jericho at Fastlane and a triple threat at WM33 because we'll all be bored to tears with lists and stupid idiots by then; having Balor in the mix adds something to things.

More wrestling tomorrow.