With one of the biggest events of the wrestling year just around the corner, we take a look at some of the odds for the Royal Rumble.
Johnny Knoxville to last more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds in the Royal Rumble Match - 130+
The WWE has made a habit of bringing in celebrities to hype up their major events over the years, with the upcoming Royal Rumble being no exception.
On this week's episode of Smackdown, Johnny Knoxville appeared to promote the upcoming release of the final instalment in the Jackass franchise, Jackass Forever. After Sami Zayn was defeated by Rick Boogs, Knoxville appeared out of nowhere to throw Zayn over the top rope, qualifying him for the 30 man match next week.
The WWE's longstanding infatuation with celebrity star power combined with Knoxville's willingness to take punishment should see the Bad Grampa star play a significant role in the Royal Rumble Match. As a result, 130+ for Knoxville to stay in the match for more than 150 seconds seems like a good bet.
After all, this isn't the first time that the Jackass crew have left their mark on the world of sports entertainment. During an October 2006 episode of Raw, Steve-O and Chris Pontius were among a number of Hollywood stars to grace the red brand. The episode also featured an infamous moment where the two Jackass stars found themselves on the receiving end of a legitimate beating from the late superstar Umaga. Steve-O later explained that the wrestler had taken his frustration out on the pair when they failed to follow instructions in the ring.
Let's hope that Knoxville's stint inside the squared circle goes off a little more smoothly…
Brock Lesnar to defeat Bobby Lashley to retain the WWE Championship - -295
With the WWE currently facing their stiffest competition in over two decades in the form of AEW, the company is having to lean heavily on superstars that can 'move the needle' as the old saying goes.
And when it comes to the roster in 2022, no one seems to move the needle quite like The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar. Returning to WWE at Summerslam last year after going on hiatus following Wrestlemania 36, Lesnar has immediately reclaimed his spot at the top of the card in dominant fashion.
Earlier this month at the inaugural WWE Day 1 event, Lesnar emerged victorious over the likes of Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Bobby Lashley, and the defending champion Big E, to win his sixth WWE Championship.
At the Royal Rumble, Lesnar is set to face off against fellow pro wrestler turned MMA star turned pro wrestler Bobby Lashley with Lesnar's belt on the line. While Lashley is one of the few superstars on the roster who can conceivably match Lesnar's intensity and physicality in the ring, it seems unlikely that Lesnar will drop his title so soon after winning it.
With all that said even at -295, a bet on Lensar to overcome Lashley and leave the Royal Rumble as the WWE Champion seems to be a safe bet.
Omos to win the 2022 Men's Royal Rumble Outright - +900
In a promotion that often seems to struggle to know exactly what to do with surging superstars, the 7 foot 4 giant Omos appears to be on track to be one of the biggest stars in sports entertainment should his meticulously planned ascent to superstardom continue.
Serving as an enforcer for the uber-talented AJ Styles, Omos has consistently improved since making his debut on the main roster back in 2020. Though his skills in the ring need some polishing, if WWE can learn from the mistakes made with giants of the past such as Braun Strowman, Omos could prove to be a valuable asset to the roster.
In addition to this, Omos has already found success in the over the top rope battle royale format. During the 2021 Survivor Series event, the Nigerian bested 24 other superstars to win the match whilst also racking up the most eliminations in the contest with 12.
Though the upper brass at WWE may be reluctant to pull the trigger on the former college basketball star due to his relative inexperience inside the ring, with odds as high as +900 for him to emerge victorious and momentum on his side, Omos may be the best outsider bet available on the entire card.
Bianca Belair to win the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble Outright - +300
The odds on favourite to walk away from the Royal Rumble with a guaranteed world title shot at Wrestlemania, Bianca Belair has made quite the splash on WWE's main roster since moving over from NXT on the Raw after Wrestlemania 36.
After entering last year's rumble at number three, Belair racked up nearly one hour in the ring before eliminating Rhea Ripley becoming just the fourth woman ever to win the Royal Rumble. Belair would go on to make good of her championship opportunity at Wrestlemania, defeating Sasha Banks in the main event of night one to claim the SmackDown Women's Championship.
At the upcoming event, Belair will be aiming to join the elite group of superstars to have won the Royal Rumble on multiple occasions, with no woman having yet accomplished the feat.
With Bayley and Sasha Banks also available around the +300 price point, Belair winning back to back Rumbles is by no means a certainty, but her star power is more than enough to get behind the possibility of history being made.
Adie Bishop
Long-suffering Hull City fan, combat sports history aficionado and world renowned champion of the church of Chael Sonnen.
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