PWTorch Specialist Roundtable: (a) Who is your final prediction to win the Royal Rumble match? (b) Who do you think should win the Rumble for serious or not-serious reasons?

Ben Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist

(A) Who's going to win the Rumble? Given the possible storylines, it seems that it will be either Chris Jericho as winner to face C.M. Punk at Mania, or Orton to face Daniel Bryan (or possible new champion, Wade Barrett). However, I'm leaning towards an Orton win at the moment. Every single Rumble winner since 2008 has lost at Mania, which means that this year, the winner is almost guaranteed to win to maintain the match's prestige. Since Mania is the blow-off show of the year, it makes sense that Randy would win here and then win the gold.

(b) Now, who SHOULD win? This is how it would play out - Cena enters at number 20, starts flinging people out of the ring, but then stops paralyzed in fear with the 21st and 22nd entrants making their way to the ring - the Squat Team! Making their second WWE appearance (the first being at the 1996 Royal Rumble), they rush the ring and demolish every other wrestler in the match, before declaring themselves the second-ever co-winners of the Rumble! Now imagine Raw's ratings after a match like THAT! (Read Tucker's Instant Reaction column after each week's Raw, Impact, and Smackdown episode.)

Shane McKinley, PWTorch Absurdity specialist

(A) Chris Jericho. He's got the biggest intrigue, and a talent like Jericho at this stage of his career...it would be a shock if he didn't headline with C.M. Punk. People want it, and I'm pretty sure C.M. Punk doesn't want to deal with Johnny Laurinaitis anymore. Plus, let's face it, he's one of the very few main reasons why people are checking out this PPV. That and the legendary Brodus Clay Royal Rumble entrance.

(B) Who do I think should win the Royal Rumble? Randy Orton? Sheamus? Mitt Romney? Nope, it's The Miz. No joke. You see, his blunt punishment by WWE is just them fooling you, folks. Sure, his career right now is pretty pathetic. Even perennial loser Jack Swagger is looking better than Miz. The reason why I want Miz to win is so that WWE can continue their bad booking streak. (Ryder has a broken back! Punk gives Johnny a GTS before the PPV! Ooh, Cena making his angry face!) That way, it can be a loud and terrible failure. (Read McKinley's regular Absurdity of it All columns on WWE and TNA subjects.)

George Chiverton, PWTorch specialist

Final prediction? Dolph Ziggler. I genuinely hope and think it's his time. Anyone who acts as Chavo Guerro's caddy should eventually be a number one contender; that's just how it works. Plus, I can't count the number of mediocre opponents he's heated up by bouncing around the ring. Now is his time, and, after losing to C.M. Punk in the WWE Title match, he enters and fights his way to the top. Credibility and a genuine title shot (rather than one that relies on John Laurinaitis) would ensue.

Who should win in my eyes? Heck, lets be cooky here. As a follower of WWE's up-and-coming talents (I cover NXT, after all) let's go with Claudio Castagnoli. Why? Because WrestleMania deserves European Uppercuts; that's why. Or, Rikishi given that this is "the most unpredictable Rumble ever." (Read Chiverton's weekly NXT Rankings & Evaluation every Wednesday.)

Jimmy Eaton, Perspective of the Common Fan specialist

I'm going with my original prediction that I had a few weeks ago just to be consistent. As I was talking with my future brother-in-law, I went with Wade Barrett. Here's why: This was before the reports of Randy Orton wanting to work with Daniel Bryan as a heel at Mania (I can't see WWE putting Bryan in the title picture at Mania, but I'd be all for it!) and before other reports that Orton would win the Rumble. However, I think Barrett will win to keep the "anything can happen" mantra going and to make the Rumble match seem special. So many people are going with Orton, Jericho, Sheamus, Miz, etc. Barrett winning would be something that is a bit more unexpected.

I think this could work in the sense that the match can officially put Barrett on that next level, which I think he has been ready for since his feud with Orton. But, if WWE goes with Barrett, they can set up a safe title match for WrestleMania with Big Show and still have Jericho vs. Punk from the Raw side. WWE is behind Show more than ever with merchandising, and, coming off his angle with Bryan and Henry, he's an easy, believable bet to win the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match to set up a match vs. Barrett. Would I like to see otherwise? Sure, but Show is popular and Barrett can bring change at the WrestleMania main event scene. As for WrestleMania? Let the reign of the Barrett Barrage begin, and WWE can still have Orton vs. Bryan, just not for the title.

Other possibilities would be The Miz and Sheamus, besides the obvious Orton or Jericho choices. If I had it my way, though, it would have to be Dolph Ziggler after Punk beats him earlier in the night. This would set up either a re-match with Punk at WrestleMania, or he goes after the World Title. Either way, I don't care because I'm a Ziggler fan and I think he deserves a top spot. Without a doubt, he's been the best wrestler in the company. So, if I have it my way, he wins to face Punk or Bryan at Mania. All I care about is that Ziggler is in a main event at WrestleMania... Oh, and one more thing: Rikishi dances with "Funk Master" Clay at some point in the Rumble match. Seriously, why not? Come on WWE, make it happen.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

We suggest these recent related articles...

10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods

COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling

9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt