According to Bovada, who have provided early betting odds for the 2021 Royal Rumble Match, several well known names are tipped as favourites.
For the men, the odds on favourite(s) appear to be Edge and Big E at +500. Both men have been in the picture for quite some time now with different paths to and from the thirty man elimination spectacular planned.
Edge, who has been absent from WWE television since Backlash in April with a torn pectoral injury, has been heavily speculated to make his return in January in order to settle the score with Randy Orton once and for all.
Despite plans changing for the WrestleMania 37 rubber match several times over the last few months with it first being planned as “I Quit” and then for the WWE Championship, Edge’s victory would have made sense should Orton still be WWE Champion. However, ‘The Viper’ no longer holds the keys to the kingdom which could make ‘The Rated-R Superstar’ second favourite heading into the New Year.
Big E has been speculated for a major push ever since The New Day were split in the 2020 WWE Draft back in October. With a change in entrance theme and reverting back to his chalk gimmick to set him apart from his New Day character – though the attire still remains – it would seem the former NXT Champion is being primed for a main event run.
However, a potential spanner could be in the works for both men in the shape of either The Rock (+1400) or Goldberg (+2800) who have both been heavily linked with a Roman Reigns war at WrestleMania 37.
Rounding out the favourite five alongside Big E and Edge, are Keith Lee and Brock Lesnar (both +800) and Kevin Owens (+1000). Further down that list, Tyson Fury (+5000) and Connor McGregor (+1000) are also outside favourites.
As for the women, the standout favourite according to Bovada is NXT sensation Rhea Ripley (+700). ‘The Nightmare’ is currently making the best of her time in NXT and looking to rebuild herself after her WrestleMania 36 loss to Charlotte Flair who doesn’t rank in the top five.
This would not be Rhea Ripley’s first Royal Rumble Match. She competed in the 2019 fracas entering number 24 and eliminated Kacy Catanzaro, Zelina Vega and Dana Brooke before being tossed by Bayley.
Rounding out the top five for the women are Ronda Rousey (+750) who is second favourite to prevail after her return was all but confirmed by Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Shayna Baszler (+800), Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks (both +1000).
WWE are currently awaiting a decision from Tropicana Field, the new home of WWE ThunderDome, on whether a live audience will be permitted for the event which is currently penciled in for January 31.