The thirty-second annual Royal Rumble event is set to take place from the Chase Field Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. The locker room will be absolutely packed with wrestlers looking to make their mark on 2019 just as the year begins. Being headlined by two Royal Rumble matches; one for the males and one for the females, there is no better time than now to make an impact and earn your way into a championship match at Wrestlemania by winning the Royal Rumble match. The event will also consist of many championship matches. Odd couple pairings trying to capture gold, former champions trying to reclaim past glory and a Fatal Four Way contest between the cruiserweights that is bound to be thrilling to watch. Let's get into previewing the Royal Rumble event.

Since defeating Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules way back in early 2018 Shinsuke Nakamura has seemed unstoppable as United States Champion, that was until he crossed the paths of Rusev who had been on a bit of a year since breaking away from his friend, turned foe, Aiden English. During the December 18th, 2018 episode of Smackdown, Rusev managed to dethrone Shinsuke Nakamura to become the United States Champion for the third time in his career. This, however, left Shinsuke Nakamura intent on reclaiming his title and reigning once again in the United States of Naka-merica. After winning the United States Championship, Rusev celebrated with his wife, Lana, only to be blindsided by an irate Shinsuke Nakamura. Lana got herself involved, jumping onto the back of Shinsuke Nakamura. Rusev delivered the Machka Kick to Shinsuke Nakamura only for Shinsuke Nakamura to fall back on top of Lana. Shinsuke Nakamura used this distraction to attack Rusev and leave his mark.

Shinsuke Nakamura started to get into the head of Rusev, claiming it was his fault that Lana was injured during their altercation. Shinsuke Nakamura made these accusations via the protection of the titantron which led to Rusev heading backstage to look for Shinsuke Nakamura. This was a trap, however, and Shinsuke Nakamura once again got the upper hand on Rusev in a vicious attack. With Shinsuke Nakamura seemingly in his head, can Rusev successfully defend the United States Championship or has Shinsuke Nakamura done enough damage psychologically to dethrone Rusev as United States Champion and once again reign as the leader of the United States Of Naka-merica. The two competitors will look to put their difference to bed for good as the United States Championship is defended on the kick-off show of the Royal Rumble event.

As weird as a Miz/Shane pairing seems, it all started months ago. During the controversial Crown Jewel event, the Global Cup took place to determine the best in the world, despite only consisting of American wrestlers. Regardless, The Miz, representing Smackdown, made it to the finals of the tournament against Dolph Ziggler, who was representing Raw. The Miz got injured early on in the match and it seemed as if the match would have to be thrown out and Dolph Ziggler declared the winner. Shane McMahon would have none of this, however, and decided to put himself into the match to represent Smackdown. Being the General Manager he had the authority to do so and would eventually defeat Dolph Ziggler to be crowned the best in the world. Having taken part in the matches leading up to the finals and the finals itself, The Miz would go on to proclaim himself as two-thirds best in the world with Shane McMahon being one-third best in the world for his involvement.

Over the course of the weeks coming out of Crown Jewel, The Miz continued to tease Shane McMahon with the idea of teaming up as an unstoppable tandem. The Miz's intent to team with Shane McMahon became even more intense with the lead up to Royal Rumble. The Miz would pitch themselves into tag team matches and even design wrestling gear for the team. When Shane McMahon asked why this was so important to The Miz he mentioned how teaming with Shane McMahon would make his father proud, who was a big fan of Shane McMahon. Realising The Miz was genuine with his story, Shane McMahon decided to make a real go at being a tag team with The Miz. Shortly afterward, declaring that The Bar, current reigning Smackdown Tag Team Champions, had run through every team on the roster after a successful defense at TLC against the New Day and the Usos and challenged The Bar to defend their championships against the team of The Miz and Shane McMahon. The Bar scoffed at the idea but accepted the challenge nonetheless. Now we are here, the unorthodox pairing of The Miz and Shane McMahon challenging The Bar for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships.

Fresh off of successfully defending the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax at TLC, Ronda Rousey as in need of a new challenger. During the premiere episode of A Moment With Bliss, Ronda Rousey set her sights on naming a new challenger for her championship. Crowning her the 'unsung hero of Monday Night Raw' Ronda Rousey chose Sasha Banks to be her challenger who, up to that point, was focused on tag team competition alongside her partner and friend, Bayley. This, however, did not go down well with the former challenger, Nia Jax, who felt entitled to another shot at the Raw Women's Championship. This prompted Sasha Banks to demand that Nia Jax put her money where her mouth is and a match between the two ensued with Raw Women's Championship ramifications on the line. Sasha Banks would win and become Ronda Rousey's next challenger.

As the weeks went on, the respect between Ronda Rousey and Sasha Banks would diminish as one another were determined to make the Royal Rumble event their night to shine. During a segment also involving Sasha Banks, Ronda Rousey started to make remarks about Sasha Banks that she wasn't of, which led to the fiery purple-haired former Women's Champion firing back. The tension between the two built to boiling point which led to a tag team match between Ronda Rousey and her friend Natalya against Sasha Banks and Bayley. Sasha Banks would make Natalya tap to the Banks Statement and show that Ronda Rousey isn't the only one with a devastating submission hold, that being Ronda Rousey's armbar which has made many women tap in the past. Sasha Banks is a former four-time Women's Champion and looks to make it five at the Royal Rumble event. Ronda Rousey, however, is undefeated since her debut and looks to keep it that way.

This time last year Asuka was days away from becoming the first woman to win the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble match. This victory earned Asuka an opportunity at the Women's Championship of her choosing at Wrestlemania in which she chose the current Smackdown Women's Champion at the time, Charlotte. At this point in time, Asuka had gone several years undefeated, having to drop her NXT Women's Championship due to injury before being called up to the main roster. Charlotte, however, managed to dethrone the Empress Of Tomorrow which left Asuka in a state of disarray in which she struggled to bounce back from. Fast forward a couple months and we are at the tail end of the Becky Lynch/Charlotte feud. The two had gone one-on-one with one another on a multitude of occasions with Becky Lynch defeating Charlotte for the Smackdown Women's Championship at Hell In A Cell 2018 and successfully defending it against Charlotte in their rematches, including the second-ever Last Women's Standing match.

With the Smackdown Women's Championship firmly in her possession, Becky Lynch was set to have a match against Raw Women's Champion, Ronda Rousey in a battle for brand supremacy at Survivor Series. Becky Lynch, however, would be injured the week before Survivor Series by Nia Jax who broke Becky Lynch's nose and left her with a concussion, leaving Becky Lynch unable to compete. Charlotte, meanwhile, irritated with not being able to reclaim her Smackdown Women's Championship from Becky Lynch, was offered to captain the Smackdown women's team against Raw at Survivor Series. Charlotte, however, had been hesitant of this, unsure whether she could get the job done after failing to dethrone Becky Lynch on a multitude of occasions. With Becky Lynch being injured, however, Smackdown needed a replacement to take on Ronda Rousey. Insert Charlotte. During the match, Charlotte's frustrations boiled over and she got herself disqualified, attacking Ronda Rousey viciously with a kendo stick.

Following the aftermath of Survivor Series, Becky Lynch and Charlotte were once again set to do battle for the Smackdown Women's Championship, this time in the first-ever women's TLC Match. This didn't please the remainder of the women's roster, however, who claimed Becky Lynch and Charlotte were always getting the opportunities and that they also deserved opportunities. Paige, General Manager of Smackdown, decided to put the remainder of the women's roster into a Battle Royal to determine a third entrant into the TLC match which was eventually won by Asuka, last eliminating Sonya Deville. At TLC, Becky Lynch defended the Smackdown Women's Championship against Charlotte and Asuka in a hotly contested encounter. Becky Lynch and Charlotte's issues with Ronda Rousey, however, came back to bite them. Ronda Rousey would emerge during the TLC match and cost Becky Lynch and Charlotte the match, giving Asuka the opportunity to climb a ladder and finally win the Smackdown Women's Championship.

Charlotte and Becky Lynch were insistent on revenge, sighting that they had been screwed out of the Smackdown Women's Championship at TLC. A Triple Threat match was booked between the two and former Smackdown Women's Champion, Carmella, to determine who would challenge Asuka for the Smackdown Women's Championship at Royal Rumble. Keep in mind, it was the same Triple Threat match at Summerslam that led to Becky Lynch's attitude adjustment to begin with. Becky Lynch would go on to win the match, gaining a modicum of vengeance from her failed attempt at Summerslam and earning herself an opportunity at Asuka and the Smackdown Women's Championship. Becky Lynch now looks to dethrone Asuka, believing Asuka doesn't deserve to be champion, sighting that Asuka had lost her luster long ago and was only moments away from returning to obscurity. Asuka looks to prove that TLC wasn't a fluke and that Ronda Rousey's involvement didn't play as big of a role in the outcome as Becky Lynch and Charlotte are led to believe.

After earning the right to challenge for the WWE Championship by defeating The Miz at Super Showdown, Daniel Bryan was on the losing end of a WWE Championship match to AJ Styles in an impromptu match the week before the Crown Jewel event. Later, in November, the two would clash again for the WWE Championship where Daniel Bryan would pull the ultimate swerve, resorting to all-time lows and connecting with a low blow to AJ Styles to capture the WWE Championship and put an end to AJ Styles stranglehold over the WWE Championship. Daniel Bryan took his sweet time to explain his actions, but when he did he explained that he was the new Daniel Bryan and that the old Daniel Bryan was dead and buried. The new Daniel Bryan claimed that he despised the fans for their unnecessary consumption of the Earth's resources. Daniel Bryan referred to the fans as fickle due to their nature to cheer for a competitor one week and jeer them the next. This would become a theme that would carry on during the feud between Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles.

After a successful defense at TLC, Daniel Bryan thought he was rid of AJ Styles. This would end up being a false statement, however, as AJ Styles would go on to big up an impressive victory in a Fatal Five Way match which also involved Samoa Joe, Mustafa Ali, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio who had all earned their way into the match due to their impressive showings throughout the previous few weeks. This clearly did not please Daniel Bryan and the issues between the two continued to ensue. Daniel Bryan would go on to mock AJ Styles and the fans backstage at the merchandise stand. AJ Styles returned the favour the following week only to be attacked by Daniel Bryan who emerged from the fans to ambush the former WWE Champion. At Royal Rumble the two look to put an end to their heated rivalry once and for all with the WWE Championship on the line. AJ Styles likely realised that this may be his last chance at the WWE Championship he once held for quite a while and will likely do whatever it takes to reclaim the gold. The new Daniel Bryan, however, has already proven he will stoop to any low to ensure he remains WWE Champion.

Buddy Murphy defeated Cedric Alexander in impressive fashion at Super Showdown in front of his hometown fans in Melbourne, Australia, and since then he has been seemingly unstoppable, thwarting the advances of Mustafa Ali and a revigorated Cedric Alexander looking to reclaim the Cruiserweight Championship. After defeating Cedric Alexander at TLC Buddy Murphy looked to 205 Live General Manager, Drake Maverick, for new challengers to his Cruiserweight Championship. Drake Maverick so the opportunity to showcase some of 205 Live's best matches and decided to book three qualifying matches for the Royal Rumble where Buddy Murphy would be set to defend his Cruiserweight Championship in the ultimate test, a Fatal Four Way match.

The first of three qualifying matches saw former Cruiserweight Champion, Kalisto, defeat the ever-savvy Lio Rush. The second of three qualifying matches saw the former Cruiserweight Champion, Akira Tozawa, defeat a man who had been a constant thorn in his side in the past, Drew Gulak. The third and final qualifying match saw the former Cruiserweight Champion, Cedric Alexander, looking to work his way back into the championship picture by taking on the cunning veteran, Hideo Itami. Hideo Itami, however, had acquired a bit of a mean streak as of recent and with Ariya Daivari in his corner, Hideo Itami manages to thwart the advances of the former Cruiserweight Champion and earn himself an opportunity at Buddy Murphy and the Cruiserweight Championship alongside Kalisto and Akira Tozawa. This will be Buddy Murphy's toughest test to date. Is Buddy Murphy up to the challenge or ill one of his three challengers steal away with the Cruiserweight Championship right under his nose?

Initially, Braun Strowman was meant to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. Braun Strowman had gone through a world of trials and tribulations to get an opportunity at the Universal Championship, including a vicious attack from Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley during the lead up to the TLC event. At TLC, Braun Strowman took advantage of the no disqualification rules of a TLC match and, realising he was still injured, used the help of others who also had issues with Baron Corbin to ensure he won the match and earned an opportunity at Brock Lesnar and the Universal Championship, ultimately ousting Baron Corbin as the General Manager of Raw in the process. This, however, didn't go down well for Braun Strowman.

During the January 14th episode of Raw, Braun Strowman opened Raw only to be confronted by Baron Corbin who as clearly out there to infuriate Braun Strowman, for whatever reason. Baron Corbin claimed Braun Strowman would never be Universal Champion and that he would be winning the Royal Rumble and main eventing Wrestlemania, something Braun Strowman would never be able to do. This infuriated Braun Strowman who chased Baron Corbin throughout the backstage area, finally finding him hiding inside Vince McMahon's limousine. Braun Strowman ripped the door off of the limousine only for Baron Corbin to escape. Vince McMahon, seeing the damage to his limousine, instantly removed Braun Strowman from the Universal Championship match as punishment for his action.

With Braun Strowman out, a new challenger needed to be named to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. A Fatal Four Way match was booked between Finn Balor, Drew McIntyre, John Cena and Baron Corbin with Finn Balor picking up the victory by pinning John Cena, an impressive feat of its own. It was questioned, however, even after such an impressive victory, whether Finn Balor had it in him to dethrone the Beast Incarnate and become Universal Champion. Despite putting him in the Fatal Four Way match, Vince McMahon questioned Finn Balor's abilities and so too did Paul Heyman. Finn Balor is determined, however, to prove his naysayers wrong and do what Braun Strowman hasn't been able to do; dethrone Brock Lesnar and become Universal Champion. Finn Balor, after all, was the first Universal Champion, injury would ensure, however, that Finn Balor couldn't reign as champion, having to vacate the Universal Championship. Now he has a chance to reclaim what he never actually lost to begin with, but Brock Lesnar is one hell of a beast to overcome.

Last year we saw the first ever all women's Royal Rumble match which involved current female competitors and legends from the past. The first ever all women's Royal Rumble was a crowning achievement for the women who, above all else, just wanted a chance to showcase what they could bring to the table and prove that they could be as good, if not better, than their male counterparts. The first ever all women's Royal Rumble was one by Asuka, who now heads into this year's Royal Rumble event as Smackdown Women's Champion. Thirty women are looking to have the same success that Asuka had and winning the Royal Rumble ensures them a Women's Championship match of their choosing at Wrestlemania. Carmella was the first announced to be participating in the Royal Rumble match, having won the Mixed Match Challenge and also the illustrious number thirty entry.

The following women have also been announced to participate in the Royal Rumble match with more to come to round out the thirty; Ember Moon, Natalya, Bayley, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Alicia Fox, Zelina Vega, Naomi, Mickie James, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Charlotte Flair , Tamina, Dana Brooke, Lana, Nia Ja, Nikki Cross, the returning Alexa Bliss and the debuting prospect from NXT, Lacey Evans. Natalya and Bayley have issues with the Riott Squad, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville have been playing mind games with Naomi, Alicia Fox and Mickie James are friends of Alexa Bliss, The Iiconics will obviously work together and so too will Nia Jax and Tamina. With so many combustible elements the competitors are going to be scrambling to gain the upper hand. And what about the surprise entrants? What role will they play in this year's all women's Royal Rumble match?

This year will mark the thirty-third ever men's Royal Rumble match to take place on the Royal Rumble event. The Royal Rumble match has helped shape and mold the careers of some of professional wrestling's all-time greats. Stone Cold, Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan have all won back-to-back Royal Rumble matches, with Stone Cold also winning a third Royal Rumble match, the most out of any wrestler. The WWE Champion, Daniel Bryan currently holds the longest time spent in a single Royal Rumble at whopping one hour, sixteen minutes and five seconds which took place in the 50-Man Royal Rumble from the Greatest Royal Rumble event in 2018. He toppled Rey Mysterio's record that he had held for twelve years, lasting one hour, two minutes and twelve seconds. All matches are important, but the Royal Rumble holds a certain level of importance that makes wrestlers eager to win. For the winner, the opportunity to main event Wrestlemania and challenge for either the WWE Championship or the Universal Championship hangs in the balance, an opportunity everyone will be clambering to acquire. R-Truth will enter number 30, after having won the Mixed Match Challenge alongside Carmella.

The following competitors will also be involved in the Royal Rumble match with plenty more surprises to come to round out the number of competitors to thirty; Drew McIntyre, Big E, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Seth Rollins, Jeff Hardy, Dean Ambrose, Bobby Lashley, Samoa Joe, Elias, Baron Corbin, Jinder Mahal, Apollo Crews, Andrade, Mustafa Ali, Rey Mysterio, Titus O'Neil and two-time winners of the Royal Rumble, Randy Orton and John Cena (although his entry is currently in question). Just like the women's Royal Rumble, a lot of combustible elements have been thrown into the men's Royal Rumble with a lot of the competitors having issues with one another. Randy Orton and Samoa Joe have shared issues with the likes of Mustafa Ali, Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio and Rey Mysterio has been having instant classic battles with Andrade recently. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose have had quite the rivalry with one another after Dean Ambrose turned on Seth Rollins, eventually capturing the Intercontinental Championship. Bobby Lashley, however, ripped the Intercontinental Championship away from Dean Ambrose in a Triple Threat match also involving Seth Rollins. Drew McIntyre too has had issues with Seth Rollins. New Day? Well, New Day are bound to entertain during the Royal Rumble match with Kofi Kingston being known for his elaborate ways to avoid elimination. Regardless, the Royal Rumble match is bound to be an entering affair with every competitor doing whatever it takes to collect their ticket to main event Wrestlemania.