The 2027 WWE Royal Rumble doesn't feel imminent with the John Cena Classic, Wrestlepalooza and Survivor Series still on the horizon. However, right now is when Superstars start building momentum toward a potential Rumble win.

As it stands, Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns will be walking into WrestleMania season with the Undisputed WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship, respectively, but anything can change between now and the beginning of the year.

While there might be one or two early favorites for both Battle Royals, there are any number of different directions WWE can realistically go in this year. In fact, the overall lack of direction for the current product will help make outcomes more unpredictable.

WrestleMania 43 should boast a star-studded card in Saudi Arabia and thus it's imperative that WWE nail the main events. Various marquee matchups have been rumored, but it will be the results of the Rumbles that definitively determine what fans have to look forward to.

These are the best picks for the 2027 men's and women's Royal Rumble matches, ranked from least to most likely.

5. Gunther, Iyo Sky

It hasn't been an overly productive year for Gunther, who went from retiring the illustrious likes of John Cena and AJ Styles in back-to-back months to being directionless during WrestleMania season and feuding with Nick Aldis and Danhausen.

Although he had multiple chances to win the Undisputed WWE Championship back in the spring, he came up short on every single occasion. He doesn't quite feel like the attraction he once was, but that doesn't mean he can't get back to that elite level with a simple Royal Rumble victory.

Gunther has had strong showings in the Rumble before, but this could be the year he goes all the way and wins the whole thing, setting himself up for a WrestleMania main event.

Iyo Sky finds herself in a similar spot where she's incredibly established and has picked up the occasional big win here and there in 2026 but isn't factored into any high-profile plans at the moment. She's also one Rumble triumph away from being a key player in the world title picture again.

Sky vs. Liv Morgan has been done to death over the last two years, but by WrestleMania 43, it's very possible that someone else will be in possession of the Women's World Championship.

4. Jacob Fatu, Blake Monroe

Although Roman Reigns' road to WrestleMania 43 looks to be a lock, Jacob Fatu shouldn't be completely counted out as a potential opponent for him given their history.

It was in the immediate aftermath of last year's 'Mania that Fatu emerged as the first challenger to Reigns' newly-won World Heavyweight Championship. Fatu failed to win against The Tribal Chief at both Backlash and Clash in Italy, and as a result of the latter loss, he was forced to fall in line and reluctantly join The Bloodline.

Despite that, he's largely been on the same page as Reigns and The Usos for the last several months, outside of the occasional tease of tension. That isn't to say he and Reigns can't eventually end up as rivals again, specifically at WrestleMania where Fatu can finally best him in one-on-one action.

Blake Monroe is a bit of a dark horse in her own right considering how much of a non-factor she's been on SmackDown since debuting on the main roster right after WrestleMania 42. It took her months to show up in person, and then another few months to wrestle her first televised match.

Her feud with Giulia proved that she's a world champion-caliber competitor, but it's more a matter of WWE putting her in a position to shine. She hasn't come close to challenging for a top title yet, but winning the women's Royal Rumble would afford her that elusive opportunity.

3. Bron Breakker, Naomi

Bron Breakker appeared to be the odds-on favorite to win last year's Royal Rumble, especially after he pinned then-World Heavyweight champion CM Punk in WarGames at Survivor Series.

He unsuccessfully challenged for the title on the first Raw of the year, but that would have seamlessly set him up for a Rumble win later in the month. Instead, he was the first one eliminated from the bout—and within seconds.

Breakker is far removed from the main event scene as it stands right now, but he could cement his status as a star on the rise once again by coming out on top in the men's Rumble and righting last year's wrong in the process.

Unlike Breakker, Naomi hasn't been around for well over a year, but she too should be considered a potential pick for a Rumble win come Feb. 7. She announced she was pregnant in August 2025 and was forced to relinquish the Women's World Championship on the spot, so she has something to strive for once she's ready to return to the ring.

Seeing as how she gave birth back in the spring, it wouldn't be out of the question for her to be back by the Rumble, clinch the win and punch her ticket to WrestleMania 43.

2. CM Punk, Roxanne Perez

Regardless of whether it's been Raw or SmackDown, CM Punk has been a permanent fixture in the world championship picture since the summer of 2025. His most recent run with the Undisputed WWE Championship ended in September at the hands of Sami Zayn and he's struggled to get his rightful rematch for the title.

His loss to Kevin Owens on last week's SmackDown suggests that he won't be back in championship contention anytime soon, which would give him enough time between now and the Royal Rumble to work his way up the ladder again and earn another shot by winning the Rumble itself.

A Rumble win is one of the few things Punk has yet to accomplish in his iconic career, and if him facing Cody Rhodes is the bout WWE is building to for WrestleMania 43, it's more likely Punk wins the Rumble and Rhodes regains the gold before then as opposed to the other way around.

Meanwhile, it's egregious that Roxanne Perez lost the women's Money in the Bank Ladder match when she made more sense than anyone else involved to take home the briefcase. She's been treading water since then even though there's a story to be told with her and Liv Morgan.

After being the MVP in previous Rumbles, 2027 could be the year The Prodigy finally has her hand raised in victory to kick off her long-awaited rivalry with Morgan over the Women's World Championship.

1. Oba Femi, Rhea Ripley

Coming out of his one-sided squash win over Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, Oba Femi should have been fast-tracked toward the World Heavyweight Championship and won it by SummerSlam. He did wind up winning the King of the Ring tournament that in theory made him the number one contender, but he subsequently threw the title shot away so he could face Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell instead.

There's been no mention of Femi being owed a shot at the strap since then, so one would have to assume that he has to start from scratch and earn a title shot some other way. Emerging victorious in the Royal Rumble would be his best bet, especially since tossing him over the top rope would be a tall task for anyone involved.

Femi will challenge for a top title at WrestleMania 43 regardless of how he gets there, but him winning the Rumble appears looks to be the most logical path.

The same can be said for Rhea Ripley, who abruptly disappeared from WWE TV in the spring after suffering an injury and ultimately vacated the WWE Women's Championship she had just won at WrestleMania 42. Her absence has certainly been felt on SmackDown, but once she's cleared to compete, she'll be gunning for the title she was never beaten for.

Tiffany Stratton is fresh off cashing in Money in the Bank to become WWE Women's champ, so Stratton vs. Ripley should be the play for 'Mania. The Eradicator is no stranger to winning the women's Rumble, so while it won't sit well with everyone, the excitement over her being back should offset most of that fan fatigue.