The first of the WWE’s big four events rolls into the Lucas Oil Stadium this Saturday evening, as thirty men and thirty women battle for the chance to be in the main event of WrestleMania 41 in April.

The show is widely considered the first stop on the road to WrestleMania, signalling the beginning of the busiest and best period on the WWE calendar.

This year’s Royal Rumble event features an incredible array of talent, with the company showcasing itself to a broader audience with its first significant event since its move to Netflix.

In this Royal Rumble odds and betting guide, I will look at who is likely to stamp their ticket to WrestleMania and highlight some key facts about the event, how you can watch it, and more. 

How the Royal Rumble match works

For most wrestling fans, the Royal Rumble is the most exciting and unpredictable night of the year. The concept of the match is simple – 30 competitors enter the ring at two-minute intervals, with superstars being eliminated when they are thrown over the top rope. The last man/woman standing is the winner, with the prize being a main event title match at WrestleMania, which takes place in April.

The match is not just a showcase of WWE’s creativity, but it also sets the tone for the coming months, with the company often using the match to create individual stories and feuds that will shape WrestleMania season.

A look at the early favourite

The 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble is shaping up to be among the most stacked in the company’s history. The star-studded line-up features major names like John Cena, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and more. Of course, only one man can win and go on to the main event of WrestleMania 41 in just over two months. The following are the three superstars with the best Royal Rumble odds. 

Male winner

John Cena – 1/1 at William Hill

John Cena is the front-runner for this year’s Royal Rumble, and with just a few days to go until the event, I struggle to imagine anybody else coming out on top in Indianapolis. Cena’s retirement tour will kick off at the event, and it feels set in stone that he will have one last title match at WrestleMania in Vegas. 

Whether he is facing Cody Rhodes or Gunther remains to be seen, though reports have suggested the former is more likely. Cena vs Cody is a generational match, and it is the WWE’s last opportunity to pull it off on the Grandest Stage of them All. 

Another major factor is that the WWE will want to make the first Rumble on Netflix a huge event, and WWE stars dont’ get much bigger than John Cena. You can back him at evens with William Hill, which I believe represents great value.

Back John Cena at 1/1 with William Hill

CM Punk at 2/1 with Paddy Power

Of course, if Cena faces Cody, Gunther will be left without a clear challenger for his title. WWE could opt to have Cena win the Elimination Chamber next month, leaving the chance for someone else to earn a title shot at the Royal Rumble. 

If they go down this route, CM Punk could be the answer. While I have a feeling WWE will go for a Roman Reigns vs CM Punk match at this year’s Mania, they could swerve us and go with Punk vs Gunther. Punk has been on a roll lately, and time is running out for him to get his coveted Mania main event. You can back CM Punk to win the Royal Rumble at 2/1 with Paddy Power.

Back CM Punk at 2/1 with Paddy Power

Seth Rollins at 5/1 with William Hill

Another option for Gunther at this year’s WrestleMania is Seth Rollins. Somehow, he and Seth Rollins have managed to avoid one another for the last few years, and a match between them has blockbuster potential. Rollins won the Rumble six years ago and went on to dethrone Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, and he might do the same against Gunther this year in Las Vegas. You can back Seth Rollins to win the Royal Rumble at 5/1 with William Hill. 

Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre are the other two men who could win this year’s Royal Rumble. Reigns has not had a title match since losing to Cody Rhodes last year, and a third and final encounter with the American Nightmare would no doubt make for blockbuster viewing. He is available at 6/1 with William Hill, with Sky Bet and some other new betting sites pricing him lower than Rollins. 

As for Drew McIntyre, despite losing several big matches, he has been on a roll recently, and at 9/1 with Paddy Power, he could be worth an outside punt.

Back Seth Rollins at 5/1 with William Hill

Female winner

The Women’s Royal Rumble is also fit to burst with quality entrants. We have confirmed one major superstar’s return, with several other rumoured and major names across the roster vying for a shot at WrestleMania glory. Let’s look at the three women top UK bookmakers think are the most likely to get their hand raised in Indianapolis Saturday night. 

Charlotte Flair – 4/6 with Ladbrokes 

Like the Men’s Royal Rumble, the women’s match is also likely to be won by a returning veteran. The WWE has confirmed that Charlotte Flair will be in the match, and she is now the favourite with most bookies, with Ladbrokes offering the best at 4/6. 

Charlotte Flair vs Tiffany Stratton feels like a dream match, and having Flair win the Royal Rumble would be the easiest way to get there. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Charlotte on our screens, and WWE will likely want to catapult her back into the title picture. Having her win the Royal Rumble is the easiest way to do it.

Back Charlotte Flair at 4/6 with Ladbrokes

Iyo Sky – 5/2 with Sky Bet

If WWE are going to back a more current superstar, then Io Sky seems to be the popular choice. The former WWE Women’s Champion has not been around much since losing to Liv Morgan at Saturday Night Main Event in December, and the Rumble is a great chance to set her back on track for a title showdown. 

Personally, I don’t understand why the odds on Io Sky are so strong, with Charlotte and perhaps even Bianca Belair being a more obvious pick. Either way, you can back Iyo Sky at 5/2 with Sky Bet.

Back Iyo Sky at 5/2 with Sky Bet

Bianca Belair – 4/1 with Paddy Power 

Speaking of Bianca Belair. The Women’s tag champ has seen her odds shorten significantly in the last week following reports that she might be facing Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania for the title. Personally, I think Rhea vs Bianca is the perfect match for WrestleMania, and I would love to see this happen. However, I suspect WWE may go down another route to get there. However, if you want to back Bianca Belair, she is available at 4/1 with Paddy Power. 

The other main contender to win this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble is Becky Lynch. Lynch has been off TV for nearly a year, and while she is not confirmed to be in the Rumble match, an appearance from her would no doubt blow the roof off the Lucas Oil Stadium. She is available at 5/1 with William Hill.

Back Bianca Belair at 5/1 with William Hill

Box office entertainment

As I’ve already mentioned in this Royal Rumble odds betting guide, the Royal Rumble is the most unpredictable night on the wrestling calendar. It has been used to reignite feuds, set up future showdowns, and pull off major surprises.

Who will ever forget Edge’s emotional return to the ring after nine years in 2020? Or Maven’s elimination of the Undertaker way back in 2022? Or Rhea Ripley’s dominant display in 2023, entering the Rumble at number one and defeating 29 other women on her way to glory?  The list goes on and on, and the 2025 Royal Rumble will no doubt throw up even more memorable moments.

With the likes of Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and John Cena already announced for this year’s match, it has all the makings of an absolute classic, while the women’s will see the return of Charlotte Flair, as well as potentially the man Becky Lynch.

How do bookies determine odds for the Royal Rumble?

Wrestling is a unique sport to bet on in that the result is totally predetermined. However, just because that is the case does not mean that bookmakers, or viewers for that matter, have any idea as to how an event might play out. 

The bookies, like fans making predictions, will evaluate current storylines and look at potential future match-ups. For example, this year, the WWE is heavily promoting John Cena’s final run within the company. Cena is one of the biggest names in wrestling history, and he is one title run away from breaking the company’s all-time record. As such, it stands to reason that he will likely win that title before he retires, and winning the Rumble to give him the chance to do so at WrestleMania makes the most sense. 

Like political or entertainment betting, there is also an analysis of previous patterns and results. It is possible to assess a wrestler’s current direction of travel and determine whether they have a good chance. 

The history of the Royal Rumble

In the build-up to the Royal Rumble, the WWE loves to focus on statistics and previous Rumble performances. However, in a predetermined sport, do these things really matter?

It’s a difficult question to answer. In some instances, yes. The WWE is fixated on records, and, as such, they might use the Rumble as a chance to break them. For example, only three men have entered from number one and run the Rumble. Does this increase or decrease the chances of the first entrant winning? Well, it depends. If the WWE wants to make a superstar look great and write their name in the history books, if so, then they might do this.

There is also the chance WWE might want to break previous records regarding time spent in the match. In 2024, for example, Bailey broke the record for the longest time spent in a Women’s Rumble match at 1:03, winning the match in the process. 

However, using these to determine winners is difficult, as knowing which record the WWE might decide to break leading into the night is challenging. If they choose to break any at all. 

Looking at previous winning entry numbers, such as the numbers 30 and 27 as the two most successful, does not particularly help from a betting perspective, as fans have no idea of most entry numbers until the night itself, at which point betting markets have closed.

How to watch Royal Rumble 2025

The 2025 Royal Rumble is the first PLE (Premium Live Event) the WWE has streamed exclusively on Netflix, having switched to the platform at the start of 2025. The WWE’s move to Netflix is a significant moment for both companies, and the Royal Rumble will be the partnership’s first chance to showcase what it is capable of. 

Of course, Netflix has shown the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight and NFL Christmas games in recent months, so users know they can expect a seriously high-quality production. If you are a Netflix subscriber in the UK, you will receive full, uninterrupted access to the event live at no additional cost to your current subscription price. The UK broadcast will begin at 23:00 on Saturday, February 1st.

Final thoughts

While the Royal Rumble is often viewed as a chance for the WWE to make future stars, I suspect this year will see the company focus on established megastars, with Charlotte Flair and John Cena being my picks for this year’s matches. With Netflix introducing the show to a wider audience and WWE still not having sold out WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, having these two go after the main titles over the next few months is smart. Still, the Rumble is renowned for throwing up plenty of surprises, so who knows what Triple H and co have in store for us this weekend?

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