The Road to WrestleMania kicks off this Sunday, featuring both the 30-Man Royal Rumble Match and the 30-Woman Royal Rumble Match. Of course, when 30 Superstars slug it out for an opportunity to battle for a World Championship in a main event at WrestleMania 35, only one competitor will stand tall for their point-at-the-sign moment. Who will it be? WWE.com editors give their picks for who they think will walk out victorious in the 2019 Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble Matches.

(Note: Predictions are drawn from the Superstars who officially entered Royal Rumble Match as of Jan. 24)

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

Bobby Lashley

If you weren’t convinced before Monday Night Raw, Lashley’s showing in the pose-off with Apollo Crews should have done the trick. There’s no Superstar better prepared to win the 2019 Men’s Royal Rumble Match than “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley. The pure power of the reigning Intercontinental Champion can be matched by few Superstars, which will allow him to overpower the field and dump them out of the ring. Plus, his massive frame will make hard for other Superstars to get him over the top rope and to the floor at Chase Field. Don’t be surprised when “The All Mighty” punches his ticket to WrestleMania this Sunday in Phoenix. — BOBBY MELOK

Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins’ first World Title reign in 2015 ended in heartbreaking fashion with a torn ACL, MCL and medial meniscus. His second ended immediately after it started with a Money in the Bank cash-in. He needs to exorcise his demons, and that starts by winning the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.

The perfect combination of strength and endurance, Rollins can battle for more than an hour and still have the energy to toss out any threat.

It’s been more than two years since Rollins challenged for a World Title, but his next opportunity will come in the main event of WrestleMania 35. — JEFF LABOON

Kofi Kingston

Should Kofi Kingston win the Men’s Royal Rumble Match? Does Booty-O’s contain 100% triceps meat and twerking? It’s not exactly a novel take to say that Kofi should have won the Rumble by now – he should have probably won at least two – but the stars are uniquely aligned for The Dreadlocked Dynamo to finally make a run at the WrestleMania moment he so richly deserves. Just imagine if he wins: the streets of New York City overflowing with New Day swag, the WWE Universe fattened with pancakes and awash in specially-designed merch commemorating Kingston’s hard-earned moment in the grandest spotlight the industry has to offer. Now imagine if there’s a World Champion who might take issue with all that. Sounds like a match, doesn’t it? — ANTHONY BENIGNO

Andrade

After a few impressive matches on SmackDown LIVE, Andrade has pretty much ensured that 2019 will be the year of Tranquilo. To start the year off right, the third-generation luchador battled it out with the likes of John Cena and stunned the WWE Universe with a few SmackDown thrillers against Rey Mysterio. A win in the Royal Rumble Match can further validate his dominant streak. Beyond year goals, though, Andrade has the recipe to win a match of this type. The SmackDown LIVE Superstar has the speed and athleticism to boot –not to mention an underrated in-ring IQ. But perhaps Andrade’s greatest strength going into WWE’s annual over-the-top rope tradition is experience. It was during the 2018 Royal Rumble Match where he added promise in his name by emerging at No. 7 and clocking in almost a half-hour of action before getting eliminated. The strong showing assuredly played a factor in his placement on the Team Blue roster not long thereafter. With stamina for days, and a stock-pile of momentum to match, expect Andrade to make a beeline for WrestleMania as WWE Royal Rumble 2019’s last man standing. – RALPH BRISTOUT

Apollo Crews

There’s a popular phrase in sports that teams often latch themselves onto when it seems as though nobody believes in them: “Why not us?” So, as this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble Match approaches, I ask a very simple question: Why not Apollo Crews?

Crews, who has steadily moved up the ranks of Raw since returning to his roots as a full-time singles competitor, always seems like he is mere centimeters from really breaking it big. As it goes, the Royal Rumble Match is known for being a game of inches and a time for Superstars to seize the moment. So, why not Apollo Crews … and why not this Sunday? — RYAN PAPPOLLA

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Carmella

Sometimes, it just comes down to simple math. The Superstar who draws No. 30 in a Royal Rumble Match, in theory, has the greatest chance at victory. In this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble Match, Carmella will be the last Superstar to enter the melee. Dig a little deeper though and you’ll find even more math that supports The Princess of Staten Island being a heavy favorite to go onto WrestleMania.

Carmella was the first Ms. Money in the Bank, the longest holder of the Money in the Bank briefcase (man or woman) ever, the first woman to ever cash-in successfully, was SmackDown Women’s Champion for 130 days, has defeated Charlotte Flair twice, Asuka twice, Becky Lynch numerous times and the list (and numbers) just keeps going.

Mella is money, Mella is mathematics, and after this Sunday, Mella will be Mania-bound. — RYAN PAPPOLLA

Alicia Fox

Surprises are to a Royal Rumble Match what tables, ladders and chairs are to TLC Matches. Whether it be a shocking entrant or unbelievable winner, you never know what to expect. That said, don’t count Alicia Fox out from pulling off a 2019 Royal Rumble shocker. Sly, unpredictable and always ready to outfox the competition, the former Divas Champion has always been one to pull off the unthinkable. After all, she famously proved that in 2010 with a championship victory at WWE Fatal 4-Way, as well as in the Mixed Match Challenge, making it all the way to the finals. There’s no telling what the Raw Superstar will do when she makes her way into the marathon bout, but one thing for sure is that she will do anything possible to outfox the competition. – RALPH BRISTOUT  

Ruby Riott

Ruby Riott could win the Rumble Match on her own, thanks to her vicious, calculating in-ring style, and with Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan by her side, she’ll be able to pick apart the 27 other competitors.

The Women’s Royal Rumble Match is every Superstar for herself, and the enticement of a Title Match at WrestleMania has gotten the better of some iconic teams. But the bond shared by The Riott Squad has the permanence of a tattoo. Riott will have a plan, and if her Squad sticks to it, she will end the night by pointing at the WrestleMania sign. — JEFF LABOON

Sonya Deville

Though she may not be a favorite heading into the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble, don’t underestimate Sonya Deville. The Jersey Devil has proven she can survive the chaos of a battle royal already, though she came up short against Asuka in one such bout last November.

Deville’s fiery attitude, along with her arsenal of devastating strikes, make her the perfect competitor for a chaotic contest like the Royal Rumble Match. You might have your favorite pegged to win in Phoenix, but don’t be surprised when Sonya Deville knocks them out and dumps them out on her way to WrestleMania. – BOBBY MELOK

Ember Moon

OK, so it’s a long shot. But WrestleMania season is the time for long shots to make themselves known and become legends. Remember when Rey Mysterio went the distance and won the World Heavyweight Title? Ember Moon’s Raw career has been shorter than The Ultimate Underdog’s was up until that point, but there’s a similar on-the-bubble energy buzzing around the former NXT Women’s Champion. A few wins here, a few wins there, one monster performance, and who knows? We might just have ourselves a contender. — ANTHONY BENIGNO