Wrestlemania season has begun!

It is the build-up to the grandest stage of them all and the road starts here with the standout event:

The Royal Rumble.

With so many factions involved and new alliances recently made…the field is wide open. But who will win it? Here are my predictions:

Wild Card: Brodus Clay

The recent and public split of tons of funk has seen the funk-ass-sarus unleash his true aggressive potential in his matches. Brodus has the physical presence to dominate.

However, with the weight of main eventers and returning animals to the jungle, Brodus looks more like a hippo than a bear. Dangerous as he may be it is a wild card shot he could win.

Add in he now has the ire of R-Truth, Xavier Woods and  Sweet T it’s a long long shot.

Wild card: Cody Rhodes

Unless the tag team championship is to be defended against the real Americans, the Rhodes brothers will certainly be in the rumble.

Cody has been long considered the next in line for the main event scene and was almost there had he not been thwarted by former tag partner Damien Sandow at money in the bank.

Could Cody win the big one?

The Authority have publicly stated that they’re at peace with the Rhodes and all is well. You have to believe that if Cody came too close they’d intervene to stop him getting there.

Wild card: The Big Show

The Big Show is an outside shot to win but the fact is he did challenge for the championship when it was still a two tier mountain top.

His failure has to be eating him up a little and as much as it wouldn’t be a dream championship match he’s gotta be considered a threat based on previous rumbles and his size.

#5 Roman Reigns

The Shield’s muscle is definitely prepared to breakout this year and what better start than the royal rumble.

It’s doubtful that the big red monster will be involved so look for Reigns to take the torch and record for most eliminations this year.

The only reason he’s not higher up is because of the sheer power wafting around in the universe right now. Including current nemesis…

#4 CM Punk

The best in the world has made it clear he wants back into the WWE world championship scene. And lets face it he has the tools to do so.

But even with the 434 day reign in his credentials, the rumble always creates strange alliances. CM Punk is currently a lone wolf.

The Shield are gunning for him as a unit, add to that 26 others trying to reach the mountain top, Punk has an uphill climb and may have to count on the luck of the draw.

Speaking of alliances…

#3 Daniel Bryan

The newest member of the Wyatt Family has been to the top before. And the Authority saw fit to destroy any glory he achieved.

Daniel has been beaten into submission and joined the family. But who knows what the G.O.A.T faced killah is really thinking.

Could this be a rouse to get back on top?
After all there is strength in numbers. And with the sheer size of Wyatt, Rowan and Harper he would certainly be well protected by these animals.

But could they collectively tackle the original animal…

#2 Batista

The animal has returned and is set to cause some devastation in WWE once again. It’s all to play for for the big man and anything can happen when he’s around.

Ironically his theme is “I walk alone” but this might not be the case this time around. With HHH sat in the driver’s seat of the company and former stable mate Randy holding the gold, could the animal just become a bodyguard?

And by winning the rumble the authority would be able to guarantee the outcome of their Wrestlemania main event and protect the face.

But there is one other who has returned and has simply stated he’s getting that belt…

#1 Brock Lesnar

The Beast incarnate is back and mouthpiece included, Paul Heyman.

The original Heyman guy is seemingly unstoppable and demonstrated that by annihilating the world’s strongest man on 2013s last edition of Raw.

Brock wants the title. Unless the authority have a particular affinity toward their champion, have Batista in their back pocket and set him loose on Brock, there really isn’t anything that will stop Brock from adding another title to his name:

2014 Royal Rumble winner.