The Royal Rumble match serves many different purposes in WWE. Surprise appearances and returns? Check. Nostalgic comfort food? Check. An all-out brawl that mixes and matches strange bedfellows while teasing potential feuds and alliances? Check. Another Shield reunion? God, let's hope not.
But one of the most important devices of the Royal Rumble match is to further existing feuds. Each year, ongoing tensions translate into eliminations, as rivalries are taken to the next level when one individual costs another an opportunity to main-event WrestleMania. This is the unheralded value of the Royal Rumble match that, if done correctly, can set the stage for a successful showcase in April.
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