Batista
In his first WWE match since 2010, Batista might have as good of a chance as anybody to win the 2014 Royal Rumble. wwe.com

There aren’t many legitimate candidates to win the 2014 Royal Rumble match. One name is reportedly the favorite, according to the internet dirt sheets, while another is the clear fan favorite to be in the main event of WrestleMania XXX.

Below are the five WWE superstars with the best chance to win this year’s Royal Rumble.

1) Daniel Bryan

After seeing the crowd’s reaction to Bryan in Providence, it would be impossible for the WWE to ignore how much the fans want to see the wrestler win the Rumble. When Bryan turned on Bray Wyatt “Yes” and “Daniel Bryan” chants filled the arena on Monday Night Raw. It’s not the first time that Bryan has gotten the crowd into such a frenzy, and he might be the most over WWE superstar since Stone Cold Steve Austin. When The Authority got the best of Bryan, it appeared WWE had decided not to put the title on him anytime soon. However, WWE cut his run as a heel short when they saw how popular he was. There hasn’t been a more clear-cut choice to win the Rumble in quite some time.

2) Batista

If interest rumors mean anything, Batista is the favorite to win the Royal Rumble match. The WWE has been hyping his return for a few weeks, and he’s almost guaranteed to be in one of the bigger matches at WrestleMania XXX. There’s a good chance he’ll return as a babyface and fight Randy Orton for the undisputed championship. The two never had a feud after the breakup of evolution, and they could go in a few different directions for a buildup to their match.

3) CM Punk

The most likely WrestleMania scenario has Punk facing Triple H, but plans can always change at a moment’s notice. After having the longest WWE championship reign in 25 years, Punk hasn’t been anywhere near the title picture. John Cena and CM Punk have had the best rivalry in the WWE over the past decade, and the two could finally have their WrestleMania match if Punk wins the Rumble and Cena beats Orton for the championship.

4) Roman Reigns

Reigns would be a big long shot to challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight title at WrestleMania. However, he’s the fastest rising star on the WWE roster. With the breakup of The Shield imminent, it might not be long before he’s in the title picture. There are rumors that he’ll become a babyface in the not too distant future, and it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to challenge Orton. Even if he doesn’t win, look for Reigns to eliminate several wrestlers.

5) John Cena

It might not make much booking sense, but Cena is always a threat to win the Rumble. He’s the company’s biggest star, and they are always looking to put him in the most high-profile matches. If the WWE title match closes out the PPV, Cena won’t have a chance to win the 30-man battle royal. However, if Cena loses to Orton and the Rumble match ends the night, he may enter the match and have a very good showing.