Few events have more impact each year than the Royal Rumble.

One man and one woman will walk out with a guaranteed title shot at WrestleMania, and many will scratch and claw to earn that opportunity to change their lives.

While not everyone will win, certain stars will stand out while others fall short. Places at The Show of Shows are limited, and a spotlight like this cannot be missed.

The 2025 Royal Rumble will also include a ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Kevin Owens has a chance to ruin Cody Rhodes' road to WrestleMania if he can win.

Who will make the most of the spotlight and who will be left behind? Who will be the 2025 Royal Rumble's biggest winners and losers?

Winner: CM Punk

CM Punk has made clear that a win in this year's men's Rumble match is more important to him than anything before in his career.

This is his chance to main-event WrestleMania. This is his opportunity to capture a world champion again under a new WWE regime that will allow him to tell his stories.

All signs point to The Best in the World doing just that. He has delivered the strongest promos and best moments leading up to the show.

Punk will get everything he wants and likely do so at the expense of multiple former rivals including John Cena, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins.

This will set the stage for 2025 to be the greatest year of Punk's career.

Loser: John Cena

John Cena has declared 2025 will be the final year of his WWE career, and his first stop is the Royal Rumble.

While The GOAT hopes to make the most of his year, a win in the men's Rumble match looks increasingly less likely by the day.

Cena has not appeared on TV since the Raw on Netflix premiere. Too many stars have made better cases, and the world title scene is too complicated to easily slip him in.

This sets up for an unfortunate first loss for the 47-year-old, who can tell the story of his struggle to reckon with what he can still accomplish in his retirement year.

It won't be all bad for Cena, who is likely to go far in the match, but losing his final chance of a Royal Rumble win won't be an easy pill to swallow.

Winner: Bianca Belair

Since losing the WWE Women's Championship in 2023, Bianca Belair has mostly taken a backseat.

Her WWE Women's Tag Team Championship reign has been inconsistent, which hasn't been helped by Jade Cargill's recent absence.

So, it's time for her to give away the gold and focus back on singles success.

While The EST of WWE has already won a women's Rumble match, she needs a victory on Saturday more than most and would be the perfect rival for Rhea Ripley at The Show of Shows.

Charlotte Flair is the likeliest woman to win other than Belair, but she has already won so much in WWE including a 2020 Rumble victory.

The Queen can earn a shot at Tiffany Stratton with her first Elimination Chamber victory instead.

It will be a good night all around for Belair, who could also surpass her own women's Rumble elimination record.

Loser: Bayley

In one of the best women's performances in the history of the event, Bayley added an important milestone to her career in 2024 by claiming her first Rumble.

However, it's unlikely The Role Model will win a second after a disappointing title reign following her victory at WrestleMania 40.

This year's event will likely be the opposite result for the woman with the longest time survived in women's Rumble history.

With her ongoing rivalry with Roxanne Perez certain to play a factor, Bayley won't make it long, likely ceding her time to The Prodigy in what could be her true main roster debut.

With Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch likely returning in this match, the opportunities for other veterans to stand out will be limited.

Loser: Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens has sold himself as a true challenger for the Undisputed WWE Championship, especially in the last month. He has delivered quality work week after week.

However, the WWE hierarchy still sees Cody Rhodes at the top, and he is unlikely to lose his spot on the road to WrestleMania.

So, for all Owens' bluster, he will lose for the third straight time to The American Nightmare in their ladder match at the Royal Rumble.

KO will struggle to regroup after a loss that will be devastating and may struggle to find a place on the road to WrestleMania 41.

That's a shame for a man delivering some of the best work of his career in 2025.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes has ruled over SmackDown throughout 2024 and enters 2025 with a little less certainty in his future.

Still, his first world title reign is unlikely to end before WrestleMania 41. Whoever wins the men's Rumble match will likely covet the chance to main-event against The American Nightmare.

An upset is not impossible, but it's certainly improbable. This means Rhodes has a chance to main-event his third 'Mania in a row and without Roman Reigns for the first time.

The result of this match is likely to show WWE's complete trust in the world champion to carry the brand toward WrestleMania and beyond.

This is everything The American Nightmare wanted when he re-signed with WWE. He continues to craft a new legacy for the Rhodes name.