The Royal Rumble serves as the first step on the road to WrestleMania each year. It's a time to deliver big statements.

This year will be no different, when the 2025 edition of the premium live event sets the stage for WrestleMania 41.

Who will win the men's and women's Rumble matches and earn world title matches at The Show of Shows? Will Cody Rhodes or Kevin Owens walk out as undisputed WWE champion?

These are the obvious questions, but they may not be the most important for WWE's future.

Who will make the most of the moment and earn an opportunity at WrestleMania? What are top names such as Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn and Bianca Belair willing to do to get to the top?

These questions set the stage for the most likely heel and face turns on the first stop of the road to WrestleMania.

Heel: Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins is growing frustrated. He lost his battle with CM Punk. Drew McIntyre is speaking sense while friends Sami Zayn and Jey Uso keep getting in his way.

If The Visionary feels like his opportunity to main-event WrestleMania is slipping away from him, Rollins could well chose to align with The Scottish Warrior to succeed.

Rollins' heel path may not fully materialize at this year's Royal Rumble, but his actions will directly decide his WrestleMania fate.

McIntyre and Kevin Owens will need more help if they are going to battle The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes in the long term.

Rollins' future looks brightest if he turns heel, and it's hard to imagine he won't do so at some point in 2025.

Heel: Sami Zayn

Kevin Owens has delivered an ultimatum to Sami Zayn: Help a friend or become an enemy.

While The Ultimate Underdog has made his own intentions clear, he clearly still cares for The Prizefighter. As much as they fight, KO and Zayn remain constantly intertwined.

As Owens hints at forming a new group to take over WWE, Zayn would fit more at his side than battling against him.

If Zayn loses in the men's Rumble match as expected, he could choose to help KO win the Undisputed WWE Championship to make sure he stays in the world title picture.

Zayn's actions on Saturday will likely define his future for years to come. But which side will he take?

Face: Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa has lost the ula fala and can no longer claim the title of "tribal chief." Without that responsibility, he has fallen silent.

The 31-year-old will step into the men's Rumble match alongside the man who took his title, Roman Reigns. Sikoa will need to decide where he stands in his family.

His brothers, Jey and Jimmy Uso, have both backed Reigns, while Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga have chosen to forge their own path.

If Sikoa helps Reigns in the Rumble, he would likely put himself at odds with his former allies. This will allow Fatu to become a dangerous force all his own.

This is the best story for Sikoa, who would otherwise slip into the background next to the rising star of The Samoan Werewolf.

Heel: Bianca Belair or Naomi

Ahead of Survivor Series in November, Jade Cargill was viciously laid out backstage. Since she has yet to return, the mystery of her attacker remains unclear.

However, that could change during the women's Rumble match. Cargill would return to a massive pop and likely place her focus first on whoever eliminated her.

While Nia Jax or Raquel Rodriguez would make the most sense, a more interesting option would be for Naomi or Bianca Belair to be the one who took out The Storm.

Her two friends have elevated themselves with her out of the picture, and a contest between her and either Belair or Naomi would be a major money match with that heat.

Of the two, Naomi feels likelier, but Belair would be a stronger angle, allowing The EST to finally turn heel for the first time in her main roster career.

Face: Piper Niven

Chelsea Green has found her place atop the midcard scene as the first-ever Women's United States champion, and Piper Niven has had her back throughout her reign to date.

However, Green has shown many times that she will do anything to get ahead. The champion should focus on helping the Scot win the women's Rumble match, though she is more likely to help herself.

This sets the stage for a new rival for Green, with Niven turning face out of sheer frustration with the champion.

Green will need a clear rival on the road to WrestleMania, and these two friends are clearly growing apart as they struggle to win together.

Why not use the Rumble to elevate Niven and deliver a big story for the Women's United States Championship?