Asuka, Shinsuke Nakamura are now the Royal Rumble betting favorites

We are now only 17 days away from the 2018 Royal Rumble. As the Jan. 28 date draws closer, new betting odds have emerged and a new favorite for the men’s Rumble match.

According to 25+ year veteran oddsmaker and sportsbook consultant Jim Murphy, SmackDown’s Shinsuke Nakamura has risen up to become the co-favorite to win the men’s Rumble match. Nakamura sits tied with John Cena at +350 betting favorites as of this week.

For those unfamiliar with betting and odds, a negative number (or closet to it) typically represents a favorite and how much you have to bet to profit $100. While a positive number is how much you would profit if you bet $100.

Per Murphy here are the odds to win the WWE men’s Royal Rumble 2018 match:

John Cena: +350

Shinsuke Nakamura: +350

Roman Reigns: +650

Seth Rollins: +650

Samoa Joe: +750

Kevin Owens: +750

Finn Balor: +750

AJ Styles: +1000

Braun Strowman: +1000

Randy Orton: +1500

Matt Hardy: +1500

Sami Zayn: +1500

Brock Lesnar: +1500

Jinder Mahal: +2500

Dolph Ziggler: +2500

Kane: +2500

The Undertaker: +4500

Rusev: +4500

Baron Corbin: +4500

Bray Wyatt: +4500

Jason Jordan: +5000

The Miz: +5000

Bobby Roode: +5000

Cesaro: +5000

Chris Jericho: +5000

Jeff Hardy: +5000

Kassius Ohno: +5000

Mojo Rawley: +5000

Sheamus: +5000

Any Other Wrestler: +10000

The odds that standout here is Roman Reigns just sitting their in the third spot just waiting, watching and ready to grab the brass ring yet another Rumble match.

Over on the women’s side, odds point to Asuka remaining as the favorite to win the first ever women’s Rumble match.

Per Murphy here are the complete odds to win the WWE women’s Royal Rumble 2018 match.

Asuka: +150

Ronda Rousey: +350

Nikki Bella: +700

Paige: +700

Becky Lynch: +700

Charlotte Flair: +1250

Nia Jax: +1250

Sasha Banks: +1250

Alexa Bliss: +1250

Bayley: +2500

Shayna Baszler: +2500

Carmella: +2500

Sonya Deville: +2500

Stephanie McMahon: +5000

Brie Bella: +5000

Kairi Sane: +5000

Naomi: +5000

Natalya: +5000

Any Other Wrestler: +10000

Asuka remains a decent favorite and it makes sense due to her dominance both in NXT as well as on the main roster. Less than two weeks ago, Asuka was tapping out Raw women’s champion Alexa Bliss in the middle of the ring.

After Asuka, the women’s odds get a little interesting. Could a debuting, rookie with no pro wrestling experience enter and win the women’s Royal Rumble? Hi, Ronda Rousey.

Cases could be made for a returning Nikki Bella, Paige or Becky Lynch to win the historic Rumble match.

For the first time ever, we get two Royal Rumble matches on the same night and maybe for the first time in awhile the WWE has four or five legitimate options in each match to win the whole thing.

You have the odds, are there any wrestlers being overlooked by the betting community in either the men’s or women’s Royal Rumble matches?