Being almost a week into the new year, WWE has put more wheels in motion for the booking of their first pay-per-view of 2019, the Royal Rumble, which takes place later this month.So far, six matches have been confirmed for the Royal Rumble, which takes place on January 27 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. As well as the men's and women's Royal Rumble matches, four titles will be defended at the event.Brock Lesnar will defend the Universal title vs Braun Strowman, AJ Styles will battle Daniel Bryan for the WWE title, a fatal four-way will take place between Buddy Murphy, Akira Tozawa, Kalisto, and another opponent yet to be named.Asuka will also defend the SmackDown Women's Championship at the Royal Rumble against an opponent who is yet to be named, but we won't have to wait long to find out who this superstar will be.In fact, it will be one of three superstars, as WWE has announced that Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Carmella will face each other in a number one contenders match on SmackDown Live this week, with the winner going on to face The Empress of Tomorrow later this month at the Rumble.

The Man had already fired a shot towards the SmackDown Women's Champion before this number one contenders match was announced.

She said in a tweet: "No one beat me to become champ. When Asuka left TLC my championship was RED hot, the main event title, and the talk of the business. How's it doing now? Exactly. I am that title. I am the #foreverchamp."

Considering Carmella is entering the women's Royal Rumble at the number 30 spot, it seems unlikely that she will win the number one contenders match this coming Tuesday night.

That leaves Lynch and Flair. WWE already accidentally announced that Asuka would face Becky at the Rumble in the week following TLC, only to backtrack on their decision hours later, so she might be the favourite to win entering SmackDown's match.

However, WWE could also decide to go with Flair instead so that Lynch is free to enter and potentially win the women's Royal Rumble, which will, in turn, kick off her rumoured WrestleMania storyline with Ronda Rousey.

We'll have to wait until SmackDown Live in just a few days to find out what direction WWE is going in for the Royal Rumble.