I don’t know about yourselves, but I adore the Royal Rumble! It is so different from any other WWE PPV, or any wrestling PPV actually. It is the start of the Road To WrestleMania and the 8-10 week build to the Grandest Stage Of Them All. We’re just a few weeks away from this year’s Royal Rumble folks! And I cannot wait. Why I hear you ask?… Well, I’m glad you did.
The biggest thing for me, the absolute number one thing that gets me each and every year…are the surprise entrants for the Rumble match itself. Whether it’s AJ Styles debut or Sami Zayn’s appearance back in 2016, Bubba Ray Dudley the year before in 2015, or the greatest ever Intercontinental Champion of all time – the Honky Tonk Man back in 2001…Everyone remembers the surprises!
And with that in mind, here’s five surprise Superstars that I think could show up in this year’s Rumble match. Now don’t hold me to this if none of these turn up in the match. I’m not Mystic Meg, I have no crystal ball. But I have an ear to the ground and from what I’ve heard, there’s a good chance that one or more of my suggestions could show up.
Number Five
Matt Riddle
Yup! I’m going out of the box, blue sky thinking here. The Original Bro, Matt Riddle. In the Rumble match. I doubt he’ll be the only NXT star in either the Men’s or Women’s Rumble matches (see below 😉 ). With the brand dominating last year’s Survivor Series PPV, it just makes sense.
And who better than Riddle? The man who has openly challenged WWE Champion Brock Lesnar on numerous occasions since he arrived at the Performance Center. He has wanted The Beast for so long, and what better way than in the Rumble match, where anything goes. Could he eliminate him? Hmmmm, I’m not sure. I think my next surprise entrant might have a say in that.
Number Four
Cain Velasquez
He hasn’t been seen or heard of since WWE Crown Jewel, over two and a half months ago. What better way to put yourself back in people’s consciousness than a good showing at the Rumble? And as I said above, a statement could be made if he eliminates his arch-nemesis, Brock Lesnar.
Hell, you could even have him take on or take out Matt Riddle too. Show dominance over his MMA brethren. The main thing though, is that Cain NEEDS a good showing if and when he comes back. The Crown Jewel debacle has to erased from fans’ minds quickly. Let Cain off the leash and show the world his mean, lucha attitude.
Number Three
Ronda Rousey
Yeah, I’ve gone there. I’m predicting that the Rowdy one will return to kick ass and become the number one contender to The Man’s Raw Women’s Championship title. Well, that is if she can get past Askua first, but that’s an article for another time.
Ronda has had a long time to heal up any nagging injuries from her last run with the company. I’m pretty sure she’ll be chomping at the bit to right the wrongs from WrestleMania 35. And we can just sit back and watch a nasty, vindictive Rousey go through the Raw Women’s division. Showing Becky Lynch that she’s back and she’s now in charge. I’d buy that for a dollar!
Number Two
Beth Phoenix
The biggest report this year is that a certain wrestler that’s rather “rated” will return to the Rumble this year. Why not make it a 2-4-1 deal and bring in his wife, the Phoenixed One herself, Beth.
They could make history as the first husband and wife to appear in their respective Rumble matches. And yes, I know, Beth appeared in the 2018 women’s Royal Rumble match. But that was then and this is now. Just like her husband, she has walked away from the ring. Residing behind the announce desk on NXT. I’m hoping she pulls a Lawler and gets up from the desk, and enters the ring. Throwing everyone around and showing the world that she is still a badass. Yeah…that’ll do me.
Number One
Edge
The worst kept secret/rumor in wrestling right now is that Edge has been getting ready for an in-ring return. How long that return is, is anybody’s guess. From the moment that he signed his new WWE contract that wasn’t a Legends deal like his last one was, many have speculated that he was making a return. Combine that with Edge stepping away from his podcast with his long-time friend Christian, and rumors of him working out with Sheamus, and Triple H saying that he would love to see him back at some point…and you get the IWC in overdrive!
I can imagine it now. I’m sat down enjoying my buffalo wings, my beer, and my wingman’s company. When outta nowhere…”YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME” blares out of my tv speakers and I lose my mind! The pop will be touching Road Warrior/Austin levels! And that’s just at my house 🙂
If it’s a one and done – great! If it’s a short term deal – even greater! As long as he is healthy enough to be in that ring, then that’s good enough for me!
And there we have it. My five possible Royal Rumble surprise entrants. Will any of them actually happen? I really hope so, especially number three and one. But if they don’t, no drama. I will still enjoy the PPV like I do every year.
There really isn’t an event like the Royal Rumble.
