The WWE Royal Rumble returns in 2017 on January 29 but who out of the current crop of stars, the next generation and the old guard could emerge and win it?
SunSport wrestling expert Tom Fordy looks at 17 superstars we could be stunned by at upcoming event
THIS year’s Royal Rumble match – which takes place at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on January 29 – is already stacked with huge names, including The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Seth Rollins, and Chris Jericho.
But it’s not about the anticipation of seeing who will win the match and go on to challenge for the title at WrestleMania, but also which superstar returns or debuts WWE has lined up.
As excitement for the Royal Rumble match builds, we count down 17 potential surprises entrants.
Triple H
If Triple H hasn’t returned to TV by the time the Rumble happens, he’s a solid bet for turning up in the match.
He still hasn’t been seen on main roster TV since screwing Seth Rollins out of the Universal Championship last August.
The Triple H v Rollins match at ‘Mania is inevitable – Trips could be a surprise entry in the Rumble (like last year) and screw over Rollins again by eliminating him.
Samoa Joe
The timing makes this an absolute no-brainer.
After 18 months’ service and two title reigns, Joe is done in NXT – it’s time for his long-awaited push on the main roster.
If he doesn’t appear in the Rumble, WWE will have seriously missed a trick.
But we say go one better – have him with the Rumble and go on to face his old pal AJ Styles at WrestleMania.
Diamond Dallas Page
Thanks to his own brand of “DDP Yoga”, 60-year- old Page is still in great shape – he entered the 2015 Rumble and showed up in last year’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. DDP is also reported as one this year’s Hall of Fame inductee and has a new DVD to sell, Positively Living (out March 27) so he’s a likely contender for some fan pleasing nostalgia.
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The Big Show
Show’s been sharing pictures of his new (admittedly impressive) physique all across social media – presumably in preparation for his rumoured match with Shaquille O’Neal at WrestleMania.
If the match with Shaq is going ahead, now’s the time to get Show back on WWE TV. Better still, put Shaq ringside for a bit of pushing and shoving with Big Show to get the feud started.
Booker T
Booker was a surprise entrant in both the 2011 and 2012 Royal Rumble matches.
He’s also a Texas native, which could make him a popular choice with the San Antonio fans.
Though he’s officially retired and sits on WWE’s “expert panel” for most PPVs, he’s got a few spinaroonies left in the tank.
A Royal Rumble win could even help his bid to become the mayor of Houston.
Tyler Bate
WWE could ride the momentum of its fantastic UK tournament by entering its brand new United Kingdom Champion into the Royal Rumble match. Having Bate put in a strong performance – and dazzle the crowd with some top fisticuffs and his aeroplane spin – would also be a smart move if WWE’s trying to sell its proposed UK-based Network show to a mainstream audience.
Cody Rhodes
The former Stardust has been making huge waves in the indy scene since leaving WWE in May.
If WWE has been paying attention, it would know that the two-time Intercontinental Champion’s talented and over enough to become a headline player (without the dreadful Stardust gimmick, of course).
The smart fans at the Alamodome would go crazy for a surprise return from Cody at the Royal Rumble.
Hulk Hogan
Stranger things have happened, brother. There’s always speculation that WWE is softening its ban of all things Hulkster, which could lead to a return at some point down the road. If he did enter the Rumble, he’d likely have to win it for the third time – we can’t see Hogan taking that bump over the top rope with his poor old dodgy hips and knees.
Shinsuke Nakamura
Whether Nakamura retains or loses the NXT Championship at TakeOver: San Antonio the night before the Royal Rumble, he could still be a surprise entry – even if it’s just to give the main roster fans a taste of what the “King of Strong Style” is all about.
WWE could even plant the seeds of a future Lesnar v Nakamura feud (they’ve got history from Japan) by having them clash in the Rumble match.
Diesel
The former WWE Champion is due one of his regular Royal Rumble returns. Except this year, we’d like to see Diesel played by Glenn Jacobs instead than boring old Kevin Nash (in honour of the “fake Diesel” character Jacobs played before he became Kane).
Finn Balor
If Balor’s cleared to action, the story pretty much writes itself – he makes a surprise return to win the Rumble and earn a shot to reclaim the Universal Championship he never lost.
Alternatively, there’s a wealth of other Superstars for Balor to clash with in the Rumble match and set up something bigger. The Demon v The Deadman could be incredible.
Kurt Angle
If Kurt is destined to wrestle again for WWE, it’s almost a shame he was announced for Hall the Fame.
Had Angle’s return to the company had been kept under wraps, the roof would would have blown off the Alamodome the second his music hit.
Regardless, it will still be an incredible moment in Angle does enter the Rumble match.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts
When Roberts got on the road to recovery with DDP, he stated that his intention was to enter the 2014 Royal Rumble.
He had to make do with a Hall of Fame induction that year instead, but he’s been clean and healthy ever since – this could be his time to hit one last DDT in a WWE ring.
CM Punk
An outside bet at this stage (Punk’s return to WWE is inevitable, but probably not just yet), but after walking out of WWE the night after the 2014 Royal Rumble, Punk could come full circle with a jaw-dropping return.
X-Pac
The only member of The Kliq to not get the legend treatment in the last few years (Nash, Scott Hall, and Shawn Michaels are all in the Hall of Fame), Sean “X-Pac” Waltman is still capable of putting on a match – and would get a huge nostalgia pop.
For extra nostalgia points he could go seriously old school and revive his 1-2- 3 Kid gimmick.
Tye Dillinger
Dillinger can’t seem to cut a break in NXT – and he’s probably destined for yet another loss against Eric Young at TakeOver: San Antonio. But after nearly four years in NXT, the hugely- popular Dillinger is ready to make the leap to the main roster.
Could the “Perfect 10” enter the Rumble as entrant number 10?
Conor McGregor
McGregor’s been spoiling for a Rumble in WWE ever since he started trash-talking pro-wrestling.
It might be a bit soon for him to make the leap from octagon to squared circle, but it’s bound to happen at some point down the road – what better time for the cocky UFC star to debut than at the Royal Rumble?
