WWE NEWS: 10 Surprise Entrants Who Could Actually Win 2020 WWE Royal Rumble Match
The Royal Rumble is coming up on January 26, and one of the things fans look forward to the most is seeing which Superstars make surprise appearances.
Every Rumble typically features at least one shocking entrant, and while most of them do not end up winning, this year could be different.
A lot of people are in the running for surprise spots in both the women’s and men’s matches.
With Brock Lesnar entering the men’s contest at No. 1, the likely outcome is that whoever eliminates him and the winner will face The Beast at WrestleMania 36. The women’s match is a bit more unpredictable.
Let’s look at 10 Superstars whose surprise appearances could realistically end in victory.
10.Lita
Lita is one of those WWE Hall of Famers who is still capable of lacing her boots whenever the itch to perform returns.
She showed up in the inaugural women’s Royal Rumble in 2018 and eliminated Mandy Rose and Tamina before being taken out by Becky Lynch.
The four-time women’s champion is the kind of legend WWE could use as a challenger to the Raw or SmackDown titleholder heading into WrestleMania 36.
She has the love of the fans and the skills to perform at a high level. The crowd would go wild if she won, and it would make for a great storyline to help build the biggest event of the year.
9.Goldberg
His most recent run with WWE saw him win the Universal Championship and defeat Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2016 in what is the quickest loss of The Beast’s career.
The master of the Jackhammer’s interest in a possible return this close to The Royal Rumble may indicate he intends to enter the match and face Lesnar once again.
While nobody would expect Goldberg vs. Lesnar to be a technical clinic, a lot of fans would still be excited to see them do battle again. If Goldberg wins the Rumble, a rematch at WrestleMania could be in the cards.
8.Trish Stratus
Like Lita, Trish Stratus is still capable of lacing up her boots and jumping into the ring for The Royal Rumble match.
The former hardcore champion last appeared at SummerSlam 2019 in a match against Charlotte Flair. It was supposed to be her final bout, but we have seen stars return who were retired for many years before.
Not only could she return for the Rumble, but she could also win the whole thing. One final run at the Women’s Championship would be a great way to cap off her career.
7.The Undertaker
The Undertaker has not appeared on WWE television since the September 10 episode of SmackDown, and he has not worked a match since Extreme Rules on July 14.
Showing up out of nowhere during The Royal Rumble would be a great moment, especially if he were able to get a measure of revenge against Lesnar.
The Deadman won the men’s Royal Rumble in 2007, so he would add his name to the exclusive list of Superstars who have claimed victory twice if he were able to outlast the other competitors.
While he may not need the accolade, setting up another showdown with Lesnar at WrestleMania would be a good reason for booking him to win. People love revenge stories, and The Undertaker going after The Beast for ending his undefeated streak is a storyline WWE has yet to tell.
6.Ruby Riott
Surprise entrants don’t always have to be legends. Sometimes, a person who was injured can make their triumphant return during the Royal Rumble, just like John Cena did in 2008.
Somebody who has been away from television recovering who would benefit greatly from winning the Rumble is Ruby Riott.
The Riott Squad leader has been out since August because of surgery to repair a bilateral injury. She has been quiet on social media since November, except for one reply to a tweet from Rachael Evers on January 6.
Radio silence may indicate she is preparing for a return, and the message from Evers was about working out with Riott, so she may be closer to making a comeback than we think.
One of the better wrestlers on Raw and SmackDown, Riott is also one of the best characters. She is different from everyone else on the roster, and she can carry herself in the ring and on the mic against the top stars in the division.
Giving her a monster push that leads to a title shot at WrestleMania would be an amazing comeback story, especially if she were a babyface.
5.Edge
Speculation has been swirling for months about Edge potentially being able to have another match in WWE, but The Rated-R Superstar appeared to deny those rumors in a tweet on October 4.
However, acknowledging the rumor only added fuel to the fire. Gary Cassidy of Sportskeeda brought this up during an interview with Triple H ahead of NXT TakeOver: Blackpool II on Sunday.
The Game played coy but said he would love to see Edge return to the ring, which led fans online to speculate about a Royal Rumble appearance.
If Edge were to return during the pay-per-view, he would likely be booked to win so he could earn a title shot at WrestleMania. He was forced to relinquish the World Heavyweight Championship when he retired in 2011, and if he were to come back, his only goal should be getting gold back around his waist.
4.Nia Jax
Another Superstar who has been away from the ring for several months who might be poised for a surprise return is Nia Jax.
Her most recent match happened at WrestleMania 35. After the event, we learned she had torn both of her ACLs and would require surgery that would keep her out of action for the rest of the year.
It has been almost nine months. While nobody should return before they are fully healed, it’s possible she is ready to get back in the ring.
The former women’s champion is capable of eliminating every other competitor in the match by herself. Returning with a dominant Rumble performance would give her a lot of momentum during the buildup to WrestleMania 36.
3.Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez signed a multi-year deal with WWE in 2019, but we have not seen him since he lost to Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel in October.
The Beast claimed his reason for entering the Rumble is because he has no competition, which makes it a great opportunity to bring back the guy who beat him for the UFC Heavyweight Championship for another shot at the universal title.
Velasquez will almost certainly be part of the WrestleMania card. WWE doesn’t pay guys like him big money to sit on the sidelines for the most important show of the year.
As discussed in relation to The Undertaker, Velasquez has a good storyline reason to show up during the Royal Rumble match. In fact, it would be shocking if he didn’t.
2.Ronda Rousey
If there is anyone who would make a big splash returning during The Royal Rumble, it’s Ronda Rousey.
Other than appearing on Total Divas, Rousey has been absent from WWE programming since losing the Raw women’s title to Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 35.
The Man is still the Raw women’s champ, so Rowdy would be able to challenge the same woman who beat her, creating another marquee match in the process.
We all know it’s a matter of time before Rousey returns to the ring. If the plan is to book her for a WrestleMania contest, bringing her back on January 26 to begin the buildup is the best option.
At a time when WWE is trying to improve its television ratings, having Rousey on its shows would be a big help.
1.Triple H
Triple H has kept his focus on building the NXT brand in recent years while occasionally returning for special events, but that doesn’t mean he is never going to chase the title again.
The Game is a 14-time world champion. He is two reigns away from tying mentor Ric Flair’s record of 16 wins. If he wants another run with the belt, the quickest way to earn a title shot other than just booking himself to get one would be to win the Royal Rumble.
He belongs to the exclusive club of two-time Rumble winners, and another victory would tie him with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the most victories in the history of the event.
Triple H a living legend, and he is one of the few people who holds a clean win over Brock Lesnar. The Beast vs. The King of Kings is the kind of big match WWE can build an entire event around, and it can all start at the Royal Rumble.