The Road to WrestleMania has begun. The Royal Rumble is only a few weeks away, and with that comes the anticipation of the Royal Rumble match. The match is the crown jewel of WWE because of its unique nature. The modified battle royale creates excitement with its incremental introductions. Introductions that could be from wrestlers on the roster or the even more exciting surprise entrant.
Surprise returns are one of the best parts of the Royal Rumble. It gets an immediate pop from the crowd and presents intriguing matchups during the match. Now that we are close to the Royal Rumble, speculation is running rampant. Who will be the surprise this year? Who will make their triumphant return for their shot at the main event of WrestleMania? Let’s look at some candidates.
AJ Lee
CM Punk is back, so naturally, everyone will be expecting AJ Lee to make her return as well. Lee is a fantastic professional wrestler. During her time, she was easily the most talented female on the roster, and she brought an air of legitimacy to the women’s division.
The Royal Rumble would be a perfect time for AJ to resurface. Not only would she get a great reaction from the Tampa crowd, but she could win the entire match. At 36 years of age, Lee still has a ton of time to make a significant run with the company.
Andrade
Andrade was a fantastic talent in NXT. During his time there, he put on several 5-star matches and held the NXT Championship. Unfortunately, he wasn’t booked well on the main roster and failed to realize his potential within the company.
Since leaving WWE, he has bounced around several promotions but hasn’t gotten to the top of any card. His contract with AEW is coming to an end, and now would be a great time for him to come back to finish his story. Plus, it helps that he is attached to Charlotte Flair, so it would be nice to be closer to his loved ones.
Liv Morgan
Morgan has been out with an injury, but that process looks to be coming to an end. She is continuously one of the more popular females on the roster, and having her back would be great. Morgan may not be one to win the Royal Rumble, but she could be thrust into a great mid-card program upon her return.
Yes, Morgan has recently been in trouble with the law, but that doesn’t seem to have upset many in the company. Unlike others, Morgan’s rep within the company hasn’t been affected by her arrest.
Naomi
Naomi didn’t exactly leave WWE on the best of terms. Her and Sasha Banks walking out was a huge deal and one that left a bad taste in WWE’s mouth. She has had success in other promotions, but there is no doubt that WWE is her home. It is time for her to return and make a run for one of the women’s world titles.
Also, Naomi has just finished up her TNA obligations. She got a great ovation after her last match, but she is now a free agent, and it would be great for her to return to WWE. Plus, her entrances are always phenomenal, so that is another bonus.
John Cena
It just can’t end this way for Cena. At Crown Jewel, Cena was, more or less, squashed by Solo Sikoa. It went a long way to putting over Sikoa, which is what Cena would have wanted, but it was not a fitting send-off for one of the greatest to lace a pair of boots.
Having Cena show up at the Royal Rumble is what WWE needs to do. It can help set up a potential swan song for him at WrestleMania.
Trish Stratus
Stratus did some of the best work of her career on her latest run. She fit seamlessly into the heel role given to her, and she was able to help elevate younger talent. Trish also put on maybe the best match of her career against Becky Lynch, proving that she still has some gas left in the tank.
Trish has said that she isn’t ready to finish up just yet, so why not strike while the iron is hot? She wouldn’t have much ring rust, so it would be easy to bring her back and put her into a high-profile program.
Brock Lesnar
Until he is no longer associated with WWE, Lesnar will always be a threat to be in the Royal Rumble. His success in the match is second to none, and he always provides great moments during the contest. So, why not have him in it again?
Lesnar hasn’t been seen since SummerSlam, so he should be well-rested. Also, rumors have been circulating that a potential matchup with Gunther looms for WrestleMania. The best way to kick-start this? A Royal Rumble showdown with the Ring General.
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