A bucketload of former WWE stars will be appearing at WrestleCon merely three minutes from the venue of the WWE Royal Rumble on Saturday, February 1, 2025.
Multiple WWE legends, AEW stars, TNA talent, and independent wrestlers will be taking pictures with fans throughout Friday and Saturday at the Indianapolis Marriot Hotel.
Now WWE is doing well financially so who it chooses to stick in the Royal Rumble probably isn’t determined by proximity. But surely if the option is to pay for a flight for Santino Marella or send a golf buggy for James Ellsworth it’s a no-brainer.
This gives us a good hint at who could make a surprise appearance in the Royal Rumble matches.
Surprise Men For WWE Royal Rumble
WWE Hall of Fame member and former AEW legend Sting will be at WrestleCon. Having called time on his AEW career last year could the time have come for a cameo appearance back in WWE?
TNA World Heavyweight Champion Joe Hendry is at WrestleCon which adds credibility to the internet rumors his name could be said, and he could appear in the Royal Rumble.
Any man with two hands has a chance in the Royal Rumble. James Ellsworth will be using his two hands to sign autographs at WrestleCon and would probably gladly take the 12-minute walk to return to WWE.
Matt Cardona will probably head to the Lucas Oil Field to escort his partner Chelsea Green home after the Royal Rumble. So the former Zack Ryder might as well enter the 30-man elimination match. He even spoke to Ariel Helwani recently about wanting to return in the match.
Uber For 15 WWE Legends, Please
Kurt Angle, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, The Dudley Boyz, Rikishi, Ted DiBiase, JBL, The Honky Tonk Man, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Rob Van Dam, Ron Simmons, Ricky Steamboat, Brutus Beefcake, Arn Anderson, and Papa Shango/ The Godfather are other WWE Hall of Fame members who would probably gladly jump in a 3-minute Uber from the WrestleCon site to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Buff Bagwell could venture from WrestleCon to Lucas Oil Field for a Royal Rumble appearance to spark potentially joining the Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Mr. Anderson, The Headbangers, Perry Saturn, Rhyno, AJ Francis AKA Top Dolla and Matt Riddle are also appearing at the convention and would make more realistic shouts for surprise appearances.
Shock Male Debuts In Royal Rumble
There are a couple of people appearing at WrestleCon that could make a shock debut in WWE during the Royal Rumble. Brock Anderson is signed to MLW but in this era that isn’t as much of a hurdle as it once was.
Former GCW World Champion Mance Warner made his TNA debut, last week, and is signing autographs at the convention. Could a shock appearance in the Royal Rumble be on the cards?
Danhausen is still signed to AEW so probably won’t be making his shock WWE debut despite being in teeth-spitting distance of the Royal Rumble match.
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Women Who Could Join WWE Royal Rumble
Mickie James shocked the world in 2022 when she entered the Royal Rumble whilst Impact Women’s Champion. She’ll be at WrestleCon. James should also be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2025.
One final Rumble appearance would be perfect for James as she heads toward a Hall of Fame induction.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie
Five Australian women will be at WrestleCon who would all get a reaction if they returned to WWE in the Royal Rumble.
Former WWE star Emma AKA Tenille Dashwood is heavily pregnant at the moment so that would really get a pop from the WWE fans if she made the match.
The IIconics – Billie Kay and Peyton Royce – could also enter the match, as could Indi Hartwell.
Steph De Lander has built a great career in GCW and TNA since WWE let her go as Persia Pirotta in 2022. An appearance as De Lander would put weight behind the TNA/ WWE partnership and get a good reaction.
Victoria and Maria Kinellis are also at the convention and seem pretty likely to pop over for the Royal Rumble.
But the name we most want to see leave the gimmick table and leg it to the Royal Rumble match is Hollyhood Hayley J. The troubled darling from Netflix docuseries The Wrestlers would be an absolute hoot in the Royal Rumble match. Get it booked.
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