Daniel Bryan (2014)
O.K., this is going to be a bit of a cheat because this entry is more for a lack of surprise than an actual surprise. That being said, the WWE fans were clearly expecting Daniel Bryan to make his way into the Royal Rumble. When he didn’t appear, they became rabid and turned on WWE instantly.
Daniel Bryan was the hottest wrestler on the planet in 2014. The groundswell of support that followed him from his loss at WrestleMania 28 was insane. He was receiving Attitude Era-type pops every time he stepped through the curtain. Most assumed it was only a matter of time before he was thrust into the main event. The Royal Rumble seemed the perfect place for Bryan to reach the upper plateau of WWE.
When the 30th entrant was revealed to be Rey Mysterio, it was the worst surprise the WWE Universe could have imagined. Their Golden Boy wasn’t in the Royal Rumble, and at the time wasn’t going to be punching a ticket to WrestleMania.
