The WWE Royal Rumble is upon us and like every year, the Pay-Per-View event is set to deliver some surprise appearances. Just last year, AJ Styles made a shocking appearance at the Rumble, and it paved the way for a spectacular year for the grappler in the WWE. This year, fans will once again expect some surprises at the Rumble and although it can be anyone’s guest who will appear, we may have some ideas on who just may appear.
Samoa Joe
Noticeably missing from NXT following his lost to Shinsuke Nakamura in December in Australia, many fans already believe that Samoa Joe has already received a call-up to the main roster. Having him debut at the Rumble would be akin to AJ Styles appearance last year and it should make for an interesting storyline for Joe that could culminate in an interesting feud and match come WrestleMania.
Kurt Angle
Already receiving the call as the first inductee to the 2017 Hall of Fame, Kurt Angle could potentially come in as a surprise entrant at the Rumble, which should generate a huge pop. Although his WrestleMania status could be limited to just the Hall of Fame, Angle –dependent on his deal with the WWE – could nevertheless appear at the Rumble. It is an outside shot but once that’s arguably fans are dreaming off.
Shinsuke Nakamura
Although still playing a key role on the NXT roster, having the King of Strong Style at the Royal Rumble could potentially serve a taster on how Nakamura will be accepted by the vast majority of fans. There’s no denying the Japanese star will be a worthy addition to the WWE and having him feature prominently at the Rumble could spark a good run for Nakamura once he officially moves to the main roster.
Kenny Omega
The NJPW star is expected to renew his contract and wrestle in Japan but rumours of his appearance in the WWE continue to persist. Omega is widely recognised as one of the best talents in the business at the moment and recent comments by Seth Rollins and the actions of John Cena, who posted photos of the grappler on Twitter, lead many to suggest that Omega may have signed some sort of a deal for a lengthy or one-time appearance in the WWE.
Finn Balor
We can only imagine what Balor’s stock would be like right now in the WWE if he didn’t get injured. Currently on the mend, the Demon King could potentially mark his return to the squared circle with a Rumble appearance. He has been appearing on WWE TV, appearing in the crowd at the recent UK Tournament and also teasing his involvement with a cryptic post on Instagram.Will the Rumble be the place where Balor returns and reclaims his spot at the top of the WWE food chain?
The WWE Royal Rumble takes place on 29 January 2017. Catch the live telecast on the WWE Network (Astro Ch 840) beginning from 9am.