***This article may continue spoilers for WWE Royal Rumble 2024***
WWE Royal Rumble is just hours away and fans are eagerly awaiting the iconic men’s and women’s 30-person matches.
Famed for its unpredictability, the Rumble lends itself perfectly to huge surprises with plenty of space for surprise entrants in both versions of the bouts, from big returns to epic debuts.
Even WWE superstars like Carlito have been having their own say on potential comebacks, and with WrestleMania 40 looming it really is a time where anything can happen.
There has been plenty of speculation in recent weeks and months about who could show up tonight in Florida, with some names floating around appearing much more likely than others.
We’ve grouped together some of the rumoured stars and others simply at the top of fans’ wish lists, with some insight into whether viewers can expect to see them turn up.
Here’s your final spoiler warning, in case any of these superstars do happen to walk down the aisle for either of tonight’s Royal Rumble matches.
The Rock
Dwayne Johnson has a chance to break the internet if he makes his WWE in-ring comeback at the Royal Rumble for his first match since beating Erick Rowan in six seconds back at WrestleMania in 2016.
It would come just days after he was named to the board of directors for WWE’s parent company TKO in a move which also saw him take over full ownership of The Rock name.
There has been plenty of speculation that Dwayne could face Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40 in April, and the Rumble would be an easy way to get there.
Jade Cargill
Ever since signing for WWE from rivals All Elite Wrestling last year, fans have been desperate to see Jade Cargill in her new home.
Despite occasional on-screen teases shortly after putting pen to paper on her deal, fans are still waiting for a glimpse of her in a WWE ring.
That time could come at the Royal Rumble, providing the perfect set up for Jade and any potential WrestleMania plans for the star.
Sasha Banks (Mercedes Mone)
Sasha Banks hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since she and Naomi walked out of an episode of Monday Night Raw in May 2022.
Despite speculation she could make a return with Triple H in creative control, recent reports have suggested she is instead on her way to All Elite Wrestling.
Nothing is set in stone, but it’s been claimed people inside both WWE and AEW fully expect her to be joining the latter and making an imminent debut.
Naomi
Like Sasha Banks, Naomi hasn’t been seen by fans since their walkout almost two years ago.
She’s been on a storming run in IMPACT/TNA Wrestling including a great stint as Knockouts World Champion, but there it’s believed she has wrapped up her time with the promotion and is nearing a WWE return.
The perfect stage for that comeback might indeed be the Royal Rumble, and it would be a fantastic moment for everyone involved.
MJF
Seeing MJF step out for the Royal Rumble would be an absolute gamechanger for the wrestling world.
The former AEW World Champion has made no secret of the possibility he could join WWE one day, and he even used it as part of his on screen character by playing up the idea of becoming a free agent in January 2024.
That month has arrived as All Elite Wrestling previously removed MJF from their website’s roster, but there have been some reports suggesting he may have quietly resigned with Tony Khan’s promotion. Time will tell!
Kazuchika Okada
Wrestling fans around the world have been on red alert for the last couple of weeks after Kazuchika Okada announced he is leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling when his contract ends on January 31.
He’s due to say goodbye to the promotion after 17 years, but despite his contract expiring in a few days, he’s still set to appear at upcoming shows in Osaka (February 11) and Sapporo (February 24 and 24).
That effectively rules him out of the Royal Rumble despite reports WWE have contacted other promotions about using their talent for the match, while it’s believed AEW are the frontrunners to land him when he’s a free agent.
Hulk Hogan
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has been teasing the possibility of a Royal Rumble appearance the same month the company is celebrating 40 years of Hulkamania.
Although he’s been very open about his litany of injuries which mean he has been seen walking with a cane in recent months, he has toyed with the idea in video packages this week on Raw and SmackDown.
It seems incredibly unlikely, but it’s clearly something Hogan is gunning for.
X-Pac
Sean ‘X-Pac’ Waltman hasn’t wrestled for WWE since a 10-man tag match on WWE Raw back in July 2002, with his last singles match of any kind coming for GCW in 2022.
The WWE Hall of Famer is someone fans have been clamouring to see, and while he recently insisted he ‘can still go’, he insisted there are some issues for this year’s Royal Rumble.
He wrote on X earlier this month: ‘I can still go at the drop of hat, at least for a few minutes.
‘I can do all my kicks, except the one in the corner & I can do that again with a few weeks training.’I’m at least month away from taking my shirt off in public, so zero chance I’ll be in the Rumble.’
WWE superstars returning from injury – Sheamus, Liv Morgan or Rey Mysterio
As well as potential stars from outside the company, there is also a chance fans see some injured stars making a comeback in the Royal Rumble.
Rey Mysterio, Liv Morgan and Sheamus have all been floated as possibilities to make their return in either the men’s or women’s match.
Liv would be a great addition to the division with WrestleMania approaching and Sheamus deserves another moment on the grandest stage, while Rey Mysterio may have recovered from surgery in time to get revenge on his on-screen rival Santos Escobar.
WWE Royal Rumble airs tonight (January 27) at 1am on the WWE Network.
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