'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
For the first time in the history of the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, this year's show will be without a live audience. This means that the usual surprise entrances that WWE could be planning may not have the same effect inside the ThunderDome.
This year's Royal Rumble will definitely be different from what the WWE Universe is used to, but there will still be two winners of the respective Men's and Women's Rumble matches who will then be given a Championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
This year's two-night WrestleMania means that both winners could be given their main event opportunity if the company is unable to recruit the "big names" who have already been rumored to return.
There are already several favorites to win the match including Daniel Bryan and even The Fiend if he makes his return. It could also be the year for many other WWE stars who have announced their place in the match or are expected to return.
Here are five dark horses who could win the 2021 Men's Royal Rumble match.
#5. Cesaro could finally win the Royal Rumble match
The Swiss Superman has been waiting on the sidelines for a chance to main event WrestleMania for most of his career. Cesaro is a fantastic athlete and has been backed by some of the biggest names in the business, so it's unclear why he hasn't been given more opportunities in WWE.
This year, both a male and a female Royal Rumble winner could main event either night at WrestleMania, which opens the door for a mid-card talent like Cesaro to be able to win the Royal Rumble match for the first time.
Cesaro has a history in the Royal Rumble and knows what it takes to win. He may move past his tag team background in 2021 to earn a major title shot in the singles division.
Cesaro has proved that he's a worthy WrestleMania main event star several times throughout his career. The Swiss Superman is also popular with the WWE Universe. However, he just seems to be lacking the support from WWE's higher officials.
The former United States Champion deserves a decent singles push. Since there isn't a definite winner heading into this year's Royal Rumble match, it could be the Swiss Cyborg who is finally given the biggest push of his career.
#4. Randy Orton could win his third Royal Rumble match
The Viper has already announced his place in this weekend's Royal Rumble match despite being in the middle of a feud with The Fiend. Randy Orton also has some unfinished business with Edge, who will be a part of the Royal Rumble match this weekend as well.
The Viper seems to be overlooking all of his issues outside of the Royal Rumble match itself. Since he's seen as someone who could be taken out of the match by The Fiend, he would be a surprise winner.
Randy Orton has already won two Royal Rumble matches in the past and has gone on to wrestle at WrestleMania for the World Championship. If The Fiend doesn't make his return to prevent Orton from winning the Royal Rumble this weekend, then the former 14-time World Champion could easily find a way past 29 other men.
Orton had one of the best years of his career in 2020 and the company could decide to reward him with a huge push this year.
#3. Braun Strowman could return to win the Royal Rumble match
Braun Strowman is expected to make his return at the Royal Rumble this weekend despite not being seen on WWE TV for a number of months. The Monster Among Men suffered a knee injury back in 2020 and has since been sidelined even though he was suspended by Adam Pearce, as per the storyline.
Strowman was able to win the Greatest Royal Rumble match back in 2018 which shows that he has what it takes to survive among 29 other men and secure his place in a Championship match at WrestleMania.
Strowman also wrestled for the Universal Championship at last year's WrestleMania when Roman Reigns was unable to return to face Goldberg, so he should be given the chance to win the Royal Rumble and main event on his own terms.
If Brock Lesnar and Goldberg are not part of this year's match, then Braun Strowman could easily return and brush aside the competition. Hopefully, The Monster Among Men will make his return so that 2021 could be the year of Strowman.
#2. Brock Lesnar could return to win the Royal Rumble match
Brock Lesnar is rumored to be making his return at the 2021 Royal Rumble despite walking away from the company following last year's WrestleMania.
Lesnar's contract with the company has since expired and The Beast Incarnate has made the decision to wait on the sidelines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rumors in recent months have stated that Brock Lesnar could make his return to the company so that he may rekindle his feud with Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania.
Brock Lesnar might be without Paul Heyman if he made his return to the company since Heyman is currently working with Roman Reigns, but it would be interesting to see if The Beast could survive the Road to WrestleMania without his advocate.
Lesnar is another WWE star who has already won the Royal Rumble match in the past, so he knows what it takes to pick up the win in the traditional bout. Therefore, The Beast Incarnate could easily be seen as a dark horse if he is a part of the said match in 2021.
#1. Edge could win this year's Royal Rumble match
Edge announced that he would be part of this weekend's Royal Rumble match when he appeared on Monday Night RAW this past week. This was The Rated-R Superstar's first WWE appearance in seven months after he suffered an injury at the hands of Randy Orton during last year's Backlash event.
Edge returned at last year's Royal Rumble match but was unable to win since Drew McIntyre came out on top in 2020. This year, Edge has set his sights on winning the match and then heading on to WrestleMania to win back the championship that he never lost.
Edge was forced to relinquish the WWE Championship back in 2011 when it was revealed that he was struggling with cervical spinal stenosis. Edge retired from the company following the diagnosis and was then sidelined for nine years, until his momentous return in 2020.
The Rated-R Superstar has won the Royal Rumble match in the past and could draw a higher number in this year's Rumble, which would give him a much better chance of walking out victorious.
A WWE Hall of Famer called out AEW fans HERE
