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Royal Rumble season is here, and so is the excitement, thrill, and anticipation that the annual event brings with it. This year's show is set to take place less than two weeks from now on January 29, 2022, at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Once again, 30 men will enter the Rumble and attempt to be the last one standing. In doing so, these competitors will aim to earn a shot at a world title in the main event of WrestleMania 38. We have seen some incredibly surprising entrants in the match in the last few years, including Edge, MVP, and Christian.
This year, we might just see an even bigger shocker, as WWE is reportedly planning to have a "forbidden door" entrant in the men's match. The question now is - who could that be? Moreover, what other surprises could WWE have in store for the fans?
Here are our five bold predictions for the Men's Royal Rumble match entrants. Be sure to comment down and let us know your thoughts on the same.
#5. Jon Moxley shockingly enters the Royal Rumble
If WWE really wants to kick open the forbidden door, there's hardly a better option than having Jon Moxley enter this year's Royal Rumble match. Best known to WWE fans as Dean Ambrose, Moxley was with the company from 2011 to 2019 until he jumped ship and joined All Elite Wrestling.
A former WWE Champion and Money in the Bank winner, Ambrose had a highly successful career in the company, and he was been part of one of the most dominating factions of all time, The Shield.
His Shield brothers, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins will face each other for the Universal Championship at the very same event this year. This clash could be a case of amazing timing, as WWE has heavily focused on The Shield during this feud. Ambrose has even showed up in some video packages for the match.
2022 marks the ten-year anniversary of The Shield's WWE debut. While the possibility of Moxley competing in the Royal Rumble is extremely low, the prospect of seeing him in a WWE ring again is already exciting many fans. What if Dean Ambrose enters the Royal Rumble, wins it all, and we get a Shield triple threat match in the main event of WrestleMania 38?
#4. IMPACT World Champion Moose enters the Royal Rumble
WWE has already partnered with IMPACT Wrestling for Royal Rumble by announcing Knockouts Champion Mickie James for the women's match. An extension of this deal could see IMPACT World Champion Moose enter the men's bout. In a recent interview with Jose G of Sportskeeda Wrestling, Moose discussed potentially facing Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
"(...)It's something that I hope happens, I mean, Roman Reigns, his resume speaks for himself," said Moose. "He is the face of WWE, he has been the face of WWE for the last 5-6 years, maybe even longer. He is undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers in the world and I feel like I am one of the best wrestlers in the world and I feel like I am the face of IMPACT Wrestling because I carry the IMPACT World Title."
Having their world champion appear in the Royal Rumble could greatly benefit IMPACT Wrestling. In doing so, the company could potentially draw more viewers to its own product. Plus, it'd be fascinating to see Moose clash with stars like Big E and AJ Styles.
#3. WALTER makes the world notice his arrival
There's no doubt that Vince McMahon loves big wrestlers who can believably dominate and overpower their opponents. One such star who could rule WWE's main roster is WALTER.
A former NXT UK Champion, WALTER held the title for a record-breaking 870 days before he dropped the gold to Ilja Dragunov last year. He is apparently done with NXT UK, and the powerhouse seems set to move to NXT 2.0. This shift makes him a great candidate for a surprise appearance at WWE Royal Rumble. There, he could have a great showing and announce his arrival in style.
#2. Chris Jericho makes his grand return to WWE
Another massive "forbidden door entrant" at the Royal Rumble this year could be Chris Jericho. A WWE legend, Jericho had a historic run with the company, as he won several titles and defeated plenty of top names. If he hadn't joined AEW in 2019, WWE might have inducted him into the Hall of Fame by now.
On paper, Jericho entering the Royal Rumble seems like a more realistic possibility than any other AEW star. Last year, his appearance on Stone Cold Steve Austin's Broken Skull Sessions on the WWE Network made fans believe that the "forbidden door" between the two promotions could be opened someday.
With this in mind, who better than Jericho to return to the company that made him a household name? If he does, WWE needs to book him in a confrontation with his former best friend Kevin Owens. This showdown is just one of countless face-offs the legend could have in this year's Royal Rumble match.
#1 Vince McMahon himself enters the Royal Rumble
If there's one 76-year-old man who still has what it takes to step inside a WWE ring, it is none other than the chairman of the company, Vince McMahon. Over the last few months, Mr. McMahon has made several on-screen appearances on WWE television. Could he take it to a whole new level and enter the Rumble himself this year?
As much as fans love criticizing him, McMahon is one of the greatest characters and heels in the history of professional wrestling. Imagine the thunderous roar if the clock counts down to zero and "No Chance in Hell" plays in the arena. Seeing the WWE Chairman coming down to the ring with his iconic walk would surely stun the fans in attendance.
Plus, it's worth pointing out that McMahon is the only entrant on this list who has actually won a Royal Rumble match. For this reason, it wouldn't be unprecedented to see the chairman enter the bout this year.
