5 NXT stars who could win Royal Rumble 2022

Starting from 2016, NXT stars have been included in WWE's Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The third brand's women stars have also made their presence felt since the first Women's Royal Rumble in 2018.

The air of unpredictability is part of what makes the Royal Rumble so appealing. From returns to debuts, the event is one of the most anticipated PPVs of the calendar year.

This year, NXT will have a presence in the pay-per-view, marking the official main-roster debut for some. Few superstars might show up to fill up the numbers as well.

However, some are credible enough to win the infamous Battle Royale. Here are five such stars from NXT that could enter and win the 2022 Royal Rumble.

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#5. Tommaso Ciampa is one of the top stars in NXT

Tommaso Ciampa recently lost his NXT title to Bron Breakker at New Year's Evil. It was only a matter of time as newer stars of 2.0 held all of the titles at some point.

The Blackheart had previously been adamant about not joining RAW or SmackDown but had softened up a bit on that feeling. Now that Ciampa has dropped the title, there's a strong possibility that he could enter the Royal Rumble.

Unlike former stars like Adam Cole, Pete Dunne, and Johnny Gargano, Ciampa has not participated in the Royal Rumble. He was in the middle of a title run most of the time. Now that he's dropped the title and the reboot is underway, he could very easily enter this year's match.

While he's a legend of the black-and-gold brand, he may not be seen the same way on the main roster. Due to being one of the most beloved stars in NXT history, however, Tommaso Ciampa could enter and win the 2022 Royal Rumble.

#4. Former NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai is a legitimate threat at Royal Rumble

Io Shirai has been part of NXT for over three years. In that time, she has won both the Women's Championship and the Women's Tag Team titles.

She previously entered the Royal Rumble in 2019, lasting over 13 minutes. After a plethora of talent releases in 2021, WWE will likely have a lot of open spots, making Shirai one of the best choices from NXT to take part in the Rumble.

While Shirai might want another shot at the NXT Women's title, she'll have to wait until after New Year's Evil. In the meantime, she could prepare for the upcoming Battle Royale.

On the other hand, she could debut on the main roster during Royal Rumble 2022. SmackDown desperately needs credible challengers, so Shirai winning and joining the blue brand would be a smart move.

#3. NXT Champion Bron Breakker could add a Royal Rumble appearance to his 2022 checklist

Bron Breakker already has a rocket strapped to his back on NXT 2.0. He has been heavily pushed and is the first star from the reboot to win the NXT Championship.

After his big title win at New Year's Evil, he'll be the brand's focal point in the future. Now that he has "learned" his lessons, other stars will have to bring their best against Breakker.

While NXT has had a presence in Royal Rumble matches for years, the men's Champion hasn't entered the match. If Mr. McMahon wants to bring the new blood to the 2022 Royal Rumble, he could easily have Breakker enter the match.

Breakker has been presented as a physically imposing Superstar. While beating Ciampa isn't the same as defeating Brock Lesnar or Roman Reigns, the new Champ is still an explosive physical specimen who could give either Champion a run for their money.

#2. Raquel Gonzalez could be leaving NXT for the main roster

Raquel Gonzalez lost the NXT Women's Championship to Mandy Rose in a street fight. She could not recapture the title at the New Year's Evil special episode.

As we mentioned earlier, SmackDown is desperately in need of credible women. Shotzi and Toni Storm have both already faced Charlotte Flair and lost.

WWE needs to shake things up regarding its major champions. That's especially true for SmackDown's women's division and Flair.

That should hopefully change if Gonzalez enters the scene. She is a physical threat to every woman in the WWE. Flair couldn't brush her aside, nor could Becky Lynch. Due to being bigger than most women in WWE, Gonzalez could easily enter the Royal Rumble to overpower others.

Gonzalez has already worked some dark matches before SmackDown. A win in the Rumble would also be believable due to her expertise in the ring.

#1. WALTER could be sticking around in NXT after New Year's Evil

WALTER has had two matches under in NXT US, including a six-man tag match alongside Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel at the recently-concluded New Year's Evil.

The trio lost to Riddle and MSK, but that match could signal a permanent move to the USA for WALTER. The former NXT UK Champion was a member of the black-and-gold team at Survivor Series in 2019 but didn't last long.

WALTER is still an imposing presence. If management wants to focus on bigger stars that could be main-eventers, few stars could fit that mold better than WALTER.

While success in NXT doesn't always transfer to the main roster, WALTER is a physical star who could easily eliminate others in the Battle Royale at Royal Rumble.

While he's somewhat new to Mr. McMahon's radar, WALTER is a star who could win the 2022 Royal Rumble. He'd be a legitimate challenge to either the WWE or Universal Champion due to his size and physical style.