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The next WWE Royal Rumble event is set to take place on January 31, after being pushed back from the original date of January 24. The Royal Rumble often sees returns from WWE legends and stars who have been absent from the company for some time.
The Women's Royal Rumble was introduced in 2018, with many stars who hadn't been seen for a while competing. These included Hall of Famers Lita and Trish Stratus, while Nikki and Brie Bella also returned to action after being off television for several months.
In the 2020 Royal Rumble, fans saw the return of Naomi and surprise appearances from Kelly Kelly, Mighty Molly, as well as Beth Pheonix, who lasted until the final three.
The Royal Rumble is one of the biggest events in the WWE calendar. It sets up the road to WrestleMania, with some of the biggest title feuds established at the event. With the 2021 Royal Rumble fast approaching, here are five women who could return in the popular match.
#5 WWE RAW Superstar Lana
2020 has been a strange year in WWE for Lana. The former Ravishing Russian began the year married to Bobby Lashley and feuding with Liv Morgan. She briefly partnered Natalya following her split from Lashley in the summer.
Then, for months the star was the subject of torment by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, who had been putting her through the announce table week-in, week-out on RAW.
Lana finally overcame Nia Jax on RAW by defeating her bully in a singles match in the build-up to TLC, where she was supposed to be teaming up with her ally, Asuka.
However, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler viciously attacked the star, leaving her injured. Lana is not supposed to return to WWE until 2021, and the Royal Rumble could be the perfect way to get the Superstar back into the action in WWE.
#4 WWE RAW Superstar Naomi
Former WWE Women's SmackDown Champion Naomi hasn't been seen on television since September on SmackDown. In the 2020 WWE Draft, Naomi was picked for RAW but still hasn't appeared on WWE television.
In the 2020 Royal Rumble, Naomi returned after a break by entering the women's match at number 18 and lasting an impressive 22 minutes. She entered to a huge pop from the crowd, and impressed fans with her crazy saves to avoid elimination.
Naomi is somewhat of a WWE fan favorite and is known for her impressive in-ring skills. Over the summer, fans of the star even started the #NaomiDeservesBetter tag on Twitter.
Many have been disappointed with how she has been booked in WWE, especially following the panned karaoke showdown segment on SmackDown earlier in 2020.
A repeat of Naomi's 2020 Royal Rumble return would be an exciting way to kick off 2021 for the popular Superstar. In each Royal Rumble that Naomi has been a part of, she has stood out for her inventive spots in the ring.
Naomi is a WWE Superstar whose absence has been missed on television, and a Royal Rumble return would be fantastic to see.
#3 Former WWE star Eva Marie
Eva Marie hasn't been a part of WWE since 2017 after she parted ways with the company. She wrestled her last match in 2016, against Becky Lynch at a WWE Live event.
The star made her WWE debut in 2013 and joined the cast of Total Divas in the same year. Eva Marie made a name for herself during a feud between AJ Lee and The Bella Twins, in which she sided with The Bellas.
Eva Marie seemed to bounce from RAW and SmackDown to NXT during her WWE career and enjoyed high-profile rivalries with Bayley and Carmella. In WWE, Eva Marie was known for her unique look, which featured long red hair and all-red ring gear.
Earlier this year, it was rumored that Eva Marie would be returning to WWE. It has been reported that the star has been training at WWE's Performance Center, and has been listed internally on the company's roster.
A Royal Rumble surprise return would be a great angle to bring Eva Marie back to WWE after an almost four-year absence.
#2 Former WWE Women's Champion Ronda Rousey
The WWE return of former RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey has been hotly rumored for quite some time now. The star has been spotted training with James Storm, and also in WWE's Performance Center.
Ronda Rousey hasn't wrestled a match in WWE in 2020 and was last seen in the ring at WrestleMania 35. There, she was pinned by Becky Lynch, who became the RAW and SmackDown Women's Champion in the main event.
Ronda Rousey's training, along with reports that Vince McMahon is eager for her to work WrestleMania 37, there is a strong possibility that The Baddest Woman on the Planet will be returning to WWE sooner rather than later.
Ronda Rousey coming back to WWE at the 2021 Royal Rumble would be a great moment for fans of the former UFC star. A surprise Royal Rumble appearance is a great way to bring WWE Superstars back into the mix, especially fan favorites such as Rousey.
As well as this, Ronda Rousey made her first appearance as a full-time WWE Superstar at the end of the 2018 Royal Rumble to confront Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
So, a 2021 Royal Rumble return would feel very much like a full-circle moment for the star.
#1 "Former" WWE star Sonya Deville
Sonya Deville hasn't been seen in a WWE ring since she lost the "Loser Leaves WWE" match against her former on-screen best friend Mandy Rose back at SummerSlam in August.
The match was originally supposed to be a Hair vs. Hair match, but the stipulation was changed. This allowed Deville to take a break from WWE to deal with the court case surrounding the attempted kidnap she suffered in the summer.
Deville may be ready to return at the WWE Royal Rumble at the end of January. It is still unknown if or when the Superstar is set to come back to WWE, but a surprise return in the match would be a great way to bring her back.
When Deville comes back to WWE, she could even return with a changed name or persona. Her promo work during her rivalry with Mandy Rose really set her apart as a force to be reckoned with in the WWE's women's division. It demonstrated how much she had improved in such a small space of time.
Sonya Deville is a charismatic performer with a great level of in-ring skill, and it would be great to see her return at the Royal Rumble in January.
