5 Superstars we hoped to see in the Royal Rumble Match

This year's WWE Royal Rumble match was one of the better Royal Rumble matches we have seen over the last decade, with surprises and face-offs we haven't seen before, such as Finn and Nakamura, or Mysterio vs Reigns. There are only 30 spots in the match however and so there are always superstars who we expect to turn up but don't. The pop that any of these superstars would've gotten during their entrance would be nothing less than extraordinary.

#5 Samoa Joe

With Joe injuring his foot before the Rumble, it was expected that he made his return at any time around the PPV. With WWE calling out his injury and removal from the match seen as a smokescreen for his surprise entry, he was expected to continue his feud with John Cena heading into WrestleMania. Unfortunately, his injury seems more serious than first thought out to be and so requires more time to heal. It would have been great to see Joe in his first Rumble squaring off against the likes of Cena, Reigns, and Nakamura.

#4 Kevin Owens

Why wasn't KO able to set up another KOMania?

KO was obviously part of the opening match on the show in the handicap match for the WWE Championship and often superstars do not appear twice on the show. The Bar and Seth Rollins both made duplicate appearances, however, as did Sami Zayn so it was not unfeasible that Owens would too. Being part of the main event on SmackDown Live and prior PPVs for the last few months, as well as being one of the most popular stars on the roster, it was then conspicuous that Owens wouldn't get another opportunity to get to WrestleMania vs AJ Styles.

#3 Johnny Gargano

Gargano appearing would have been a sure fire hit — Gargano appearing would have been a sure-fire hit

With his stellar showing at NXT TakeOver the night before, there would have been a massive pop had Gargano appeared on the main roster in the Rumble, especially to face off with his foe Andrade Cien Almas. Gargano is massively popular in the WWE universe and is one of the most popular babyface in the current roster, and he could have received the biggest cheer of the evening.

A similar spot was called a couple of years ago between Owens and Zayn in the Rumble and this would have gotten more eyes on a rivalry that NXT is lucky to have at the moment.

#2 Shane McMahon

Here come's the money — Here comes the money

The son of the Chairman of the Board has been on our TV screens for 2 years and has maintained his positive standing with the WWE Universe throughout. Heavily built matches against the likes of AJ Styles and Kevin Owens over the past year have kept us with the belief that Shane continues to be in WWE's plans for another major feud, which has been leaning towards Daniel Bryan. To enter himself into the Rumble and play on the fact that Bryan couldn't, would have really built the tension between the two, which is simmering softly at the moment whilst it remains unclear if Bryan can return to wrestling or not.

#1 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan is probably the most popular star in the WWE today and hasn't wrestled in over two years. Fans around the world hold out that we will see Bryan wrestle in WWE again, while it being more likely he leaves when his contract expires and he returns to Ring of Honor or the Indies. That being said, the stories with Shane and Owens / Zayn have been leading us down a path that suggests it is possible he returns, and the number 30 spot was all set for him to make his grand return. Dolph Ziggler ended up getting this spot, which didn't receive any positive reaction from the WWE Universe in attendance.

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