'%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)
The 2020 edition of the Royal Rumble is now in the record books, and it was a grand event to start WWE's calendar year. The show was phenomenal from start to finish, starting with the Falls Count Anywhere match that saw Roman Reigns defeat Baron Corbin and ending with Drew McIntyre winning the Men's Royal Rumble match. It was a show of great proportion, as the WWE Universe got a first-hand experience of what pure entertainment looks like where each match topped the previous one, and the show came to a close with what many would call a perfect ending.
The event was filled with some shocking moments. Drew McIntyre shocked the fans (in a good manner) and secured a win over 29 others Superstars in order to earn the right to challenge the champion of his choice at the Grandest Stage Of Them All. There were only a handful of surprise returns, but they were entertainng and often featured strong performances, and there were also a number of active wrestlers that didn't make it to the event at all, including some that were originally announced, such as Rusev and Bobby Lashley.
The following is a list of 7 wrestlers who could have made positive contributions to the show in a wrestling role. As always, we welcome your thoughts in the comments section below. Without further ado, let's get down to it.
Before we head into the list, take a look at how Paige is planning to book the female talents en route to WrestleMania 36
#7 & #6 The Street Profits
The Street Profits did show up to hype the Royal Rumble in a backstage segment (as the tandem often does on RAW), but they didn't get the opportunity to showcase their skills between the ropes on the night of January 26.
This comes as as something of a surprise, as they are one of the most likable teams on the RAW roster and despite the skills to take down their opponents between the ropes, they didn't show up in any capacity. Their lack of an in-ring opportunuty is a point of concern, because they have also wrestled very infrequently on Monday nights, so the Royal Rumble match would have been a great place for Dawkins and Ford to reintroduce what they can do in the ring and begin a push to get themsevles on the card at WrestleMania 36.
Also read: 5 bizarre WWE Superstars that would have matched The Fiend Bray Wyatt
#5 & #4 The Viking Raiders
The Viking Raiders recently lost their tag team titles, so it would have made sense if they were given their title opportunity during the event, but that did not happen. It not only took away the opportunity from one of the most talented tag teams in the business, but also deprived the fans of a good tag team match at the show, as none ended up taking place at all.
If not a tag team match, the tandem of Erik and Ivar could have been involved in some capacity during the show, such as an entry in Royal Rumble match, even if it was just one of the two members of the team. This was a letdown as these two Superstats were once the most dominant team on the roster, and after losing the Tag Team Championship and missing one of the most important shows of the year, they are off to a rough start in 2020.
We'll have to wait and see if they receive a rematch for the titles in the coming weeks, and what WWE may have in store for them in the next few months.
Also read: WWE Royal Rumble: 5 funniest moments in Rumble history
#3 Nia Jax
The Women's Royal Rumble match had so many spots open that everyone hoped for some surprise returns to take place. While some surprises did occur, with the return of Tamina Snuka and the one-off appearance of Super Molly, Nia Jax was not a part of the match. It shocked the fans, as the WWE Superstar recently posted a video on social media of herself training, and it looked like she would be ring-ready for the Royal Rumble, but the anticipated return never came to pass.
The powerhouse showcased her new look during a video posted on WWE's YouTube channel, where she is looking at her entry in the Men's Royal Rumble match. Randy Orton is a part of the video along with other superstars, but this year, unless she is still injured, Jax should have been a part of the match. The appearance would have served her well, leading to the start of a solid return as a much-needed part of the women's division moving forward.
Also read: 5 reasons why Sasha Banks was not at the Royal Rumble event
#2 Apollo Crews
Apollo Crews is phenomenal between the ropes, but the often overlooked Superstar didn't get his due until he got some good competition. After a few matches it appeared that he was going to finally get a chance to shine, but as suddenly as he started breaking out, he disapeared. He hasn't shown up on television for a while, and as a wrestler who has the physique and outrageous mix of power and agility, it's a shame that he doesn't get a chance to prove his worth. The Royal Rumble match can be chalked up as another addition to his growing list of missed opportunities.
Crews may not factor into the plans for WrestleMania 36, so chances are that the next time we'll see him in action will be in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the 'Mania Kickoff show. Hopefully when WrestleMania is in the books, Apollo will get a chance to shine, whether it's on RAW, SmackDown, or even NXT, as the second half of 2020 gets underway.
Also read: 3 matches that we may not see if Triple H retires from in-ring action
#1 Otis
Otis is a wrestler that is currently extremely over with the WWE Universe, and it seemed like after his effort in saving Mandy Rose during the Women's Royal Rumble match, he would get the opportunity to showcase his skills during the Men's Royal Rumble match. In fact, he and his partner, Tucker, were both originally scheduled to be entrants, yet the last-minute decision was made to exclude them.
He is a part of the very formidable and popular team Heavy Machinery, and his romantic storyline with Mandy Rose is both funny and sweet, and often a highlight of SmackDown. As big as he is, Otis would have been a great addition to the first half of the match as a man who may have been able to make Brock Lesnar budge. He also could have been a part of the second half of the match, showing off his crowd-pleasing "Caterpillar" elbow drop.
The second option, specifically, would have been a great comedic and entertaining moment during the Royal Rumble match, but thankfully for a man with the the chops of Otis both in and outside of the ring, his exclusion won't likely be much of a blemish for him as we head deeper into the new year.
Also read: WWE RAW: 3 reasons why The Street Profits vs The Viking Raiders is a good idea
