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A number of WWE legends that will be competing in the Women's Royal Rumble match were announced on the January 7, 2022 episode of SmackDown, .
The announcement was made during a segment with SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair. A video was played which highlighted the initial eighteen entrants to the upcoming over-the-top rope battle.
Familiar names from the current roster Rhea Ripley, Shayna Baszler and Naomi were announced as entrants alongside the SmackDown Women's Champion. An interesting development from the announcement was the company deciding to give away some of the surprise entrants.
Normally, surprise entrants into the Royal Rumble match are saved for the night itself. However, WWE decided to announce these early, likely to drum up some further excitement for the event. There should still be some surprises on the night, with the full list of entrants not yet unveiled.
That being said, let's take a look at seven WWE legends who will compete in the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match.
#7 Summer Rae will return to WWE to compete in the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match
You may remember Summer Rae from her time as Fandango's dance partner and for her appearances on Total Divas.
She was released by WWE in October 2017, but after over three years she will now return and compete in the Women's Royal Rumble match. Whilst she never won any accolades in the company, she will certainly add a different flavor to this year's match up.
Summer Rae is one of the most surprising names included and it'll be interesting to see how the WWE Universe reacts on the night.
#6 Kelly Kelly will once again return to appear in the Women's Royal Rumble match
Kelly Kelly will once again return to WWE to make an appearance in the Women's Royal Rumble match.
Kelly featured in recent Women's Royal Rumble matches in 2019 and 2021. She's certainly got a taste for it, and will maybe this time look to go all the way. She is a former 24/7 and Divas Champion so knows exactly what it takes to get to the top.
Although her current career is focused on modeling and other TV appearances, the WWE Universe will once almost certainly give her a great reception.
#5 Michelle McCool will make a surprise return in the Women's Royal Rumble match
The two-time Divas and Women's Champion will return to the ring for the first time since WWE Evolution in 2018.
McCool competed in a battle royal on the all-women's pay-per-view, being eliminated from the match by Ember Moon. She was also involved in her husband The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.
Michelle McCool is a veteran of the ring and a future WWE Hall of Famer. She will no doubt make her presence felt in this year's match.
#4 WWE Hall of Famer Lita will return at the 2022 Royal Rumble
WWE Hall of Famer and Attitude Era Superstar Lita will bring a significant amount of experience to the Rumble match in just a few weeks.
Lita last competed inside the squared circle the night after the WWE Evolution pay-per-view. She teamed up with Trish Stratus, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya against Mickie James, Alicia Fox, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan.
The four-time Women's Champion last made an appearance in a Royal Rumble match in 2018. The WWE Universe will be holding their breath hoping they will see her perform her famous top-rope moonsault one more time.
#3 Brie Bella will come out of retirement and return to WWE in the Women's Royal Rumble match
On the March 10, 2019 episode of Total Bellas, Brie Bella announced that she was officially retiring from the ring.
Her last match came in October 2018 when she teamed up with her twin sister Nikki Bella and Ronda Rousey against The Riott Squad on RAW.
Brie and Nikki were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2020. Whether this is just a one-time appearance or a longer term comeback remains to be seen.
Either way, it'll be great to see one of the most influential superstars of the modern era back in the ring once again.
#2 Nikki Bella will return to WWE following retirement and enter the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match
In June 2019, WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella was forced to retire from the ring due to medical reasons. The two-time Divas Champion and has been one of the most influential superstars of this generation.
Nikki and her sister Brie opened up a number of doors for WWE in the entertainment world. They have become well established through the reality show Total Divas and their own spin-off Total Bellas.
Since her retirement, she has become an entrepreneur and opened up a number of businesses. Nikki is also married and has a son who was born in July 2020 with her husband Artem Chigvintsev.
A return to competing will come as a surprise and will leave the WWE Universe wondering if this is just a one-off or a longer term deal.
#1 IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Mickie James will enter the Women's Royal Rumble match
The most shocking entrant of this year's Women's Royal Rumble comes in the form of IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Mickie James.
WWE specifically announced James as IMPACT Knockouts World Champion when posting the details on social media. Pat McAfee even mentioned her current reign on IMPACT during SmackDown.
The fact that WWE is using another promotion's champion is unusual. Mickie James left Vince McMahon's promotion on bad terms following her release in 2021. James was critical of the company after it was reported that she received her belongings in a trash bag.
Whether this indicates a relationship with IMPACT Wrestling, or just a one-off, will certainly be revealed in the coming weeks.
