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The annual Royal Rumble Premium Live Event takes place on Saturday, January 29, 2022. One of the most exciting nights on the WWE calendar will take place live from The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
On the January 7 episode of SmackDown, the company announced a number of competitors that would be competing, including the likes of Kelly Kelly, Michelle McCool and IMPACT Knockouts World Champion Mickie James.
Of course, as the event gets closer, the WWE Universe will be plotting out who they think will win the Royal Rumble match. The winner of the match will head to WrestleMania in Dallas and will challenge for a world title.
As of this writing, Becky Lynch is the current RAW Women's Champion and Charlotte Flair is the current SmackDown Women's Champion.
In recent years, since the introduction of the Women's Royal Rumble match in 2018, Asuka, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Bianca Belair have all won the prestigious contest.
That being said, let's take a look at five WWE Superstars who could unexpectedly win the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble match.
#5. WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair could become a two-time Royal Rumble winner
Charlotte Flair declared on the January 7 episode of SmackDown that she will enter the Women's Rumble match. The Queen stated she would become the first champion to win the match and choose her own opponent for WrestleMania.
Well, what if that happened? It is a scenario that we haven't seen in WWE before. It would be unique to see exactly how it would all play out. The company would have an opportunity to create something special for WrestleMania.
A Charlotte victory at the Rumble could lead to a unification bout with whoever the RAW Women's Champion is. This could give The Queen a chance to unify the titles, something she failed to do at WrestleMania 35.
Winning the Rumble for a second time could also help brew up some drama back on SmackDown. There aren't too many notable feuds on the blue brand among the women's roster. Perhaps a female superstar could goad Charlotte into a match for her 'Mania spot?
Whatever happens, it would be an uncommon situation, but one that can potentially bring in a lot of intrigue.
#4. Naomi could unexpectedly win the Women's Royal Rumble match for the first time
What a celebration it would be to mark Naomi's ten years on the main roster with her first-ever Women's Royal Rumble victory.
The two-time SmackDown Women's Champion has been feuding with WWE Official Sonya Deville as of late. At some stage, Deville is going to get her comeuppance. In the midst of all that, Naomi could shock everybody by winning the over-the-top-rope Rumble.
Naomi has put in some impressive performances as of late, particularly against Charlotte Flair more recently. What a payoff it would all be by having a major opportunity at WrestleMania.
#3. Alexa Bliss could unexpectedly win the Women's Royal Rumble match
On January 10, fans saw Alexa Bliss return to WWE programming. Bliss was seen in a pre-recorded segment having a therapy session for her past trauma.
The company described the return as "Alexa Bliss' Journey Back to RAW." Could this well be her journey to the Women's Rumble match and onto the main event of WrestleMania?
The WWE Universe knows just how good Alexa Bliss is in the ring, and she is likely to be in a transition period now. However, this doesn't mean she can't be pushed all the way to the top. After all, she is due revenge on SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte for what happened at Extreme Rules last year when she tore up her Lilly doll.
#2. Nikki Bella could unexpectedly win the Women's Royal Rumble match now she is cleared to compete again
On January 7, WWE announced that Nikki Bella would enter the 30-Woman Royal Rumble match. Days later, in the latest episode of The Bellas Podcast, Nikki Bella confirmed that has been cleared to return to the ring.
Nikki revealed what plans she has if she does win the Women's Rumble match:
"I would kind of like to be the first-ever winner of the Royal Rumble, to kind of give the middle finger to both champions and go ‘I want the tag titles.’ Like, how badass would that be? Would I not just be the coolest person to go down in history." (h/t Wrestling Inc.)
It is another scenario that would be unique and fresh having the Rumble winner challenge for the Women's Tag Team Titles. It would certainly inject some new life into the titles. It could be Nikki's year to make this predicted narrative a reality.
#1. Bayley could return from injury earlier than expected and unexpectedly win the Women's Royal Rumble match
Bayley was ruled out of action on July 9, 2021. WWE reported that she had suffered a torn ACL whilst training at the Performance Center. The company stated she would miss approximately nine months of action.
After all, this is pro-wrestling. Fans taking WWE's approximates should do so with a pinch of salt. We've seen superstars return a lot sooner, and the company is already teasing the potential return of the two-time SmackDown Women's Champion.
A number of surprise entrants have already been announced, but there's no doubt there will be one or two surprises on the night itself. Bayley could certainly be one of those.
A WWE Hall of Famer called out AEW fans HERE
