From the WWE Rumor Mill: Several surprise Royal Rumble entries in women's match?

What's The Story?

As announced on Monday's RAW by General Manager Kurt Angle, the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble match will also feature 30 participants.

Excluding RAW Women's Champion Alexa Bliss and SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte, there are currently 19 active female performers on the main roster, who are eligible to compete in the history-making match.

This also means that there are 11 spots open to the women of NXT to either make a cameo appearance or a main roster debut and maybe some cameo appearances from legendary performers such as WWE Hall of Famers Trish Stratus or Lita.

In Case You Didn't Know…

While getting to see legendary faces make cameo appearances in the Royal Rumble match has been a huge fan favourite moment every year, WWE has not been very interested in featuring as many legends as previous years during the past two Royal Rumble events.

Although we did have appearances from the NXT talent during the 2016 and 2017 Royal Rumble matches, no legends have appeared in the match since 2015, when Bubba Ray Dudley, the Boogeyman and Diamond Dallas Page entered.

The heart of the matter

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus and other former WWE Diva's have already been teasing appearances in the match. Here's the former Harcore Champion's teaser:

There's NOTHING @WWE women cannot do. It's been a long-time coming - can't wait for the FIRST EVER WOMENS #RoyalRumble! Now…where dem boots?

— Trish Stratus (@trishstratuscom) December 19, 2017

With 11 spots open I find it hard to imagine that all 11 will be filled by female performers of the NXT roster, so some surprise former faces showing up is pretty likely. The real question is who can and who are WWE interested in seeing.

But one question that does linger is with so many spots open for surprising appearances from the women, will the men's Rumble feature any surprise cameos or debuts? I don't think so.

What's Next?

The Royal Rumble event takes place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the 28 of January.

The 25 Anniversary editions of RAW will also serve as the go home edition of RAW for the Rumble. Much like the Rumble matches, that night to is expected to feature many stars of the past making cameo appearances, with appearances from The Undertaker and Hall of Famers Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash already announced. Potential appearances from Trish Stratus or Lita may rule them out from surprise Royal Rumble spots.

Author’s Take

Personally I would love to see some NXT debuts, particularly the Iconic duo of Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, who are more than ready to move up to RAW or Smackdown. Some cameos from at least one former Mae Young Classic competitor would be a good move to as a way of showing the tournaments lasting effects since ending.

Like many other fans, I certainly wouldn't say no to seeing some legendary faces, in particular, former Women's Champions Victoria and Molly Holly, or the former and short WWE lived Kharma.