'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAmIX/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAAEf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAhEAABBAEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQIEEgAFERMGFCEicf/aAAgBAQABPwB2pwkPI4mn7zTJZHCuNijfZ9Kr88YvQ5jrytLHqT2TffP/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMS/9oACAECAQE/AFmtKNo//8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACEv/aAAgBAwEBPwBXNZ//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Royal Rumble is considered the second biggest pay-per-view of the year, but to many fans, it is even more exciting than WrestleMania.
The sheer thrill of not knowing who's going to be a part of the Royal Rumble match plays a huge part in this. This year's lineup, even beyond the two Rumble matches seems pretty loaded and stacked from top to bottom.
Here are 5 surprises that could potentially happen at WWE Royal Rumble 2021. Be sure to let us know if you would like to see these surprises unfold, or if you'd rather not.
#5 Drew McIntyre wins the WWE Royal Rumble match after The Miz cashes in, earlier during the course of the night
Goldberg vs. Drew McIntyre could happen to kick off Royal Rumble 2021, where to the surprise of nobody Drew McIntyre defeats Goldberg. But a match against Goldberg is no easy feat, and Drew McIntyre could be bruised and battered from multiple spears. Maybe he chooses to catch his breath on the mat, which is where The Miz chooses to come in and crash the party.
With The Miz becoming the brand new WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre is pushed to the back of the line once again. And so, he takes out one of the heels slated to enter the Royal Rumble match and wins the whole thing, in a massive twist. And when he wins the match, he tells The Miz that he will be coming for the title at WrestleMania.
As unlikely as this twist is, can you think of any other individuals who could realistically win the Royal Rumble match? Big E is a good shout but he is the Intercontinental Champion and it doesn't seem like he will be dropping the title anytime soon.
#4 Charlotte Flair wins the Royal Rumble and challenges Asuka, who turns heel
Charlotte Flair won the Royal Rumble last year and she could do a repeat of it this time around as well, challenging her WWE Women's Tag Team Champion partner Asuka to a title match at WrestleMania. And it could be at this point that Asuka snaps, in the ultimate heel turn at the Royal Rumble, as she mists her own partner in the face.
Asuka has done everything in her power to be a good RAW Women's Champion but she was Becky Lynch's successor and somehow, her face run just hasn't worked for her at all.
Maybe Asuka could go heel at the Royal Rumble adding an element of intrigue to an Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair match at WrestleMania, considering that it was Flair that ended her undefeated streak, to begin with. Asuka bringing back the Green Mist would also make her character a lot more interesting.
Sure, fans will grumble if Charlotte Flair wins the Royal Rumble again, but the long-term payoff may be worth it, one supposes.
#3 Edge returns for yet another Royal Rumble, to the delight of his fans
Even though Drew McIntyre won the 2020 Royal Rumble, perhaps the most memorable match of the night came from Edge who returned to action after many years. We haven't seen Edge in action since his last contest with Randy Orton, but he could certainly stun the world by returning at the 2021 Royal Rumble.
Maybe Edge goes on to win the Royal Rumble match and challenges Roman Reigns to a battle of the spears at WrestleMania. Or maybe he comes up short, but he eliminates Randy Orton from the match after the 'Legend Killer' starts clearing house.
Yes, the impact won't be nearly as strong as the last time when Edge returned at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, but fans across the world will surely be thrilled to see Edge back in the mix again. There is talk of a Bray Wyatt vs. Edge match as well, which could be born out of this contest if the two men meet in the middle of the ring.
#2 Carmella is saved by Reginald as she's about to get eliminated during the Royal Rumble match
Carmella has not officially announced her Royal Rumble entry, but if you saw SmackDown this week, you know that there's far too good an opportunity for WWE to let go of. Reginald and Sasha Banks tore it up on SmackDown this week in a pretty entertaining match, that proved that the sommelier has some chops. Could we see him saving Carmella as she goes over the top rope at the Royal Rumble?
Remember the Carmella and James Ellsworth partnership, where the latter helped Carmella win the Money in the Bank contract?
Reginald has the chance to be the new Ellsworth, only he has far more finesse and can be the male valet nobody saw coming, but everyone needed. Because he is a freak of nature when it comes to athleticism, could we see him perform some crazy stunt at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view? After watching him perform on WWE SmackDown, one hopes the creative team has bright ideas.
#1 Apollo Crews finally turns heel at the Royal Rumble, helping Roman Reigns retain the WWE Universal Championship
Could we hear Roman Reigns' brand new entrance theme at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view? Check out the video above, as Jose from SK Wrestling brings you the latest about what Roman Reigns has planned for his new character in the pipeline.
Right now, we know two things about the Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns match at the upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view. This is the third time that the two men are slated to fight, but 1.) There is no way that Roman Reigns is losing the WWE Universal Championship prior to WrestleMania, and 2.) There is no way that Kevin Owens loses this match clean.
Kevin Owens may have factored in interference from Jey Uso at the Royal Rumble already, but he may not be prepared for Apollo Crews. After all, Crews and Roman Reigns were spotted in conversation backstage last week on WWE SmackDown.
There was no follow up to this angle on WWE SmackDown, which could happen at the Royal Rumble.
A WWE Hall of Famer called out AEW fans HERE
