Opinion

On Feb. 1, WWE will descend on Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN to host the 38th annual Royal Rumble.

The company's first premium live event of the year will be the first to stream live on Netflix and the starting point for the road to WrestleMania 41. It's the perfect show to introduce new fans to pro wrestling and attract lapsed viewers eager to catch up in time for the biggest show of the year.

To that end, Royal Rumble has become a fan favorite because it's arguably the most accessible PLE. The titular stipulation match perfectly blends the excitement of live sports with the crowd participation of a game show.

At the event, 30 men and women will compete for the chance of a lifetime and add to its legacy of unforgettable moments. We can't wait to see which superstars will punch their ticket to The Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment.

In the meantime, let's try to predict some unexpected entrants planned for this year's men's and women's Rumble matches.

Most fans already expect Charlotte Flair's long-awaited return, and Becky Lynch is a favorite to win online. Here are some other rumors and potential surprise participants.

NXT Stars You Should Expect

Last year, Bron Breakker delivered a standout performer as a representative from NXT. It was a welcomed change after the developmental brand didn't have much of an impact on the men's Royal Rumble match for two years in a row.

Carmelo Hayes also made his debut as the fifth entrant. Fans should expect to see his former partner in crime, Trick Williams, this time after he dropped the NXT Championship to Oba Femi at New Year's Evil.

A Trick Melo Gang reunion following their feud in 2024 would be a treat, but the popular superstar will likely garner a thunderous "whoop that trick" chant on his own. Ethan Page could also enter the fray.

Roxanne Perez has competed at the event for two consecutive years. So it won't come as much of a surprise if she interacts with Bayley this year. However, the brand's women's division will probably make an even bigger splash as well.

The division boasts a wealth of talent and potential stars. Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, and Giulia could all make their Rumble debut.

More Representatives from TNA Wrestling

WWE recently announced a multi-year partnership with TNA Wrestling. The two entities collaborated frequently last year, but the timing of this announcement is intriguing.

Straight away, one would assume WWE finalized this agreement in time for Royal Rumble because TNA would be part of the event. After all, Jordynne Grace emerged as a surprise entrant last year, and many fans are expecting to see her again.

Joe Hendry also seems like a no-brainer because he has connected with the company's audience so quickly. After the current TNA Knockouts World Champion's recent appearance on NXT, Masha Slamovich is also a name to keep an eye on.

Given his history with Page and The Motor City Machine Guns, Josh Alexander would also be a nice surprise. However, it's tough to predict how he could factor into this partnership because his contract is set to expire on Feb. 15.

An Unexpected Women's Wrestling Legend

Nevertheless, more crossover opportunities with TNA could set up the greatest surprise of the night, Gail Kim's return in the women's Royal Rumble match.

It may seem improbable, but this would be the ideal year for the seven-time Knockouts champion to make an appearance. Yes, the 2016 TNA Hall of Fame inductee has been a vocal critic of WWE, but never say never.

If CM Punk could return after his infamous exit, anything is possible. More to the point, Kim is an integral figure in the history of the Knockouts division and a part of the current creative team. Mending the bridge with WWE would be a symbolic moment for the partnership between the two companies.

On the men's side, it's safe to assume The Rock won't participate after he ended his beef with Cody Rhodes and acknowledged Roman Reigns. Instead, John Cena's farewell tour will be a prominent storyline.

Goldberg is another name that has surfaced recently after Dave Meltzer reported that he would appear on the Jan. 27 episode of Raw. Could the Atlanta native use the go-home show to declare himself for the Rumble? We'll have to wait and see.