10 Wrestlers Who Won't Be In WWE Royal Rumble 2017 Match

10. Triple H

Last year, in a twist that everyone who'd been watching wrestling for more than a week saw coming, Triple H was the surprise 30th entry in the Royal Rumble and the subsequent winner. As per the unique stipulation of that Rumble match, Triple H won Roman Reigns's WWE Championship.

This year, Triple H is in a feud with Seth Rollins, though that feud has involved "The Game" making a single appearance last summer and "The Architect" incessantly talking about his former mentor. For months, people have expected HHH to return and escalate things with Rollins, but he's been content to remain the off-screen Poochie in this feud, unveiling new championships and attending the fraudulent inauguration of a demagogue.

Of course, that has to change eventually, being as how the two men are scheduled to clash at WrestleMania. With Rollins in the Rumble, it makes sense for HHH to make his next strike there, costing his ex-associate a chance to contend for a title at WrestleMania.

That doesn't mean that HHH will actually be in the match, like so many have speculated. If he was going to be in the Rumble itself, one (or both) of two things would be happening - he'd either be advertised as a focal point of the match, or he'd be winning. Since neither of those things are happening, don't expect Triple H to compete.