Report: Several Ex-WWE Stars Turned Down Royal Rumble 2022 Returns
The former IIconics may not have been the only former WWE wrestlers to turn the Royal Rumble down.
If this year's stack of Royal Rumble returns felt underwhelming, it might be because a bunch of faces from the past turned down the opportunity to appear in the over-the-top-rope battle royals.
Per the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, WWE reached out to "a lot" of former wrestlers about working Royal Rumble 2022, only to be met with a negative response.
This follows on from last week's report that IMPACT Wrestling's The IInspiration (Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, The IIconics, in WWE) had rejected the Rumble. Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay, the reigning Knockouts Tag Team Champions, didn't feel the timing was right and are content with their current career paths.
The IInspiration's rostermate, Mickie James, entered the women's Royal Rumble, hitting the ring to her IMPACT theme - and with the Knockouts Championship around her waist.
Ivory, Sarah Logan, Cameron, Melina, Nikki and Brie Bella, Alicia Fox and Mighty Molly all entered the women's Royal Rumble unannounced, joining the likes of Lita, Summer Rae, and Kelly Kelly, whose participation had already been confirmed by WWE. On the men's side, Bad Bunny and Shane McMahon showed up, along with the previously-injured Drew McIntyre.