10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2013 Facts
6. Several Notable Performers Were Considered As Surprise Entries
Compared to 2012, the 2013 Rumble was much lighter on surprises, though that was probably for the best. Outside of Godfather, Goldust, and Chris Jericho (whose appearance coincided with a short-term return), the rest of the field consisted of 26 roster regulars, and NXT's Bo Dallas, who had won a qualifying tournament the day before.
There were other names that were on the list for a Rumble one-off. Both Shelton Benjamin and Rikishi were in talks, and The Wrestling Observer notes that Dallas' entry was originally a spot earmarked for Benjamin.
Another name under consideration was Tommy Dreamer. However, he was just used as a surprise the previous month at a Raw in Philadelphia, which Dave Meltzer speculates as a reason why he may not have been a serious candidate.