10 Shocks WWE Could Pull At Royal Rumble 2023

Surprise Royal Rumble legends, shock title changes, Cody freakin' Rhodes?!

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Cody Rhodes
WWE

WWE's annual Royal Rumble show is so beloved that groups of friends who don't even watch wrestling anymore come together to relive their childhoods/teenage glory days. Think about that: Rumble fever runs so hot every January that even lapsed fans trip over one another to check it out.

Those folks demand some 'Holy Sh*t' moments when they do.

Triple H has the tools to deliver one of the biggest and most memorable Rumbles in history on 28 January. Does that sound like company-spewed hyperbole? Absolutely, but there's magic in the air with these 30-person matches, and a few sneaky treats could be waiting on the undercard too.

Logic be damned - this article is all about the shocks WWE could pull off in San Antonio. Epic in-ring returns during the titular match itself, stunning championship changes that'd totally rock WrestleMania season, wrestlers breaking Rumble records once set by their very own flesh and blood etc etc.

That's the kind of thing discussed, and it's bloody exciting. Man, Hunter's creative team must be buzzing to show what they're capable of here.

P.S. Shane McMahon isn't included this year. Thankfully!

10. Uncle Howdy Helps Alexa Bliss Win Gold

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Cody Rhodes
WWE.com

It looks like WWE is setting up Alexa Bliss vs. Bianca Belair for the Rumble. Nothing has been officially announced quite yet, but 'Little Miss Bliss' has been up to her old tricks and gunning for the Raw Women's Champ lately, so it'd make sense.

Three words: Title. Change. Incoming.

What's that? You don't think it'll happen? Hmm, this writer isn't so sure, especially when the mysterious 'Uncle Howdy' appears to be in Alexa's corner these days. What if he's the one who tips the balance in Bliss' favour at the Rumble and gives her a fleeting title reign heading into February?

Think about something else here; WWE wouldn't need to keep that belt on Alexa until WrestleMania 39. They could easily have Bianca win the thing back so she can defend it in April instead, then spin Bliss off into another tornado of madness as one of the more overtly-cartoony characters on Monday nights.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.