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

If anyone deserves a title shot, it's Finn Balor. The longest-reigning NXT Champion in history spent nearly two years in developmental, but less than a month after being called up to Raw, he became the first-ever WWE Universal Champion. Unfortunately, he tore his labrum in the bout in which he won the title, forcing him to vacate it the very next day. Since then, he's been on the shelf, recovering from surgery.

There's no doubt that Finn Balor will be a major player when he comes back, and there's no questioning the inherent profitability of a feud between Balor and whomever is holding the Universal Title at that time. If it were feasible, it would make perfect sense to have Balor return in the Royal Rumble and win the whole thing.

Unfortunately, the limits of the human body are preventing it from happening. Balor's injury carried with it a six-month recovery period, and according to reports, things are pretty much on schedule. He's currently targeting an early March return, meaning that being in the Rumble would only jeopardize his health and, therefore, won't be an option.