WWE Royal Rumble 2021: 10 Surprise Entrants We Could See
6. Damian Priest
An easy one, this, as Damian Priest was originally booked to debut on the main roster during the 31 December episode of SmackDown, on which he would have been introduced as Kevin Owens' "best friend" in the ongoing storyline with Roman Reigns and Jey Uso. These ideas were scrapped when Owens pointed out, correctly, that they didn't make any sense, with the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer noting that Priest would arrive later this month instead.
Priest's loss to Karrion Kross at NXT New Year's Evil was intended as his write-out. He'll leave the black and gold brand with a North American Title reign and memorable matches opposite Johnny Gargano, Finn Balor, Keith Lee, and more to his name, having established himself as one of the most three-dimensional big men on the WWE roster, and an ideal candidate for Raw or SmackDown elevation.
If Damian switching brands by the end of the month is still on the cards, then where better than the Rumble? He's a hard-hitting, hyper-athletic wrestler with a great look, physical charisma, and a USA/FOX-ready act that could take off the moment he arrived.