WWE Royal Rumble 2022: 10 Surprise Entrants We Could See

by Andy H Murray

1. Bray Wyatt

The Fiend Royal Rumble
WWE

Where else is Windham Rotunda going to land in professional wrestling?

He has a large following and lots of ideas but may struggle to land the kind of deal he was previously on in WWE. AEW's dalliances in the supernatural are mere flirtations (Kris Statlander doesn't pilot a flying saucer, Abadon doesn't eat people), meaning he'd have to play things straighter - something he might not necessarily want to do. IMPACT Wrestling, meanwhile, could use anyone of name-value, but may not have space on the balance sheet. Politely, he doesn't meet New Japan's working standard. ROH is effectively an indie now. MLW? Maybe, if they score a tidy payday off the WWE lawsuit.

The answer, ultimately, is WWE. Bray Wyatt was released from his most natural wrestling home last year. Reports of creative frustrations between him and Vince McMahon followed, suggesting the former WWE and Universal Champion was more than just a "budget cut", but history tells us Vince will bring anyone back in the end.

Whether or not Windham has wrapped his first horror movie project is unclear. This may prevent him from the Rumble, though WWE fans would love to see him come back into the company next weekend.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.