WWE Royal Rumble 2025: 5 Shocks WWE Could Pull
WWE's Royal Rumble 2025 will be a bumpy ride, but will it be a...last ride?
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You thought 'shock season' was Halloween? Not in WWE's world.
Janu...February's Royal Rumble (that takes some getting used to!) is the kind of event often stacked with surprise thrills and spills. Wrestlers return from layoffs, legends make cameos, TNA stars show up, commentators trade headsets for headlocks and more. It's an annual powerhouse that's considered the biz's very own gift that keeps giving. Better yet, WWE gives all the way through spring's WrestleMania afterwards.
So, what's on tap for Indianapolis? Big stars like John Cena, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins have confirmed themselves for the men's Rumble. On the female side, top names like Charlotte Flair are expected to launch a comeback. There might even be room for someone like Molly Holly in there as well - that's probably contractually obligated each year or two.
Rumours are rife on what (if anything) the company has in mind for The Rock too. Some reports say he's definitely out, and what happened during Raw's debut episode on Netflix didn't exactly discourage the doubters. Maybe this is all part of some master plan. Maybe not. Either way, it has folks talking about whether ol' Dwayne will be free from Hollywood's shackles long enough to make a splash on the road to 'Mania.
Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens are about to have a ladder match contesting the old 'Winged Eagle' prize too, which probs wasn't something anyone thought would be happening in 2025. It's all kicking off at the Rumble.
Sit down, get cosy and put a pillow on the floor, because your jaw might be hitting if it any of this happens!
5. Randy Orton Accidentally Costs Cody Rhodes
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It's easy to look at the twin WWE/Winged Eagle double title ladder match as an easy 'winner takes all' triumph for Cody Rhodes. Then, he can either ditch the retro or try to convince Triple H to let him keep the old school look for a while longer. Not many give Kevin Owens a hope in hell of leaving Indianapolis as the new champ then. Unless...
Well, unless Randy Orton makes a comeback, screws it up and accidentally costs Cody his belt. Wouldn't it be poetic as all hell if KO got to smirk his way to the bank thanks to the same dude he put on the shelf with a piledriver in November? What's more, Rhodes would be left positively fuming that his one time Legacy mentor made such a mess of his return.
Cue intrigue, cue Cody winning the title back, cue Rhodes vs. Orton at WrestleMania 41.
This is certainly one path open to Triple H and WWE. That's the kind of thing explored here: Totally shocking options some might not have considered possible. Orton fudging his revenge on Owens (at least for now) and ending his night shook that Kev is the brand new champion would qualify as out there, that's for sure.
It'd be fun to see how WWE would go about this. A rage-fuelled Randy could accidentally smash Rhodes with a steel chair (no titles in hand, because they're hanging high above the ring), or maybe he could be shoved into a ladder Cody's climbing. One table bump and a chair shot of his own from Owens later, and he'd be scaling a ladder himself to haul down the gold.
4. ‘The Man’ Comes Around
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Charlotte Flair is a firm favourite amongst the guessing gang for a women's Rumble win. It'd make sense, because then that'd give either Rhea Ripley or Tiffany Stratton a marquee opponent for 'Mania in April. Of course, WWE might be willing to bide their time with Charlotte, and they might reason they can book one of those bouts even if she isn't involved on 1 February.
That'd leave the door open for one Becky Lynch to race back into view and win the match herself. 'The Man' last tasted Rumble success way back in the (comparatively) dark days of 2019. She was a bright light in Vince McMahon's sagging main roster product back then, but she'd be part of a bristling, confident female pack six years on under Triple H.
Lynch recently signed a lucrative fresh deal with the market leader, so there'd be a pep in her step if she was on hand for the next PLE. There's always a chance Becky appears amongst the field of 30 even if she's not booked to win. Don't totally rule out 'Big Time Becks' being there at the end of the match and pointing at that big 'Mania sign though.
Anything is possible when predicting shocks.
Becky vs. Rhea was done at 'Mania 40, so Lynch vs. Stratton would feel like the fresher match up. Sure, that also happened at NXT's No Mercy event in September 2023, but it wasn't anywhere near as high profile as this rematch would be. Just saying. 'The Man' could help springboard 'Tiffy Time' to the next level, not the NXT level.
3. The Undertaker Makes A Rumble Cameo
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Recent appearances suggest The Undertaker has retired his 'Deadman' persona in favour of fully re-embracing the 'American Badass' biker guise that reigned supreme between 2000-2004. He kinda/sorta brought it back for a celebrated 'Boneyard Match' vs. AJ Styles before calling it a career back at WrestleMania 36, but that cinematic brawl had some familiar supernatural elements to it too.
Raw's debut on Netflix saw 'Taker roll out on his motorcycle to congratulate Rhea Ripley on beating Liv Morgan to become the new Women's World Champion. That was a cool moment, but it was little more than a flimsy excuse to get the legend involved. Also, reports quickly flooded in that he'd actually replaced Becky Lynch in the segment - though it's fair to say she wouldn't have come out on a Harley to cheerlead for 'Mami'.
That might be The Undertaker's lot these days, and he's likely content with that. Or, perhaps he'd nod his head in agreement if Trips tossed out a theoretical cameo spot in the men's Rumble. Imagine the pop from fans in Indiana if 'Taker roared out on the bike as an official entrant, hit a chokeslam or two, chucked a few lower card workers over the top rope, then worked an elimination spot of his own with a big name.
It'd be a real star-making moment for someone like Damian Priest if he got to eliminate 'Taker. Being fair, that could elicit a heel response for Priest WWE surely don't want. Maybe Drew McIntyre hitting a Claymore would be more like it.
2. John Cena Goes From First To Last
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OK, now this is ambitious, but there are ways to make it happen without asking John Cena to effectively wrestle for an hour and change during his first match back. It's just a hunch, but that ain't gonna happen during John's retirement tour. The man's here to have fun and make money, sure, but solidly working from #1-#30 in the Rumble isn't the sort of thing he'd be interested in doing.
If he'd even be capable of such a feat.
So, WWE would have to lace Cena's performance with gaps that excused lengthy absences. They've done that before for the likes of Vince McMahon, Steve Austin and Roman Reigns (the latter pair definitely could've wrestled an hour in their respective primes), and the writers could have to get their thinking caps on again. He's called 'Super Cena' as a nickname, yes, but the whole superhuman thing is just a gimmick!
Still, Cena coming out first would pique interest in the men's Rumble straight away. Then, he'd get kayfabe injured around halfway through to necessitate a breather. That'd be easily done if Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga planted him through the announce table with a powerbomb, or if he "twisted a knee" whilst eliminating someone else.
John would still be part of the bout officially, but he could sit on the sidelines and work an angle for around 20-25 minutes before getting involved all over again closer to the end. Cena winning would get a major reaction regardless. People would forgive the obvious padding if it kicked his tour off in style.
1. Or The Rock Is #31?!
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The beauty of this guess-fest is that one can go crazy with it.
All signs point to The Rock missing WrestleMania 41 (and thus missing the Royal Rumble), but what if WWE and the 'Final Boss' are deliberately diverting people's attention away from their true plans? What if Rocky flexes his muscles in the board room to reveal that he's personally decided to extend this year's Rumble from 30 entrants to 31. Conveniently, he'd be 31st on the list and raring to go in his ring gear.
This is the kind of on the fly booking that'd create shockwaves amongst the fanbase. Mainstream news outlets would be tripping over themselves to report on it too. Yep, Rock appearing as a magical #31 and winning the Rumble would stomp out prior pitches like Cena's victory or Randy Orton wrestling Cody Rhodes in April. All of this conjecture is welcome though, because it shows just how open-ended these major PLEs can be.
Cena's jaw would hit the floor, CM Punk would probably stage a walkout, and Triple H would demand answers from his fellow corporate board members, but...it'd be excellent and dramatic television. Raw on Netflix 48 hours later would surely set a new record for live viewership after something like this as well.
Anyone getting mad at the thought of a 31-man Rumble shouldn't. After all, Vince McMahon once agreed to extend it to 40, and he ran a 50-strong "Greatest" incarnation over in Saudi Arabia to boot. Both of those would be worse than this, especially if it led to 'Mania memories aplenty.
What other shocks do you think WWE could pull at Royal Rumble 2025? For more like this, check out WWE Royal Rumble 2025: Predicting All 30 Entrants and WWE Women’s Royal Rumble 2025: Predicting All 30 Entrants!