Fansided

Fantasy Booking 2017 WWE Royal Rumble match

By Cody Williams

Credit: WWE.com
Credit: WWE.com /
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Kurt Angle WWE
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Surprise Entrants

Cue the trumpets because it should be true—damn true. If Kurt Angle isn’t a surprise entrant in the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble match, we riot!

Okay, so maybe it’s not that serious. However, the announcement that Angle will be the headlining inductee of the 2017 class for the WWE Hall of Fame two weeks before Royal Rumble seems a bit fortuitous. After all, Angle has been quite public about his desires to wrestle in WWE again and has remained active with various independents since leaving TNA and restoring his health a bit. Thus, having his music hit would surely draw a major pop from the crowd and be a treat for fans.

Unfortunately, the surprise that many people want to see isn’t happening. There’s been a buzz about Kenny Omega coming to WWE and, while that may happen eventually, it’s not going to happen at the Rumble. His contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling doesn’t expire until Jan. 31 (per Dave Meltzer) and there is also word that he’s booked to appear in Chile the night before the Royal Rumble. So while he may be coming, it isn’t to San Antonio.

As far as other surprises, though, I think you first need to look at NXT for guys who could show up. Samoa Joe’s debut feels like a formality at this point. What’s more, WWE would be dropping the ball if “The Perfect 10” Tye Dillinger isn’t the 10th entrant. I think Shinsuke Nakamura stays put, however, though I could see another established NXT character making a surprise showing—perhaps No Way Jose to get the crowd juiced up a bit.

We’re of course going to see a handful of legends make an appearance, in addition to the almost sure-fire inclusion of Triple H to return and screw Seth Rollins. However, the big surprise I think ready to come is Finn Balor. Even if he’s not 100 percent physically ready to compete, having him show up as The Demon to make an impression on someone (more on that later) and even just eliminating himself would be a fantastic moment. WWE shouldn’t miss the mark here and not give fans that spectacle.

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