5 AEW stars who would be perfect surprise entrants for the 2022 women's Royal Rumble match

Could AEW make its presence at the Royal Rumble now that WWE has kicked pried open the Forbidden Door? On the January 7, 2022 episode of SmackDown, Women's Champion Charlotte Flair came to the ring and announced a number of superstars that would compete in the upcoming women's Royal Rumble match.

While there were the usual suspects from the current roster such as Rhea Ripley, Shayna Bazler and Natalya, the company also decided to give away some of the surprise entrants.

This includes WWE Hall of Famers such as Lita and The Bella Twins. Arguably the biggest surprise, however, was the revelation that the current IMPACT Knockouts world champion Mickie James would take part in the match as well. This is a rare instance where WWE has acknowledged a rival company and its champion as James had just joined the promotion after getting released by WWE.

This begs the question: what if some of AEW's female wrestlers could get in on the act and somehow were able to make a shock appearance in the Royal Rumble? Here are five AEW stars that would make perfect surprise entrants.

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#5. AEW star in the Royal Rumble – Kris Statlander

Kris Statlander is slowly becoming a star before our very eyes. She was one of the few female talents signed by the company from the very beginning. But before she could make a proper impact, Statlander suffered an injury setback. She tore an ACL during a match against Nyla Rose and Penelope Ford on an episode of Dynamite in June 2020. This has kept her on the sidelines for almost 9 months.

Now that Statlander has returned, she's been thrust into a top program opposite current women's champion Britt Baker. While she might not be a well-known name to the WWE Universe, Statlander's unique look and impressive athleticism will make for a great first impression if she were to enter the Rumble match.

#4. AEW star in the Royal Rumble – Jade Cargill

AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill is one of the biggest rising stars in the company right now. She may have only debuted last year, but Cargill has already racked up plenty of wins in her short career and is currently undefeated. She could be a marquee attraction for Tony Khan in the coming years, unless, of course, WWE gets their hands on her.

Imagine a scenario where Cargill enters this year's Royal Rumble match. Fans who see her for the first time will surely be in awe of her stunning physique and natural charisma. She might even go on a dominant run, outpowering many of WWE's current female wrestlers. We haven't seen a physical specimen of this magnitude since WWE legend Chyna graced the event two decades back. It would certainly make for an unforgettable Rumble moment.

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#3. AEW star in the Royal Rumble – Serena Deeb

Serena is one of the most underrated female wrestlers in AEW. She is an amazing in-ring technician and has a mean streak to boot. The Professor of Pro Wrestling is a tenured veteran at this point, but many fans might have forgotten that Deeb had a brief run in WWE as well.

She was, of course, part of CM Punk's infamous stable, The Straightedge Society, and had shaved her head as part of the gimmick. If Deeb were to enter the Rumble, she would be a completely different performer from who she was a decade ago. Now a wily veteran, she can dominate the competition and survive purely on her in-ring prowess.

#2. AEW star in the Royal Rumble – Ruby Soho

AEW wrestler Ruby Soho is no stranger to the WWE Royal Rumble. She was in the first-ever women's Rumble match in 2018 and has appeared several times since. Soho has bounced back from her WWE release and is now making a big impact on Tony Khan's promotion. While she hasn't been able to win a championship yet, Soho is a featured performer who can thrive in any situation she's in.

While a return to the WWE might not be so straightforward, Mickie James is proof that the company is willing to bring back former talent, given the right circumstances. Imagine the ovation if Soho were to enter this year's Rumble match and come face to face with her former Riott Squad teammate Liv Morgan. Goosebumps.

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#1. AEW star in the Royal Rumble – Britt Baker

Nothing says crossover like bringing in a champion of a rival company in your marquee event. While the announcement of Mickie James' participation set social media on fire, a Britt Baker appearance might send the internet into a complete meltdown.

Baker is the current women's champion and is the undisputed face of Tony Khan's promotion as well. The likelihood of her making a Rumble appearance is wishful thinking at best, but we can't help but imagine a face-off with Charlotte Flair. It's a dream match and the biggest box office attraction for women wrestling if both companies ever considered doing business together.