5 AEW stars who would be great surprise entrants in the WWE Royal Rumble

#2. Cody Rhodes appearing in Royal Rumble would be well received

The AEW community was surprised to learn that Cody Rhodes is currently a free agent. The TNT Champion has been working without an official contract for several weeks after his deal expired at the end of 2021.

Even so, Cody Rhodes is still the AEW Executive Vice President. As such, The American Nightmare is still All Elite. He's still a staple of AEW and has been a part of matches even after his contract expired.

Cody Rhodes' WWE run was a major part of his career, even if he couldn't achieve as much as he'd hoped. However, it makes sense that Rhodes would be the bridge that connects AEW and WWE.

An appearance in the Royal Rumble by Cody Rhodes would cement the working relationship between the two rival companies, which would be a win for both Tony Khan and Vince McMahon. Of course, the former TNT Champion is a big enough name to garner respect from both promotions.

#1. Jon Moxley would get massive applause if he appears in the Royal Rumble

Jon Moxley recently recaptured enormous momentum after his recent return. It's undeniable how much the former AEW Champion has transformed in just three months of rehab. Moxley hasn't commented on whether he's changed his diet or exercised more, but the change in his appearance is undeniable.

Considering how Moxley looks to be in great shape for another AEW title run, it'd be a good idea to have him represent AEW in the Rumble. The former AEW champ has an extensive history in WWE. Furthermore, having gone through rehab, he represents much more than a typical wrestler.

There's no doubt that Jon Moxley would receive one of the biggest reactions if he's featured in the Royal Rumble Match. The former WWE star will bring back a lot of memories if he gets to face his old partners Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. It remains to be seen if the AEW star will get a chance to fight in a WWE ring.