WWE Royal Rumble 2016: Four wrestlers who must show up at all costs

The rumour mill is in overdrive as the days count down to the RumbleJim Ross sees the upcoming Royal Rumble as a huge opportunity for WWE in terms of booking a solid main event that could impact WrestleMania 32 in more ways than one.“WWE has a major opportunity to do some bold, outside the box booking for the Royal Rumble and essentially hit the reset button in many areas of their roster,” Ross said in his most recent blog on his website, jrsbbq.com.Right now, rumors are flying around like paper airplanes as to who might surprise us all as an entrant into the main event and who might eliminate whom – leading to a match in Dallas on April 3. There is even talk that the Undertaker could be one of the 30 wrestlers who could be involved, with a potential spoiler as to who will be his opponent at WrestleMania.The greatest selling point about the Royal Rumble match is while the usual suspects are involved, there is always the unknown. This year, especially, with the roster being so abused by injuries, whoever comes out from the back is anyone’s guess.While everyone pretty much knows how the match should end, with any one of three or four endings, the rest is really up in the air. Here are four wrestlers who need to appear in the match, if for nothing else but to stir the pot and get fans excited about what lies ahead for the company.

#4 AJ Styles

Styles has reportedly cancelled his last match with ROH

I know there are reports that Styles won’t be debuting at Royal Rumble because his last match in ROH on Saturday. As for now, there is no plan for him to be in Orlando on Sunday night, but he will be on Raw Monday night. The feeling is the casual fan is not familiar with Styles, so introducing him on Raw makes more sense.

I think that’s baloney and he should be a participant in the match. What better way to see his in-ring style than to have him come from the back to surprise everyone?

#3 Samoa Joe

Now this would be a lip-smacking contest

The former TNA champion has been in NXT perfecting his craft. Look for him to make his first appearance in the Rumble in Orlando. Joe might be exactly what WWE needs to help usher in more of the new generation of wrestler.

Joes’ size, power and speed are a perfect combination. While I cannot see him winning the match, he could be confronted with some potential opponents in the future. One I would really like to see is a Joe/Roman Reigns confrontation or a Joe/Kevin Owens clash, leading to a WrestleMania match.

#2 Daniel Bryan

Bryan’s been teasing his return of late

It may be now or never for Bryan, who has spent more time on the disabled list than in a WWE ring. Bryan announced his intention of participating in the Rumble as a return to the ring from injury before. He came in as the 10th participant and was eliminated way too soon.

What kind of impact could he have this year? We don’t know. It has been reported Bryan has been spending time in the gym working on his strength so who knows if that means he will make his way back to the ring soon. If WWE is given the green light to use him this coming weekend, the company should do it – if nothing else to boost ratings and create some excitement for the fans.

#1 Kane

Sow the seed for Taker’s last WrestleMania

There is a theory out there on the internet that Undertaker will be in the Rumble match as a late participant. Said theory also states that whoever is the wrestler to eliminate Undertaker is the one who will face him at WrestleMania.

There aren’t many wrestlers who would be able to physically get the big man over the top rope by themselves. Braun Stroman is one of them, but that matchup really doesn’t have a lot of appeal, in my opinion.

Kane is still the most logical opponent for Undertaker in Dallas. The company needs to start now with its plan to promote the beginning of the end for this novel and how it will end once and for all.