5 Biggest dark horses who could win the 2021 WWE Women's Royal Rumble match

The 2021 WWE Royal Rumble will take place this Sunday in the ThunderDome. On the Road to this year's Royal Rumble, there have been many favorites to win the women's match, but this year feels like it could be one of the most unpredictable Royal Rumble matches in some time.

Many names are rumored to have a great showing in the 2021 Royal Rumble, but there are a number of WWE Superstars who could be a bit overlooked.

In some Royal Rumble matches, there have been winners and standout performances that were previously unsuspected by fans. The 2021 Royal Rumble may be no exception to the rule.

Here are the five biggest dark horses who could win the 2021 WWE Women's Royal Rumble match.

---

#5 WWE SmackDown Superstar Billie Kay

Billie Kay had been in previous Royal Rumble matches, but her prior performances haven't made much of an impact. Currently, Billie Kay is a SmackDown Superstar, after being drafted to the Blue Brand following a split from her previous partner, former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Peyton Royce.

On SmackDown, Billie Kay has been cast in a more comedic role, which has gone down well with fans. Her name often trends on Twitter after the show on Friday nights, with her performances being met with much praise.

Billie Kay has been trying her hand at being a manager in WWE. She has been pursuing other Superstars backstage with her resume in pursuit of a new role. Most recently, Billie Kay appointed herself as the manager of the Riott Squad, but they unceremoniously dumped her.

With WWE audiences warming towards Billie Kay, there may be scope for the popular star to pull off a surprising breakout Royal Rumble performance. Despite not competing in the ring so much on SmackDown, Billie Kay is a talented WWE Superstar who could do the unexpected at the Royal Rumble.

#4 WWE SmackDown Superstar Sonya Deville

After spending six months away from WWE, Sonya Deville made her return to SmackDown in 2021. Leading up to her break from WWE, Sonya Deville was involved in a huge feud with her former tag team partner and best friend Mandy Rose. The feud occurred after Deville tried to sabotage Mandy Rose's budding relationship with Otis.

Since her return this month on SmackDown, Sonya Deville has stepped away from her previous in-ring role to become an assistant to WWE official Adam Pearce.

Despite the change in Sonya Deville's role, there is still a chance that the star will be a part of this weekend's Royal Rumble match. The WWE SmackDown Superstar could use her sway and position of power to get herself a spot in the Royal Rumble this year.

Since coming back to WWE, fans haven't had the chance to see how Sonya Deville's in-ring skills have improved. Even before she took her break following Summerslam, WWE fans had praised Sonya Deville for her talent in the squared circle.

Although Sonya Deville is a star under the radar, there is a possibility that she could surprise the WWE Universe with a Royal Rumble win.

#3 Former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Peyton Royce

Peyton Royce was once better known as one-half of the former WWE Women's Tag Team Championship holders, The IIconics. Following a stipulation match against the Riott Squad, the duo split. Peyton Royce and Billie Kay were later drafted to separate brands, with Royce staying put on RAW, while Billie Kay moved to SmackDown.

On RAW, Peyton Royce has been pretty regularly featured on the show as part of a mismatched tag team with Lacey Evans. Peyton Royce received praise from WWE fans for the improvement of her in-ring skills over the past few months, as well as the introduction of her new finishing move, Deja Vu.

Peyton Royce has declared her entry into the 2021 Royal Rumble, but her announcement has been somewhat overshadowed by other entrants such as Bianca Belair, Bayley, and Charlotte Flair. Although Royce is a skilled WWE Superstar, she has been a bit more under the radar in comparison to other stars in the Women's Division.

As the Royal Rumble draws closer, Peyton Royce could surprise WWE fans by putting on a newsworthy performance.

#2 WWE RAW Superstar Lana

Lana is a WWE Superstar who hasn't been seen on screens since December after she was viciously attacked by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. This occurred right before she was set to be Asuka's tag team partner at TLC.

Towards the end of 2020, Lana appeared to be gaining some momentum in WWE. The star had managed to defeat Nia Jax after being bullied by Jax for months on end, which included being put through tables week after week.

At the time, Lana was even the subject of a WWE Chronicle documentary, which detailed her struggles with mental health and how she overcame bullying in real-life. The documentary also highlighted her friendship with fellow WWE Superstar and training partner, Natalya.

Currently, nothing is set in stone for Lana's WWE return. The RAW Superstar could make a surprise return at the Royal Rumble, and even surprise the WWE Universe by delivering a standout performance.

Lana hasn't always fared too well in her recent Royal Rumble entries and hasn't lasted more than three minutes in a Royal Rumble match so far. She didn't even make it to the ring in the 2019 match, where she was replaced by the eventual winner Becky Lynch. But there is enough potential for Lana to surprise everyone in 2021.

#1 Former two-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Nikki Cross

Despite being a former WWE Women's Tag Team Champion and part of the first team to win the title twice, Nikki Cross is a star who has been somewhat overlooked on RAW recently.

Nikki Cross has barely been seen on RAW since her match against her former tag team partner Alexa Bliss. Cross has been appearing more on WWE Main Event, where she has been losing against stars such as RETRIBUTION's Reckoning.

Cross has been venting her frustrations regarding her current WWE status on her social media accounts, where she questions how to cement her own legacy in the company, and how she is going to progress further. Nikki Cross has also expressed that her status as a Royal Rumble competitor is still uncertain.

During her partnership with Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross displayed to the WWE Universe that she is highly skilled in the ring and is more than capable of carrying a big storyline.

In the promos that Nikki Cross has been posting online, the star seems to be displaying her intense side as the weeks go on, which could only help her in a major way at the upcoming Royal Rumble.