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One of the most anticipated parts of the Royal Rumble match is the surprise entrants appearing in the 30-person Battle Royal. Whether it is returning stars or debuting stars, the WWE Universe is always looking to see which unexpected performers take part in the annual Rumble.
While current or returning wrestlers often make returns to WWE in the match, NXT stars have also become a staple of the Rumble season. NXT started having performers compete in the Royal Rumble beginning in 2016 as Sami Zayn debuted for the WWE main roster. In the following years, the likes of Tye Dillinger, Andrade, and Adam Cole both made surprise appearances in the match.
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In 2019, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano, and Pete Dunne were in the bout while Keith Lee and Riddle appeared in the Rumble match last year. So what's in store for NXT and the 2021 Royal Rumble match?
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Here are five current NXT stars that could be in the upcoming Royal Rumble.
#5 Bronson Reed could appear at Royal Rumble
Bronson Reed triumphantly returned to NXT on the latest episode of the Black and Gold brand. He squashed Ashante Adonis and reminded everyone that he was back to cause some disarray in NXT.
Reed has been like Keith Lee during Lee's first year and change on the Black and Gold brand - hovering around the NXT mid-card and waiting to move up. He was a part of the North American Championship Ladder match that saw Damian Priest capture the title.
Since then, he's either been battling other NXT mid-carders or off of TV. Reed seems more than ready for either a move to the main roster or a push up the card in NXT. One way that push up the card could happen is with an appearance in the 2021 Royal Rumble. He's a big guy, and those types of performers are always pushed well in Rumble matches.
If he appears and has a good showing, it could prove to NXT higher-ups that he's ready to move up the ladder. While Karrion Kross is likely slated to battle Finn Balor for the NXT Championship soon, Reed would be a great challenger for Kross if/when he reclaims his title. Kross already beat the Thicc Boi, but Reed could claim that he's changed and offer a more serious challenge. The Royal Rumble could be just the spot to showcase that change.
#4 The Velveteen Dream could appear at Royal Rumble
Velveteen Dream, like the rest of the world, also had a strange 2020. He went from the NXT title picture to off of TV to back on TV to off of it once more. Dream had been feuding with Adam Cole, but the Undisputed Era turned face in 2020.
Dream also battled Kushida but was away from the company for reasons outside of pro wrestling. It seems like he's been in NXT forever and that is somewhat true. Could a Royal Rumble appearance potentially lead to a move to the main roster?
Wrestlers like Velveteen Dream come ready-made for the main roster, while others need time to learn and/or season different facets of their game. Since he's been prominently featured in NXT over the years, it makes sense that this could be the year he shows up in the Royal Rumble. The likes of Gargano, Cole, Pete Dunne, and some others have already made appearances in the Royal Rumble.
The Dream's inclusion would be a shock but also a sign of moving forward in 2021 and beyond.
#3 Kushida could appear at Royal Rumble
Kushida is like Shinsuke Nakamura in NXT in that he was already so seasoned that he was ready to debut upon his arrival to the United States. When stars have the in-ring portion of their game down, the biggest challenge is often adapting to the WWE style of pro wrestling.
The TimeSplitter has adopted a more serious persona in NXT over the last few months and it has helped him advance. He appears destined for a showdown with Gargano over the NXT North American Championship in the near future. He could also be in the NXT Cruiserweight title picture as well, but he's a star that could transcend that division.
The Royal Rumble is the perfect spot to debut someone like Kushida. He's well-known to fans of pro wrestling but may not be as familiar to those who don't watch the sport outside of the USA. In the Royal Rumble, he could show up and have a run of 10 or more minutes to give fans a taste of his talents. Smaller stars don't often have the same playing field as bigger stars in WWE, but like Daniel Bryan, Kushida's style makes him more dangerous.
#2 Damian Priest could appear at Royal Rumble
Damian Priest's rise in NXT was similar to what Keith Lee had in NXT. Priest was first a heel and had middling success. He turned face earlier this year and won the North American title in a ladder match at TakeOver: XXX.
As Champion, he battled Gargano and others but has maintained his face status. Conventional thinking would lead the WWE Universe to think that he might enter into the NXT Championship picture at some point. But since he's the first target of a returning Karrion Kross, that might not happen.
Priest is one of the more polished prospects in NXT and could easily make a debut in the Royal Rumble. He has shown that he's confident in his character and his in-ring skill is ready for the main roster. The Royal Rumble would also give Mr. McMahon and the creative a look at what he can do since he may not follow NXT.
It certainly seems like Priest has the "It Factor" that stars need to get over, but the main facet that drives that is faith from the creative. If he isn't going to go much further in NXT, decision-makers might see something in Priest and call him up to RAW or SmackDown. The Royal Rumble could be a big break for someone like Damian Priest.
#1 Johnny Gargano could appear at Royal Rumble
Alongside Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano epitomizes NXT and what it has been for the last four years. He's been a featured player and was so important that he was nicknamed Johnny TakeOver. He's won every title available to him on the brand.
Johnny Wrestling was actually a part of the 2019 Royal Rumble match, lasting for 13:50. Gargano was a face at that time but has recently undergone a brilliant heel turn. Along with his wife, Candice LeRae, the duo has become a power couple in NXT. They've both taken charges under their wings, with Indi Hartwell and Austin Theory joining 'the Gargano Way' clan.
While Adam Cole could just as easily make another Royal Rumble appearance, the same could be said for Johnny Wrestling. Both men are stamina monsters and could take up the "Iron Man" spot that was absent from last year's contest. Some fans and analysts have long said that Gargano is more than ready to join the main roster, but he hasn't. Maybe another appearance in the Royal Rumble will signal an eventual move to either RAW or SmackDown once he loses the North American title.
