5 Major stars rumored to return at WWE Royal Rumble 2022

We are less than 48 hours away from one of the most exciting nights on the WWE calendar, the Royal Rumble. The show is set to take place on January 29, 2022, at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

WWE has already announced several participants for this year's men's and women's Royal Rumble matches. The company has done a great job in hyping up the women's contest by announcing several major returns from legends like Lita, The Bella Twins, Mickie James, and many others. However, there are definitely going to be a few more surprises in store.

Over the past few days, several reports have emerged regarding surprise entrants in this year's Rumble matches. Let's take a look at five such stars who are rumored to make their return this Saturday.

Be sure to comment down and let us know your thoughts on the same and predictions for the show. Who are you rooting for?

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#5 Ronda Rousey to return at the Royal Rumble?

Starting with a big name, WWE reportedly wants former RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey in this year's Royal Rumble. Moreover, there are also plans for her to have a big-money match against Becky Lynch at this year's WrestleMania.

Rousey made her official WWE debut at the very same pay-per-view four years ago after the first women's Rumble match. She then made her in-ring debut for the promotion at WrestleMania 34, teaming up with Kurt Angle to face and defeat the team of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

A few months later at SummerSlam 2018, she defeated Alexa Bliss to become the RAW Women's Champion and had a dominating run with the title. Her reign ended at the hands of Lynch in the historic main event of WrestleMania 35 that also involved Charlotte Flair.

That was Ronda Rousey's last WWE match and appearance. A lot has changed since then as she gave birth to her first child last year in September.

The lack of big names on the women's roster is very clear and they could surely use the star power of The Baddest Woman on the Planet. If she does return at the Royal Rumble this Saturday, there are huge chances of her winning it all and heading to the main event of WrestleMania 38.

#4 Here comes the money... Shane McMahon!

Former SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon is reportedly booked to be in this year's men's Royal Rumble match as a surprise entrant. There is no confirmation yet though whether this could lead to a WrestleMania program or just be a one-night return.

"Shane McMahon will be in the 2022 Royal Rumble. No word on if he has a WrestleMania program, but we wouldn't be surprised on that either," wrote Steve Carrier of Ringside News.

Shane-O-Mac returned to WWE in 2016 and has since had several matches against multiple top stars. His last match took place at WrestleMania 37, where he faced Braun Strowman in a steel cage match.

He has been away from WWE television since and could appear at the Rumble this year and put over a star. How about Austin Theory eliminating the son of his current on-screen mentor Vince McMahon?

Considering the WWE Chairman isn't really fond of his son, he might actually get very impressed by Theory for eliminating him.

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#3 Kairi Sane has been discussed to appear at the Royal Rumble

Former NXT Women's Champion Kairi Sane is the next major star rumored to return at the Rumble this Saturday. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, there have been discussions in WWE to possibly have Sane as a participant in this year's women's match.

After wrestling for Vince McMahon's promotion since 2016, Kairi Sane announced her departure from the company in July 2020 to be with her husband in Japan. In October 2020, she announced that she had started working as an ambassador for WWE.

Fans would definitely love to see The Pirate Princess make her return to the ring at Royal Rumble 2022. Speaking of Sane, her former tag team partner in The Kabuki Warriors could also be making her return this Saturday. More on that in the next slide.

#2 Asuka could finally make her return at the Royal Rumble

The winner of the first-ever women's Royal Rumble Asuka could be making her return in this year's edition of the match. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, several WWE talents believe that The Empress of Tomorrow will be making her return at the Rumble. However, the report adds that there is no confirmation on her return yet.

Asuka has been away from WWE television for several months now. The former RAW Women's Champion even went undrafted in last year's Draft. Her return would surely boost up the women's division of the company ahead of WrestleMania 38. Could we see a Kabuki Warriors reunion this Saturday?

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#1 Kurt Angle to show up at the Rumble?

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle is set to be in St. Louis this weekend, the very same place where Royal Rumble is set to take place. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has reported that Angle is there to discuss an on-screen presence on WWE programming. There's no confirmation yet on whether he's booked for the Rumble match as of now.

Kurt Angle last entered the Rumble match three years ago in 2019 and was eliminated by Shinsuke Nakamura. Later that year at WrestleMania 35, he had his retirement match against Baron Corbin.

The Olympic Gold Medalist put over Corbin in his final bout. However, fans were not happy with that being his last match as they expected him to have a bigger match against a major opponent. He has since made sporadic appearances on WWE television but hasn't wrestled yet.