WWE’s “Road to WrestleMania” begins with Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view, and while WWE’s general direction for WrestleMania seems obvious, it is never clear whether everything at the Rumble PPV will play out predictably.
Notably, with Chris Jericho and Randy Orton rumored as the title challengers for WrestleMania, it has long been assumed that one of them will win. While that could very well still be the case, WWE occasionally likes changing things up for the sake of being unpredictable.
WWE has heavily focused on the “any WWE Superstar can enter” stipulation for the Royal Rumble (which seems like an odd, minor distinction from the usual “rule”), and so it seems logical that the rule will play clearly into Sunday’s match. Some, including F4WOnline.com, have said that at least one plan floating around called for a very surprising winner as a consequence of that stipulation.
As is always the case, WWE is expected to feature some surprise, nostalgia-themed entrants in tonight’s Royal Rumble match.
F4WOnline.com reports that “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan looks to be a go for the show. Mick Foley was confirmed as a veteran entrant on Monday’s RAW, and plans for his involvement have not been changed.
Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore teased an appearance on Twitter, although many believe he was just having fun. Road Warrior Animal, the real-life brother of John Laurinaitis, has been rumored for the show, although he denied it in a recent radio interview.
Road Dogg’s name has been rumored, and while he is indeed backstage, it is worth noting that he has been working as a producer and would be there anyway.