SUMMARY
- WWE's first PLE of 2024, Royal Rumble, is set to take place on January 27.
- The event will be organized at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, in Florida.
In what is going to be WWE’s first PLE of this year, the Triple H-led promotion is set to organize Royal Rumble 2024 on January 27. This upcoming event is scheduled to be held at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, and it will be the thirty-seventh edition of the annual show.
With the special event just over a week away, the promotion has announced a number of matches. But, among all of them, one match that probably has the most hype around it is the annual Men’s Royal Rumble. So, let’s take a look at all the WWE Superstars who are confirmed after last night’s Monday Night RAW. In addition to it, also take a look at those who are rumored, or likely to appear.
Confirmed names for the WWE Royal Rumble 2024
Cody Rhodes
The first WWE star to announce himself for the match was the winner of last year’s Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes. Despite winning the match in 2023, The American Nightmare wasn’t able to finish his story at WrestleMania 39, and he’ll try to once again get an opportunity to main event The Grandest Stage Of Them All.
In fact, ever since he lost to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 2023, he has been rumored to be fighting him again at WrestleMania 2024. But, with his intention being publicly known and 29 other participants who have the absolute same objective, it remains to be seen if Cody can really win on January 27.
CM Punk
Ever since CM Punk made his return at Survivor 2023, WWE hasn’t been the same. Just days after his first appearance for the company in nearly a decade, The Straight Edge Superstar confirmed his entry in Royal Rumble. In fact, he shared that he wants to finish his dream of main-eventing WrestleMania, for which he’ll enter the match in Florida.
As the Best In the World announced himself for the match, he instantly became a top contender to win it. Moreover, a recent poll by the Stamford-based promotion revealed that 76% of the fans believe that Punk will come out as the victorious participant after the men’s Royal Rumble later this month.
Shinsuke Nakamura
The third confirmed participant in this year’s Royal Rumble is The King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura. Amid his recent feud with Cody Rhodes, the Japanese star got a lot of limelight, and that’s why he’s an important addition to the match at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
It must be noted that Nakamura is a one-time Royal Rumble winner, as he won the match in 2018 and later challenged AJ Styles at that year’s WrestleMania. As the veteran pro wrestler already has the experience of winning the match, it’ll be interesting to see how well he can perform during the upcoming PLE on January 27.
Drew McIntyre
In another addition to the men’s Royal Rumble match, Drew McIntyre has also confirmed himself for the mega event. As the WWE universe has been seeing The Scottish Warrior’s dark side, the in-ring star has also made it clear that this time he wants to win it only for himself.
The 38-year-old previously won the match in 2020 and eventually won the World title at WrestleMania 36. But at that time, COVID-19 was at its peak, and that’s why the biggest moment of Drew’s career ended up taking place in an empty arena. With things now normal, McIntyre would surely be going all in to win the Royal Rumble again so that he could get his moment in front of a live crowd.
Bobby Lashley
Veteran WWE performer Bobby Lashley has been in the professional wrestling industry for decades, and he’s also made a confirmation about his participation in this year’s Royal Rumble. The 47-year-old in-ring star announced himself for the match during a recent episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
But after this revelation, things took an unexpected turn, as he and The Street Profits, were attacked by The Final Testament. Looking at how the two factions have been working alongside each other in recent weeks, it seems we’ll probably get to see Bobby make a statement to his rivals through a strong performance on January 27.
Gunther
In what is the sixth confirmed entry for this year’s Men’s Royal Rumble, Gunther has announced his participation in the match. The confirmation about the Imperium Leader’s participation was made on the January 15 episode of Monday Night RAW, and it has further increased the hype for the bout.
The Intercontinental Champion is still going strong in his historic title reign, but he’ll try to go one step ahead by winning on January 27. It must be noted that Gunther holds the longest-reign as the IC Champion title in the title’s long history.
WWE stars who are likely to appear at the Royal Rumble
Sheamus
While six names have been confirmed for WWE Royal Rumble 2024, there are few names that are likely to appear in the match. Among all such names, veteran pro wrestler Sheamus is a prominent star. The Celtic Warrior hasn’t been seen ever since he lost to Edge on the August 18 SmackDown, and the upcoming PLE might be the best place for his return.
Both Sheamus and Xavier Woods are expected to return over the next few weeks.
– WON pic.twitter.com/ELIO6x1M82
— Knockout News (@KnockoutNews10) January 12, 2024
In fact, recent rumors have revealed that the 45-year-old is on the verge of a return to the Triple H-led promotion. With such reports making the rounds on the internet, it’s an absolute no-brainer that the Irish pro wrestler will likely make an appearances in the match.
Hall of Famer Sean Waltmanaka, aka X-Pac
Even though Sheamus is likely to appear at the Royal Rumble, he isn’t the only veteran who’ll probably be a part of the match. In fact, WWE Hall of Famer Sean Waltmanaka, famously known as X-Pac, is also rumored to be making an appearance during this year’s men’s Royal Rumble.
Recent reports have made it clear that the 51-year-old has been spotted training at the promotion’s performance center. As the company usually has returning stars train for some time before making a comeback, it seems pretty likely that the pro wrestling legend will be seen performing at the mega event.
Brock Lesnar
In what is arguably the biggest draw who’s likely to appear at Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar might make his presence felt at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The Beast was last seen in WWE at 2023’s SummerSlam, as he gave an epic performance at the PLE against The American Nightmare.
As soon as he left the arena after that show, it was revealed that he’d be on a long break. In fact, it was also rumored that he might be coming back to WWE around Royal Rumble 2024. With the first thing being true, it seems evident that Lesnar might show up in Florida.
In addition to this, rumors have been floating for a long time that the Triple H-led promotion has plans for a feud between Gunther and Brock. If that’s really the case, the two might come face-to-face during the match, and it could be the start of a once-in-a-lifetime rivalry between these heavyweights.
Possible returns at the WWE Royal Rumble 2024
Big E
While there have been a lot of speculations about the possible returns at this year’s Royal Rumble, and Big E might be one of them. The former WWE Champion has been away from the Stamford-based promotion ever since he suffered a neck injury on a weekly Friday Night SmackDown show in March 2022.
It’s been nearly two years since The New Day’s powerhouse got injured, and it’s been rumored that he has recovered well. In fact, a lot of reports have claimed that the 37-year-old might be returning as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble match at this January 27 PLE in Florida.
Bo Dallas as Uncle Howdy
This is something not many might consider a possibility, but WWE might actually pull the trigger by calling back Bo Dallas to work in the Uncle Howdy character. As the pro wrestler’s late brother Bray Wyatt had a brief run involving the Howdy persona in his final days in the promotion, the Triple H-led promotion might do this as a tribute to The Fiend’s legacy as a performer.
What makes Dallas’ return even more believable is the report that he’s still employed by the Triple H-led promotion. Bo hasn’t been seen in WWE since years, so this is an interesting move, and it gives an indication that the 33-year-old might return at the upcoming event.
Andrade Cien Almas
After Andrade Cien Almas’ last match in the Tony Khan-led promotion on December 30, 2023, it was revealed that his contract had expired. With the former AEW star no longer being a part of the Jacksonville-based promotion, there’s a high possibility that he might appear as a surprise participant at the Royal Rumble 2024.
As the 34-year-old has a successful run with the Stamford-based promotion from 2015 to 2021, he might be coming back to his former workplace. With Andrade’s real-life partner, Charlotte Flair, being a prominent name in WWE, it’s true that he might actually show up during the thirty-seventh edition of the annual show.
John Cena
Over the years, the WWE universe has seen a lot of returns at the Royal Rumble, and if John Cena makes it to the January 27 event, it’ll surely be a memorable moment. The Cenation Leader was last seen on television when he suffered a vicious defeat at the hands of Solo Sikoa during November 2023’s Crown Jewel.
It was a huge setback for the 16-time World Champion to lose in such fashion, but he can make a grand comeback if he returns at this year’s Royal Rumble. The potential face-offs he can have at the show in Florida are insane. Just imagine Cena standing face-to-face with CM Punk; it’ll surely be something really nostalgic for the WWE universe.
In fact, there are numerous such possibilities that can become a reality if the legend makes an appearance at the PLE. But will he really come back to the WWE? If not, which other pro wrestling star can return during the annual Men’s Royal Rumble match at Tropicana Field? Only the future knows, but looking at the star power, the show is surely going to be one of the best in the event’s history.