PWU List This EP1: Top 10 Royal Rumble Surprises/Returns (Patreon)

Welcome everyone to the debut of PWU List This! You might ask yourself what is List This? It’s very simple. PWU List This is basically a series focusing on a certain topic and we list some of the more interesting things on that topic. For example, this week we will be focusing on the top 10 Royal Rumble Surprises/Returns. Now that you know what List This is, let’s get ready to rumble!

When the clock pops up at the bottom of the screen and the fans begin counting down from 10 to 1, we are always wondering, who’s coming out? A returning superstar coming back from injury? An NXT Star? Hall of Famer? Someone coming from a different promotion like AJ Styles in 2016? We always like a good Royal Rumble surprise. In this episode, we will be looking at the top 10 Royal Rumble Surprises & Returns! 

Here are the top 10 surprises and returns in Royal Rumble History:

#10 - Rowdy Roddy Piper

Coming in at number ten is the Hot Rod, Roddy Piper. The Rowdy One returned to a WWE ring at the 2008 Royal Rumble Match. Piper and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka had a brief moment in the rumble before being eliminated by Kane. 

#9 - Hacksaw Jim Duggan

At the 2012 Royal Rumble, number nineteen was none other than Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri erupted as Duggan entered the match. The first-ever Royal Rumble winner in 1988 was eliminated by Cody Rhodes. 

#8 - Rob Van Dam

R.V.D. Takes over the eighth spot. He was the 25th entrant in the 2009 Royal Rumble, received the biggest ovation/pop of the night & lasted over 13 minutes before being eliminated by Chris Jericho 

#7 - Diesel (Kevin Nash)

Coming in at number seven is Big Daddy Cool, Diesel. This was the first time in over fifteen years that Kevin Nash brought back Big Daddy Cool as he entered the 2011 40-man Royal Rumble at number thirty-two. Nash would be eliminated by Wade Barrett. This appearance led to Nash signing a legends contract with WWE and being involved in a storyline with CM Punk & Triple H. 

#6 - Booker T

Joining Diesel in the 2011 Royal Rumble was Booker T! Booker was the twenty-first entrant. He delivered some of his patented moves including the spin-a-roonie. He was eliminated by Nexus member, Mason Ryan. This was Booker’s first time in a WWE ring in over three years. 

#5 - Chris Jericho

In August of 2012, Chris Jericho’s WWE contract was “terminated” when Dolph Ziggler defeated him. This was to write Jericho off storylines so he could tour with his band, Fozzy. At the 2013 Royal Rumble, Y2J entered at number two, starting the rumble match off against... you guessed it, Dolph Ziggler! Jericho would last forty-seven minutes in the match before being eliminated by... yes Dolph Ziggler.

#4 - AJ Styles

One of the best moments in Royal Rumble history was the WWE debut of the phenomenal one, AJ Styles. Styles entered the 2016 Rumble at number three to a HUGE ovation. Styles lasted almost 30 minutes in the match before getting eliminated by Kevin Owens. 

#3 - Triple H 

In May of 2001, Triple H had a career threatening injury when his quad detached from his bone and rolled up his leg. In the 2002 Royal Rumble match he returned at number twenty-two. The game would end up winning the Rumble match & would defeat Chris Jericho at WrestleMania XVIII to become WWE Undisputed Champion. 

#2 - Edge

The Rated-R Superstar would return at number twenty-nine at the 2010 Royal Rumble after being injured for six months. Edge would eliminate Cena in the end to win. Edge would then go on to WrestleMania XXVI to challenge Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Title unsuccessfully.  

#1 - John Cena

Taking the number one spot is sixteen time World Champion, John Cena. Cena tore a pectoral muscle in October of 2007 and was expected to be out from seven months to a year. Cena would return at the 2008 Royal Rumble match at number thirty. Cena would eliminate Triple H and faced Randy Orton & Triple H for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XXIV but ended up losing.

That’s a wrap for the first edition of PWU List This. 

NOTE* Future Episodes will only be available to Gold & Platinum Tiers.