Ex-World Champion Teases Surprise WWE Royal Rumble Appearance

A former world champion has teased a surprise appearance in the upcoming WWE Royal Rumble.

The Royal Rumble is always one of the most hotly anticipated events on the WWE calendar. In 2025, Charlotte Flair returned from over a year out of action to win the women’s match, while in the men’s match, Jey Uso stunned John Cena to win the Rumble for the first time in his career.

As much as fans look forward to seeing who’s in pole position heading into WrestleMania, they arguably look forward more to seeing which surprise entrants will end up in the Rumble match itself.

WWE recently ranked the top 25 returns in Rumble history, with an unsurprising star taking the number one spot. But now it seems, one wrestling star who has never been signed to WWE is keen for a surprise of his own.

TNA Star Open To WWE Royal Rumble Spot

Former TNA World Champion Moose told SportsMattersTV that he was open to appearing in the Royal Rumble, but it’s not something he spends time worrying about:

I’m open to it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to do the Royal Rumble? But like I said, that’s not in my control. So I can’t worry about it or even think about it. I don’t lose sleep over it because I don’t control it, you know what I’m saying?

Mickie James appeared in the 2022 Royal Rumble while still holding the TNA Knockouts Championship. In 2025, TNA World Champion Joe Hendry took that title with him as he entered that year’s men’s Royal Rumble.