WWE WrestleMania 33: Sting and the 7 Most Likely Surprise Appearances at PPV

The WrestleMania pay-per-view is always a great time for members of the WWE Universe, and a big part of the fun is seeing which special guests the company will bring in for the event. 

Between the standard two-hour pre-show and four or more hours of the main show, WWE has to fill some time with non-wrestling segments to add some variety.

Who could forget the opening of WrestleMania 30 when Hulk Hogan, The Rock and Steve Austin shared a beer in the ring for the first time?

Moments like those help make the night more memorable, but there are other ways WWE can surprise us besides trotting a few legends out for an uneventful promo.

NXT has a handful of people who are more than ready to be called up to the main roster, and a WrestleMania debut would give them more exposure than weeks of video packages ever could.

This slideshow will look at seven people who would make great surprise guests at WrestleMania 33 on April 2. The entries are not ranked in any particular order, so don't worry about where people appear on the list.

Sting

The chances of seeing Sting wrestle another match in WWE seem slim, but that doesn't mean The Icon can't make a special appearance.

WrestleMania is a time when WWE packs the show with as many big names as it can, so fans can leave the show with more memories than they expected.

Sting is the kind of legend who is beloved by almost everyone. Having him surprise the crowd with a promo, or even a Scorpion Death Drop to an unsuspecting heel, would make for a great moment.

WWE could even do something similar to what it did at WrestleMania 30 with Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan and The Rock by having Sting interact with a couple of other legends to open the show.

He could reunite with Ric Flair, have a segment with members of The New World Order or even tease a confrontation with someone he has never faced like John Cena. There are plenty of ways to feature The Stinger on the show in an exciting way.

Hulk Hogan

WWE has slowly started to add Hulk Hogan into its promotional videos for the WWE Network and some of its shows, so it's logical to assume he could make a return to the company at some point.

All of the controversy surrounding Hogan from his lawsuit with Gawker is behind him, and it seems like many fans are ready to forgive The Hulkster for the things he said in the leaked tape.

What happened was unfortunate, but in the world of wrestling, time heals many wounds. Some fans will never cheer for Hogan again, but most will be excited to see him in a WWE ring.

WWE may want to give Hogan another year or two before bringing him back into the fold, but owner Vince McMahon has never been a patient man. He may feel it's the right time to mend fences so everyone can benefit from the company's relationship with the most famous wrestler of all time.

Shinsuke Nakamura

Now that Samoa Joe is on the main roster, Shinsuke Nakamura is arguably the biggest star in NXT. He is already a two-time champion in the developmental system, so there isn't much left for him to accomplish there.

Nakamura's popularity extends far beyond NXT. Most fans have been waiting for him to show up on Raw or SmackDown, especially now that he returned on the March 8 episode of NXT.

WWE likes to bring up a few NXT Superstars at WrestleMania or the following night on Raw. Baron Corbin was given a prominent debut when he won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, and the same could be done to bring up Nakamura.

The King of Strong Style is a special kind of talent. He barely needs to deliver promos because his character is so well-defined. Having him at WrestleMania would allow for another great moment for a rising talent.

The Rock

At this point, it almost wouldn't feel like WrestleMania without an appearance from The Rock. Unless he is busy filming a movie that weekend, we should expect The Great One to show up.

Rocky is someone who is so beloved by fans that he can simply show up whenever he wants and people will let him talk for as long as time allows.

It's not out of the realm of possibility to see Rock return for one more match in the future. After all, he technically had a showdown at last year's event against Erick Rowan. 

Even if he is busy filming a movie, The Rock has enough pull to get a day off so he can drop by his old stomping grounds for a surprise appearance.

Asuka

Charlotte is The Queen, Sasha Banks is The Boss, Becky Lynch is The Lass Kicker and Mickie James is the veteran, but none of them have proved themselves to be as dominant as Asuka.

The Japanese wrestler is undefeated in NXT and has been running roughshod over the division ever since she defeated Bayley for the women's title.

If she were to lose the belt to Ember Moon at TakeOver: Orlando, the best way to bring her into one of the main roster women's divisions would be to show up at WrestleMania.

Few women are as intimidating as Asuka, and the support she has from the NXT Universe would easily follow her to Raw or SmackDown.

Asuka would make a great addition to either show because almost every opponent she would face would be for the first time. 

Kane

Kane hasn't been seen on television since he defeated Luke Harper on the November 22 episode of SmackDown, so at this point, his return would count as a surprise.

WWE could either have him offer Taker an assist in his match with Roman Reigns, or the company could go in the other direction and have him turn on his storyline brother.

Despite being poorly used in recent years, Kane still has a lot to offer. He is an established veteran who is still capable of making other people look good.

Another possible way to use him would be as an entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. If WWE doesn't plan on putting a title on him ever again, having him win the giant trophy would be a great way to give him one last big accolade for his resume. 

Steve Austin

Like The Rock, Sting and Hogan, Steve Austin is one of those legends who is always welcome when he shows up on WWE television.

His legacy is tied to some of his big WrestleMania matches, especially the three he had against The Rock. And let's face it, it's always fun to see him deliver a Stunner to an unsuspecting Superstar.

Austin hasn't been used in any capacity for a while, and that includes the special podcasts he used to do for the WWE Network.

Fans would be psyched to see Stone Cold walk into The Camping World Stadium on Orlando, Florida, hit someone with a Stunner and leave without saying a word.