WWE Royal Rumble 2018: Ranking Most Likely Surprise Entrants

WWE's most prestigious free-for-all is just days away, and as always, the prospect of surprises at the 2018 Royal Rumble is as great as ever.

Each year, the company pulls a number of twists out of the hat in regards to shocks, with plenty of big names coming back to appear in the Royal Rumble match.

Whether they are one-off returns or the start of something more permanent, the possibility of surprises is always high.

And with the women's match to consider this year, too, it raises the chance of shocks even higher.

Here's a look at some of the most likely contenders to appear in Sunday's Rumble match, ranked from worst to best in terms of the chances of them showing up.

5: Batista

Given the way his last run ended with WWE, many fans would not be opposed to Batista returning to the company and putting that right.

Could that start at this weekend's Royal Rumble, though? It doesn't seem likely.

His return in the match would raise the possibility of him winning it again and, as in 2014, denying a more popular star the chance of headlining WrestleMania.

While there are always opportunities for former stars to come back at the Rumble, any return for Batista would surely lead to a longer run with the company.

Traditionally, Royal Rumble matches serve as grounds for one-off returns. With that in mind, don't bank on Batista showing up this Sunday.

4: Daniel Bryan

Unlike the other entrants on this list, Daniel Bryan's potential appearance in this Sunday's Royal Rumble match is dependent on something far more serious.

Clearly, the SmackDown Live general manager cannot compete in WWE unless he is cleared by doctors. It is an issue which has been ongoing for some time, and this is not the first time fans have wished for a Bryan return.

Recently, though, the doubt over Bryan's in-ring future has surfaced again following storyline tension between himself and commissioner Shane McMahon.

Is the company slowly planting the seeds for a match between the two, giving fans hope Bryan could lace up his boots again?

Perhaps, but a return for him in the Rumble this Sunday is far from a certainty; it's an outside bet at best.

3: Trish Stratus

With a shortage of numbers to fill the 30 spots for this weekend's historic women's Royal Rumble match, it's inevitable there has to be a fair portion of surprises.

And of all the former competitors who deserve to be in the match this weekend, Trish Stratus sits somewhere near the top.

Fans got a glimpse of the Hall of Famer on Monday on Raw's 25th anniversary show when she was honored alongside a number of other former female stars.

Stratus deserves a place in the match on Sunday, though. Furthermore, Odds Shark make her a 16-1 shot to not only appear in the match but win it altogether.

Is it a certainty? Probably not, given how Stratus has been inactive for a while now. But if the company is insistent on bringing at least one legendary competitor back for this momentous occasion, she must be a leading contender.

2: Ethan Carter III

WWE fans will know him as Derrick Bateman, but whatever the alias, bank on Ethan Carter III being a surprise entrant in Sunday's Royal Rumble match.

Recently, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc) confirmed EC3 would be on his way back to WWE.

Then, a proposed indy booking he was scheduled to appear in this weekend was cancelled. All of that leans weight to the fact he's going to be entering the Rumble.

How he's handled in the company will be extremely interesting given his poor run in NXT a few years ago.

Of all the men linked with a return this weekend, though, EC3 is the favorite.

1: Ronda Rousey

Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Associated Press

The arrival of Ronda Rousey in WWE has been speculated upon so much that it's barely worth calling her a surprise entrant anymore.

The odds of her appearing are shortening by the week. Odds Shark make her the favorite to win the women's Rumble, let alone show up.

Having someone with the pulling power of Rousey, who resonates outside WWE, win the match is looking increasingly like an irresistible proposition for the company.

She looks destined for a blockbuster WrestleMania bout with Charlotte Flair, which is fair enough. The big issue for WWE and its fanbase is if Rousey wins, how does the company handle Asuka's unbeaten streak?

That's the big talking point as the odds of Rousey appearing make it incredibly likely she will be debuting this weekend.