WWE Royal Rumble 2012: 10 Unlikely Superstars Who Could Win

The great thing about the Royal Rumble is we can expect the unexpected. This year could prove to be as exciting as at any time in the WWE.

Because of injuries and suspensions and the unknown, could someone out in left field, maybe over by Busch Stadium, come out of the crowds in the ring and win the whole thing and headline WrestleMania 28?

It's a crap shoot, but it's pretty darn exciting.

These are 10 wrestlers who could surprise us all and win the Rumble, get the push they need and start taking their steps toward winning the WWE Title and headlining the biggest event of the wrestling year.

Drew McIntrye

I so want him to do something in this company.

Right now, Drew McIntyre is the biggest waste of talent in the company and for everything that he could be (a young Barry Windham), he is trolling the bottom of the seas.

Is it creative, is it motivation, is it the lack of will? Who knows?

But we would love to see something happen because the look and the talent as champion written all over it.

Justin Gabriel

Another talented wrestler who is sitting in a purgatory of his own.

Gabriel to me is a young Steamboat with more skill waiting to get out.

He is a high risk taker and has enough talent to grow and lead this company. The Nexus was one step. The tag team titles with Heath Slater was another. Can he move ahead on his own and show he "belongs" in a better story than sitting and doing nothing?

Jack Swagger

Maybe the unkindest cut of all.

What would happen if Swagger won the Royal Rumble and then Dolph Ziggler beat CM Punk for the WWE Title?

What an awesome change of events?

That would certainly cause Vickie Guerrero a few irregular heartbeats.

Jinder Mahal

He is still hanging around and is in a program with the likes of Sheamus.

This does nothing for Sheamus and does everything for Mahal.

Does the WWE want to push Mahal toward the WWE Title? Let's hope not. Mahal does nothing to stir ratings or fan enthusiasm.

But the creative teams seem to "know" more than we do. Let's see how successful Mahal can be in this event.

Mason Ryan

It would be shocking if Mason Ryan wins the Rumble, but it would make some sense.

What do you do with someone so massive and immovable?

Ryan really has no role in the company right now and a push toward the title (like Batista) would be epic.

How the fans would react to this is unknown, but it would be exciting to watch.

Kofi Kingston

What will happen now with Kingston?

With Even Bourne, he had an identity. Now he is a singles wrestler having to rebuild his WWE status.

Kingston is exciting to watch but a little boring since there is nothing new to his gimmick.

Winning the battle royal helps re-establish him as a better than average talent.

Brodus Clay

Get the big man to the ring and see what happens.

The new and improved Clay could make some noise in this event.

Big, strong, solid. And he can beat the hell out of opponents.

Could Clay take them all out? Well that remains to be seen.

Ted DiBiase Jr.

Another guy with worlds of talent and nothing to show for it.

DiBiase needs a push or he needs to get out of the company.

Could winning help? Hell yes. Could getting involved in tag team wrestling help? Hell yes.

DiBiase winning the Royal Rumble puts a whole other spin on the direction the company is taking.

Alex Riley

A-Ry is more of a tag team wrestler than anything else right now in this company.

He had a decent run when he was beating on The Miz, but nothing else as of late.

Does he have star power? I think so. But he also is still very raw in his ability.

Riley winning may lead to the Miz getting back involved in the WWE Title picture and maybe a feud rekindled.

Zack Ryder

He is here for the simple reason that if he wins, he builds momentum. He won't win this event. But look at the possibilities.

Look at the possible angles with Eve, John Cena, maybe Kane and Dolph Ziggler.

If Ryder wins, it sheds light on how the WWE is moving toward WrestleMania. The fact he wins signals whether CM Punk is the title holder. Whether Ziggler will be champion and whether Chris Jericho is involved.

But Ryder winning would also mean fans would be excited for something more than Rock/Cena.