Royal Rumble Winners: Past Champions Who Would Be a Treat for Fans

It wouldn't be a Royal Rumble without a surprise entrant or two, and while all of these former champions have moved away from full time work in the WWE, they still could be brought back. 

The WWE would please its fan base by giving these guys one more match. 

Shawn Michaels (1995, 1996)

Chances of appearing (Out of 10): 4

Surprise Factor (Out of 10): 4

Michaels would excel in this match. He is perhaps the best in ring performer to have ever laced his boots up, and there is no reason to believe he doesn't still have a lot left in the tank. 

It wouldn't be terribly surprising, as Michaels has close relationships with some important WWE people. But the fact that he hasn't wrestled since Wrestlemania 26 means that The Heartbreak Kid is most likely done. 

Stone Cold Steve Austin (1997, 1998, 2001)

Chances of appearing: 3

Surprise Factor: 8

Austin may well wrestle again, but it won't be here. If we're ever going to see the Texas Rattlesnake in the ring again, it would come at around this time of the year, but at a Wrestlemania that doesn't feature the Rock. 

With the People's Champion already wrestling at Wrestlemania, the WWE has all of the draw they will need. Austin would just get lost in the shuffle, and he deserves better. 

Brock Lesnar (2003)

Chances of appearing (1-10): 2

Surprise Factor (1-10): 6

After watching his UFC career come to a rather unceremonious end, it's certainly worth speculating on.

It is fun to think about, but this is not going to happen. Lesnar can't handle the WWE schedule. If he is coming back now, then Lesnar is going to have to find a way to handle it through at least Wrestlemania. 

This is a more likely possibility next year, after Lesnar has had some time to recharge the batteries. But if you're expecting to see Lesnar on Sunday, prepare to be disappointed. 

Batista (2005)

Chances of appearing (1-10): 1

Surprise Factor (1-10): 9

This is not going to happen. Batista doesn't seem to have any interest in the WWE, and I have a hard time imagining anyone in Stamford shedding tears over that. 

Batista is similar to Lesnar. Bringing him back would have to be a long term thing, and that's not going to happen. 

Edge (2010)

Chances of appearing (1-10): 1

Surprise Factor (1-10): 7

Edge is not unlike Michaels. He's been retired for a short enough time to think it could happen, but we're not going to see it. Edge was forced to retire due to serious injuries. If that was an angle, he wouldn't have been off of television for this long. 

Adam Copeland certainly has plenty of loyal fans that would love to see this, but this move is not going to happen. 

Take a look at all of the Royal Rumble's past winners and let us know if you feel anyone else will make a surprise appearance on Sunday.

Past Champions:

1988	Jim Duggan
1989	Big John Studd*
1990	Hulk Hogan
1991	Hulk Hogan
1992	Ric Flair
1993	Yokozuna*
1994	Bret Hart & Lex Luger
1995	Shawn Michaels
1996	Shawn Michaels
1997	Stone Cold Steve Austin
1998	Stone Cold Steve Austin
1999	Vince McMahon
2000	The Rock
2001	Stone Cold Steve Austin
2002	Triple H
2003	Brock Lesnar
2004	Chris Benoit*
2005	Batista
2006	Rey Mysterio
2007	The Undertaker
2008	John Cena
2009	Randy Orton
2010	Edge
2011	Alberto Del Rio

* - Wrestler is deceased.

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