Royal Rumble 2012 Predictions: Top 10 Potential Surprise Winners

The WWE Royal Rumble is one of the favorite matches of WWE fans the world over. The winner of the Royal Rumble match earns a shot at the title of his choosing in the main event of WrestleMania.

However, this year, the main event at WrestleMania is set with The Rock taking on John Cena. This puts the WWE in a very unique situation.

The WWE is not at the mercy of the Royal Rumble yielding a main event for WrestleMania that people will buy. The Pay-Per-View buys will be there with The Rock returning to singles action, so the WWE can really do anything with this Royal Rumble.

The WWE could shock the audience and elevate a young star to the title scene, they could repay a veteran star for years of service, they could create a true underdog story going in to WrestleMania or they could give a shot to a returning star.

The ball is in the WWE's court and they really have an opportunity to do anything.

If they go with the surprise route, here are 10 decisions they may go with.

#10 Zack Ryder

Yes I know, Kane "broke Ryder's back" on Raw. So I understand, more than likely, Ryder will not participate in the Rumble match.

But if the WWE wants to shock the crowd, why not have a bandaged Zack Ryder hobble out to the ring at No. 30 and stun those in attendance by somehow winning the match?

Ryder has a strong following and really does get better in the ring every week. While some may not like the guy, it's hard to question his dedication to the business. Without Ryder doing everything in his power to get on TV, he very well would still be wrestling every other week on Superstars.

Ryder probably won't be in the match and it's very possible he won't be seen for a while, but by having this underdog storyline play out, you could really take Ryder to another level.

You could also have Ryder stripped of his shot due to doctor's advice and go another route if the reaction wouldn't be what the WWE wanted.

Let me finish by saying that I, in no way, think this will happen. But admit it, it would shock the St. Louis crowd.

#9 Santino Marella

Last year, Santino Marella was the runner-up in the Royal Rumble. Looking back, perhaps he should have won with the limited impact Alberto Del Rio made after the win.

Santino is the second straight underdog pick on my list. I think an angle where Santino Marella is truly a fish out of water on the main event scene could be very entertaining. You could have him visiting legends and have them train him for the match, or he could take on the legends in singles matches leading up to WrestleMania.

With the main event established this year, why not? Marella is a popular superstar and, while he may lack with his performance in the ring, always entertains.

Marella has won Intercontinental championship several times and held the Tag Team title on one occasion, so it's not like the WWE hasn't trusted the comic relief before.

This would be an interesting route to take and I bet by WrestleMania, the crowd would be hot for a Santino championship match.

The chances probably aren't high, but I'd have no problem seeing a shocking event like this happen.

#8 A Returning Superstar

This could be a number of people: Triple H, Christian, Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, The Undertaker and, who knows, maybe a few legends.

This surprise has been played out in recent years when John Cena returned in 2008 and entered at 30 to win, and Edge returning in 2010 to win.

So that's why I think this could happen. WWE doesn't back away from the played out, so that only elevates the chances of this happening.

The only returning superstar I listed that I think would be a good surprise win would be The Undertaker. We haven't seen him since Triple H "took him out" at WrestleMania. Taker could easily fit into the Daniel Bryan feud going on and could be the monster that Bryan can't escape from.

Knowing the WWE, they might just go with Triple H returning and winning. In this event, John Laurinaitis would cost CM Punk the title, Hunter wins the Rumble and this action would render his status as COO void, thus Johnny Ace keeps his job.

Dumb, huh? Completely possible though, right?

A returning superstar is my least favorite surprise on the list, but it seems like it is also the most likely.

#7 Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes is the only guy on the list who would be elevated to a main event spot with a win at the Royal Rumble.

Rhodes has become a player since finding his personality with the "Dashing" and "Grotesque" Cody Rhodes gimmicks he portrayed.

Rhodes is ready and a win in the Rumble actually makes sense.

The current Intercontinental Champion is still very young and perhaps the WWE would be hesitant to bring him to the main event too quickly after he got hot.

Working against Rhodes is that the WWE seems to be building Cody towards a match with his brother, Goldust. Still, Rhodes would be much better off winning the Rumble and that would be the right step for the WWE to take with the young star.

A Rhodes win would shock the crowd and deviate from the same old, same old some of us IWC members complain about nightly.

#6 Mick Foley

Let me start this off by saying no disrespect is meant, but Mick Foley is in no shape right now to wrestle in the main event on the grandest stage.

Taking this into account, wouldn't it be an even bigger shock at the Royal Rumble if Foley could turn back the hands of time and head to WrestleMania?

If given the Rumble win, I have faith that Foley could get back into shape for a match at Mania.

I don't know who Foley would take on at WrestleMania. Looking at the champions right now, I don't think a CM Punk/Daniel Bryan vs. Foley contest is very appealing.

Maybe he could do what Nash said he wanted to do: Win at the Rumble and challenge The Undertaker at WrestleMania.

A Foley—perhaps donning the mask as Mankind—vs. The Undertaker match could be attractive for fans. These two always performed well together, but that time may have passed.

Still, a Foley win would take a miracle and someone would really have to have a slam dunk idea for a feud involving him leading up to WrestleMania.

#5 William Regal

Many consider William Regal to be the most underutilized member on the entire WWE roster, though many people respect him—he even trained Daniel Bryan.

That said, Regal has recently said that he wants a world title shot and that he still wants to be the first English world champion.

His protege may be willing to try to make this happen. Bryan has already taken to Twitter in what seems an attempt to jump start a feud between the two.

Would the WWE give this to Regal for years of service? Does Bryan have enough pull in the WWE to push this to happen?

I think Regal and Bryan could have a great Rocky Balboa type storyline. This would shock the fans and probably have the Rumble crowd leave the arena confused.

Regardless, Regal isn't some scrub and would deserve the Rumble win if they would give it to him.

#4 The Miz

The Miz is starting to pick up steam around the Internet as a hot pick since he was forced into the No. 1 entry spot in the Rumble. I'll still keep him on the list because The Miz winning from the first spot would shock.

Almost a year ago, The Miz won the main event at WrestleMania against John Cena. Ever since, he seems to be falling further down the card. What better way to re-elevate Miz then to have him win the Royal Rumble.

The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania would have a good back story to it with the history those two have. You wouldn't have to try very hard to build a sense of actual hatred between the two. Plus, with the way things are going with Bryan, you could easily turn Miz face in the feud.

The chances of this are slim, but I do see The Miz lasting a very long time in the Rumble this year.

It's hard to think that The Miz used to be ripped apart for his lack of ability, and now the WWE trusts him to start off the Rumble.

If Miz were to last the entire Rumble and pull off the win, it would no doubt be a shock and add to his growing resume and to the notion that now, The Miz can wrestle.

#3 Shaquille O'Neal

I'll wait till you get done laughing.

Are you done? Good.

The fact is, Shaq has stated he has negotiated with WWE for a match against the Big Show at WrestleMania. If Big Show were to win the World Championship match at the Royal Rumble, what better way to shock fans than to have Shaq win the Rumble?

Shaq is a life long WWE fan, so the fact that he is negotiating for a match at WrestleMania doesn't shock me.

The WWE sometimes tends to try to get the attention of the mainstream. If Shaq were to fight for a title at WrestleMania, it would no doubt be plastered over some mainstream media.

Shaq does stay active and practices MMA, so fears of him not being able to hang in a ring doesn't concern me as much.

I still doubt Shaq would step in a ring for more than a one-time wrestling appearance, but Shaq does march to the beat of a different drum.

Lets just hope he doesn't fight as Kazaam.

#2 A World Champion

The WWE has been saying for a few weeks that this Rumble is different because all WWE superstars are allowed to enter. This could mean only one thing; that world champions are allowed to enter the match.

Could the WWE be planning to have the winner of CM Punk/Dolph Ziggler or the winner of Mark Henry/Daniel Bryan/Big Show win the Rumble in an effort to unify the two belts?

This would certainly shock people, and I've been saying for a while that the WWE only needs one world championship.

A match between Punk and Daniel Bryan for all the marbles would also shake things up again in the WWE.

I don't think the chances of this happening are extremely high, but I for one would be excited if something like this happens, leading to title unification.

#1 The Rock

Last year when the John Cena vs. The Rock WrestleMania showdown was announced, Cena said he intended for the match to be for the WWE Title.

This aspect seems to have been forgotten and hasn't really been mentioned much since Cena made the bold statement. Was the idea scrapped? Or is it purposely not being mentioned in an effort to swerve the fans?

The Rock's match with John Cena clearly doesn't need a championship, but having The Rock win the Rumble this year and having Cena win the belt between now and WrestleMania would certainly grab fans' interests even more for the event.

Not many would see the point of The Rock winning, however, this would certainly shock fans and I feel this is the number one surprise the WWE could do for this year's Royal Rumble match.

Disagree? Did I leave something out? Let me know in the comments.