WWE Royal Rumble 2016: Power Ranking Most Likely Surprise Entrants

The Royal Rumble is one of the most anticipated pay-per-views of the year, and one of the reasons is because you never know who is going to show up.

Legends, Divas, Superstars returning from injury and those being called up from the developmental system are just some of the surprise entrants we have seen over the years.

Who could forget when Beth Phoenix pulled The Great Khali over the top rope or when Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka renewed their rivalry at the 2008 event?

Having popular wrestlers show up unexpectedly is one of the things that makes the Royal Rumble match so much fun. It's also a great way to bring in a legend who isn't able to wrestle a full bout or bring someone back from a hiatus.

This slideshow will rank the 10 people most likely to show up at the 2016 Royal Rumble in January.

10. Road Dogg

WWE has a lot of past Superstars working as agents and producers backstage, and Road Dogg is one of them.

He is still in good shape and is popular enough to ensure a big pop when his music hits. He will also bring back memories of DX for all the people who like nostalgia, so WWE could sell few shirts and make some money.

Without Billy Gunn as a tag team partner, the odds of seeing Road Dogg return in any other way are slim, so this is the best way to use him if he is up to the task.

Road Dogg is one of the least likely names on this list, but a lot of fans would be excited to see him pop in for a few minutes, throw some jabs and then get thrown out by the next person who enters the match.

9. RVD

Rob Van Dam is one of those guys who comes and goes as he pleases because he is popular enough to the point where WWE welcomes him back with open arms any time he wants to return.

He has made a surprise Royal Rumble appearance before, and bringing him back for the 2016 event would certainly make a lot of people happy.

Even if he just works that one night, he would make the match more fun for everyone watching. His style of wrestling always leads to some memorable moments, especially in gimmick matches such as a 30-man battle royal.

RVD's last run, back in 2014, was mostly uneventful, so it would be nice to see him given another chance to show everyone he is more than just a glorified midcarder.

8. A Diva

Having a Diva appear in the Royal Rumble match always makes for some entertaining action. We've seen women such as Chyna and Beth Phoenix hold their own against the men, and there are a few Divas on the current roster who would be up to the challenge.

The main qualification a Diva needs to have in order to be a believable entrant is power. Tamina and Natalya are the two women on the main roster who definitely fit the bill.

Then you have powerhouses in NXT such as Dana Brooke and Nia Jax. They might not be ready for a main roster push yet, but having either appear in the Royal Rumble match would generate some publicity for NXT.

It would be interesting to see WWE take a chance and have a Diva win the whole thing, but for now, it would be nice to see one of them enter the match and throw a few guys over the top rope.

7. An Announcer

It seems like one of the announcers randomly enters the Royal Rumble every year, and there are more to choose from than ever before.

Jarry Lawler, Booker T and JBL are all still in good-enough shape to get in the ring, and we all know Michael Cole is willing to embarrass himself for the sake of a few laughs. There's also Byron Saxton, but he might not be popular enough to elicit a reaction from the crowd.

Nobody expects these guys to win. They are just there to provide some entertainment and give someone else an easy elimination.

Once we see the lineup for the commentary team, we will know who is the most likely to take off their jacket and jump in the ring when their number is called.

6. Samoa Joe

WWE shouldn't waste Samoa Joe's time by keeping him in NXT for very long. He needs to be brought up to the main roster to get the most out of him, and a great way to introduce him would be at the Royal Rumble.

Kevin Owens made the jump to the main roster quicker than most, and Samoa Joe is just as deserving as that kind of push, if not more.

Joe is popular all around the world, which is why he was able to come into the company with a lot of fans. Most of the people in attendance for the event will know of him, so he would get a big reaction as soon as his name came up on the Titantron.

It's hard to say whether he is a big enough star to justify having him win the match and main event WrestleMania during his first year with the company, but it would certainly make for some interesting storylines.

5. Sami Zayn

When Sami Zayn challenged John Cena for the United States Championship in May, we didn't know whether it was meant to be a one-time appearance or was his way of being called up to the main roster.

He is back in NXT, so it looks like he might be spending more time in developmental before heading to Raw and SmackDown, but if the plan is to bring him up soon, there would be few ways better than a surprise appearance in the Royal Rumble match.

Zayn could be the next Daniel Bryan in terms of being a popular underdog. He is just as talented inside the ring, and he has a rabid following who will make sure he gets over.

If anyone from NXT deserves a big moment, it's Zayn. He has worked his butt off for the company, and he deserves to be rewarded for his efforts.

4. Finn Balor

The only other NXT Superstar who would make a logical addition to the Royal Rumble is Finn Balor.

Not only is he one of the most popular wrestlers on the developmental roster, but he is also one of the most talented. Balor can do it all in the ring, and that allows him to have great matches with almost anyone.

He is kind of like Jeff Hardy in some ways. He is popular with kids, women and men, he takes big risks and he has a unique look that separates him from the rest of the roster.

He wouldn't need to win to make a big impact, and it wouldn't even need to be a way to bring him up to the main roster full time. He could help get some exposure for NXT and then go back and continue defending the NXT Championship in PPV-level matches.

3. Daniel Bryan

We still don't know what the future holds for Daniel Bryan, but if he is medically cleared within the next few weeks, he should return during the Royal Rumble.

Imagine how insane the pop would be as Bryan's music hit and he walked through the curtain. It would create an instant highlight-reel moment.

We all want Bryan to chase the WWE World Heavyweight Championship again. He made the title scene more interesting because he could have a good match with anyone.

Bryan's underdog qualities would make his win that much more exciting, and it would give him one of the few accolades he doesn't already have on his resume.

Bryan's return, if it happens at all, needs to be treated like a big deal, and having him make his first appearance back at the Royal Rumble would be one of the best ways to do it.

2. The Undertaker

The Undertaker still has some life left in him, and given he appeared at more than one event in 2015, we might see him repeat the pattern in 2016.

Even if he does make more appearances, his career is winding down. Giving him another shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is something that needs to happen before he retires.

Winning the Royal Rumble and having one last main event match at WrestleMania would be an amazing way to end what has been a historic career.

Even if The Deadman doesn't come away with the belt, he would help make the event more exciting and give whomever he faces a huge boost.

It's possible Taker will wrestle past 2016, but if he is thinking about hanging up his boots in the next 12 months, this would be the best way to do it.

1. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar is someone who makes perfect sense for a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble. There's little doubt he will be appearing at WrestleMania 32, and there needs to be a storyline behind his return.

Having him enter and win the rumble match instantly gives him a main event spot on the card and, of course, a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Whether it's Roman Reigns who's champion or someone else, putting Lesnar back in the hunt for the title will elevate his opponent and make things more interesting.

Lesnar is the kind of Superstar you advertise ahead of time to create interest in an event, but having him appear out of nowhere would create a lot more buzz.

The Royal Rumble is always fun because it features just about everyone on the roster, and it usually provides some fun surprises. Who would you like to see enter next year's Royal Rumble match?

Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.