Best Potential Surprise Entrants for 1st WWE Women's Royal Rumble Match

Women have been among the surprise entrants in the WWE Royal Rumble before, but it was always as a novelty guest in a man's world.

That will change on Jan. 28. As Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon announced on Monday's Raw, the first all-women Royal Rumble match is on its way. So when Raw and SmackDown's female wrestlers collide in a Battle Royal at the pay-per-view, they will welcome some blasts from the past and future stars in one of the Rumble's best elements.

A trio of Hall of Famers could come marching down the entrance ramp. NXT prospects are bound to make their mark. And the historic match would be a hell of a way for a certain crossover megastar to enter the WWE realm.

The following is a look at the biggest and best names WWE could bring in to boost this bout. 

Note that despite her long absence, Nikki Bella is still technically on the roster, so she's not eligible for the list. It would be beautiful to have AJ Lee back in action, but she's not a realistic option at this point. Her husband's antagonistic relationship with the company and her health are the two top reasons. Lee noted in her autobiography, Crazy Is My Superpower, that she suffered permanent damage to her spine during her career.

Beth Phoenix

Imagine Beth Phoenix stepping into the fray at the Royal Rumble and taking on today's powerhouses. A Phoenix-Nia Jax staredown would make for quite the moment.

The former women's champ last wrestled in 2012. That's long enough ago for the audience to miss her, but not so long that she wouldn't be relevant.

Phoenix's old partnership with Natalya could come into play. It would be fun to see her cross paths with the current crop of stars. And the bout's prestige would go up with the addition of a Hall of Famer. 

It would be poetic too to welcome The Glamazon to the first women's Rumble as she is one of only three women to participate in the men's version.

Iconic Duo

Peyton Royce and Billie Kay have become two of the most intriguing characters on the NXT roster.

The gloating, cocky, underhanded pair has created solid buzz as part of WWE's third brand. When WWE called up the NXT stars that would comprise Absolution and The Riott Squad, many wondered why The Iconic Duo didn't make the jump to the main roster.

A Royal Rumble appearance would give fans a taste of how compelling these two catty villains can be. 

WWE has some interesting options for how to welcome them both to the match. Royce and Kay could enter one right after another. Kay could be the official entrant and Royce could force her way in alongside her. Either path would leave fans talking and help set up The Iconic Duo's eventual call-up.

Kharma

Like Phoenix, Kharma (aka Awesome Kong), battled in the Royal Rumble before. Bringing her back for this historic version would be a welcome callback to that moment.

Her WWE never got off the ground. This would be a second chance to put her in the spotlight company. 

The potential matchups in the bout are mighty appealing. Kharma clashing with Jax or trading shots with Asuka would elevate the bout.

There is added buzz surrounding her after starring in GLOW, as well. And while it would be fun to see someone from the show's cast like Alison Brie compete in character, Kharma would be more than a novelty. She could mix it up and be a compelling force ripping through the crowd.

Lita

When WWE officially moved away from the term "Diva" and created what is now the Raw Women's Championship, Lita was there as an observer, an announcer and a guide into the next era.

This time around, it would be far more entertaining to have her actually strap on her boots and get to work.

Lita is one of the most famous female wrestlers to ever compete for the company. She will bring back memories of the Attitude Era, and her famous rivalry with Trish Stratus. And it sure wouldn't hurt to add one of her beautiful moonsaults to the action.

The Hall of Famer coming out of retirement to work her first WWE match since 2012 would signal just how momentousness and significance of this match. 

Nikki Cross

WWE has a number of quality options should it decide to bring in NXT talent to round out the Royal Rumble field. Nikki Cross would be one of the most engaging, electric choices.

Kairi Sane is a better worker. Ember Moon sits higher in the NXT hierarchy. But Cross' act would win over fans who had never seen her before thanks to the framework of the crowded Rumble match.

The Sanity member could crawl and cackle on her way to the ring. Once inside, she could become a whirlwind force, a blur of fists and boots. 

Watching Cross and Alicia Fox try to out-do each other in outrageousness would be something to behold, too.

Plus, Sane and Moon are likely going to stick around with NXT as two of its cornerstones. Cross is due for a call-up soon and she could first make her mark in her new home with a strong performance at the Rumble. 

Ronda Rousey

There is no better way for WWE to get mainstream press for the first women's Royal Rumble than to include Ronda Rousey.

The former UFC bantamweight champion once sat atop the sports world. She's one of the most famous UFC fighters we've ever seen. Her movie appearances have bolstered her name, too.

Rousey is now closing in on a WWE career, per USA Today's Martin Rogers. The judoka charging into the Royal Rumble and flipping folks over the top rope wouldn't be a bad way to kick that off.

WWE could play up the tension between Rousey, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Bayley following their confrontation at the Mae Young Classic. A faceoff with Asuka would be electric.

The Rumble is also an easy and effective way to set up whatever WrestleMania match the company may have in mind for her. 

Trish Stratus

Trish Stratus is a no-brainer addition to the Royal Rumble.

The seven-time women's champion is arguably the top female star WWE has ever had. She and Lita were blazing trails when Sasha Banks was still a pre-teen. As an integral part of the story of the Women's Revolution and a Hall of Famer, it's only fitting she would come back for this major moment.

Stratus hasn't ever faced many of today's top names. It would be awesome to see her and Banks, Paige or Lynch cross paths, two generations colliding.

And Stratus sure sounded interesting in being a part of the match when she tweeted about it on Monday: "There's nothing WWE women cannot do. It's been a long time coming—can't wait for the first ever women's Royal Rumble! Now...where dem boots?"

Here's hoping she straps those bad boys back on and hits somebody with Stratusfaction in Philadelphia in January.