3) AJ Styles
— Royal Rumble 2016
It was heavily speculated that AJ Styles would be making the jump to WWE in 2016. Styles is considered one of the best wrestlers in the entire world and a name that wrestling fans have desired to see step inside of a WWE ring for years.
AJ Styles made his WWE debut in the 2016 Royal Rumble, entering the match in the number 3 spot. The crowd initially didn’t know who it was based on the theme music. When they saw Styles walk out from the back, the crowd completely lost their minds.
Styles received an incredible pop from the crowd and he also had fans all over the world marking out for the moment.
This was the first time that many WWE fans had seen Styles perform and he didn’t disappoint, putting on a great performance. He lasted almost 30 minutes in the match before being eliminated by Kevin Owens. It was clear that AJ Styles was going to make an impact on WWE and he has lived up to those expectations.
A moment that will live in history as one of the best surprises in a Royal Rumble match. “Is it? Can it be???? IT IS!!! THE PHENOMENAL ONE IS HERE!! AJ STYLES”.
2) Edge
— Royal Rumble 2010
Edge suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a live event match against Jeff Hardy in July of 2009. He was expected to be out for close to a year after going under the knife.
Edge returned as the 29th entrant in the 2010 Royal Rumble match. His recovery only took six months. The return of Edge was a shock to many fans in the arena and also to those watching at home.
Edge would eliminate John Cena to win the first and only Royal Rumble match of his Hall of Fame career.
Edge would go on to lose to Chris Jericho in their match at Wrestlemania XXVI for the World Heavyweight Championship. Don’t feel too bad for Edge, he would go on to become World Heavyweight Champion two more times before hanging up the boots from professional wrestling.
His return will always be remembered by pro-wrestling fans as one of the biggest surprises in the history of the Rumble match. Made it even bigger by the fact that he ended up winning it.
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