My 2023 Royal Rumble Wish List

Surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble are always one of the highlights of that event. Sometimes, WWE management lets the fans down by failing miserably at the booking. 2020, in particular, was an awful year for the men's Royal Rumble. Edge was the big surprise return, and that was definitely awesome, but no other surprises (big or small) happened in that match.

I'm not entirely sure what will happen at this year's Royal Rumble. It's the first Rumble under Triple H's management (assuming that Vince McMahon doesn't regain creative control before then). Really, anything could happen. I'm assuming Shane McMahon won't be an entrant or involved in any of the planning, but Bad Bunny, Logan Paul, The Rock, or John Cena could all show up.

I'm assuming Cody Rhodes returns, but that's more of an expected surprise. I would honestly not mind if he didn't take part in the Rumble and showed up the following night on Raw, or a few days later on Smackdown, to challenge whichever champion has their dance card open for Wrestlemania.

Will someone like Randy Orton, R-Truth, Rick Boogs, A.J. Styles, or Robert Roode return from injuries sooner than expected? Will any famous Texans make their way down the aisle for a hometown pop? Shawn Michaels, Bradshaw, Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Stevie Ray, Booker T, and Chavo Guerrero Jr are all from Texas. I doubt WWE would use Steve Austin or Taker for an unadvertised Rumble return. Wrestlemania would be more likely, but I doubt they'll wrestle there ever again either. The others? I wouldn't be surprised. Even Shawn Michaels. He has a long history with the Rumble.

There are a lot of possibilities in the women's Royal Rumble, too. Jacqueline, Sharmell, Kaitlyn, Roxanne Perez, Michelle McCool, Raquel (she's certainly going to be in it this year) are all from Texas. There are other x-factors when it comes to the ladies, though.

B-Fab and Scarlett haven't wrestled a match in WWE yet, but they could enter the match. We haven't seen Carmella, Aliyah, or Doudrop for a while. There are plenty of women on the NXT roster who could make a main roster debut, too.

Heck, maybe Mickie James shows up again, with or without the Knockouts Title. If she loses to Jordynne Grace at Hard to Kill next week, she could 'retire' from Impact and have another run in WWE. Triple H does seem to be a fan of Mickie's work. If she wins the Knockouts Title, it could be the second year in a row that Mickie walks to the ring as the Knockouts Women's Champion.

Then there's always the possibility of a Naomi or Sasha Banks / Mercedes Moné appearing. Certainly, a Mercedes appearance would be a wild thought, but Triple H's management style is different than Vince's. He'd definitely get the wrestling world talking if some kind of one-off deal allowed Mercedes to compete in the Rumble the same month that she showed up in New Japan Pro Wrestling and possibly in AEW. Or, if Mercedes hasn't signed anywhere yet, maybe she does debut in AEW as Saraya's tag team partner as a one-off match and then returns to WWE on a full-time basis. It's doubtful, but anything can happen.

Speaking of that, here's my wish list for the men's Rumble this year:

Jamie Noble (maybe even with Nidia?) - This return already happened in December. Well, kind of. Jamie made his in-ring return to WWE at a live event in his home state of West Virginia. WWE produced a segment for it on WWE.com. Now, I know Noble won't be returning on a full-time basis, but a return in the Royal Rumble doesn't seem out of the question, especially since he is obviously in good enough shape to wrestle a match at a live event.

The Rumble should be an easier appearance because he likely wouldn't be going from start to finish. Jamie would get a good pop, and, if he was somehow able to make it to the final three, I have a feeling he'd be over in a big way. Wrestling fans love underdog stories. We saw that with Santino in his Elimination Chamber match. Jamie is well-known enough and talented enough to pull something like that off.

Carlito - Yeah, we saw him return already in the 2021 Royal Rumble, but that was a COVID return. Showing up in front of 70,000 fans in the Alamodome would be an entirely different experience than the 2021 return. I wish WWE had saved his return for a Rumble in front of a crowd, but they didn't, so I can only hope that he returns at another Royal Rumble event at some point. This year is as good a year as any. If John Cena is involved, WWE could play up Carlito's history with him.

Carlito hasn't really interacted with a lot of the newer WWE superstars either. It'd be nice to see him throw punches against the Usos, Dominik Mysterio, The Miz, A.J. Styles, Austin Theory, and Seth Rollins. For anyone who hasn't kept up with Carlito, the man maintains his health. He's in incredible shape, so the Royal Rumble wouldn't be out of the question, at all, for him. He could enter and maybe even last until closer to the end, giving fans the idea that he could end up winning it. It wouldn't just be a legend making a cameo. Carlito is one of the few former superstars who could return and legitimately go toe-to-toe in the match with some of WWE's top stars today.

Chris Masters - Another wrestler from the same time Carlito was around is Chris Masters. You can't say he wasn't pushed in WWE because I, for one, was very tired of seeing the Masterlock Challenge. It was something that went on for months! Masters didn't ever win gold in WWE, and was almost like a new toy that WWE got tired of after it was taken out of the plastic case. His most memorable moments may be when he was insulted by Triple H for slimming down and when he broke Stevie Richards' nose.

Masters went on to compete for independent companies but never made his way to Impact or AEW. Mostly, he's worked for companies overseas or in California promotions. He's currently signed to NWA, but I'm assuming NWA would allow a one-time appearance? Chris Masters was never my favorite wrestler, but I think his work improved since he left WWE, and having a final WWE moment would be nice for him and his fans.

Jushin Thunder Liger - An absolute wrestling legend, Liger has been part of the NJPW roster since 1984. He retired in 2020, so the chances of him showing up are slim to none, and he is more known for his NJPW and WCW work, but he does have a history with WWE.

Liger competed for the WWF in 1990. He also wrestled Tyler Breeze at Takeover: Brooklyn in 2015. Finally, in 2020, Liger was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. I would worry that some fans wouldn't know who he was, but the Rumble crowd is filled with avid wrestling fans, so I'm sure he'd get a good pop in front of them.

D'Lo Brown - I don't know what kind of shape D'Lo is in right now. He's probably heavier than he was in his prime, but as long as he can do his head shake and maybe comes out in a chest protector, I'll be satisfied. D'Lo was a guy who got over in the Attitude Era and won some prestigious gold, but never made it further than mid-card. He went to Impact and then back to WWE and then back to Impact, so it's not like he's been without work during his career.

Like many other wrestlers on this list, D'Lo likely won't end up in the Hall of Fame (unless it's alongside the Nation of Domination), but he still deserves some recognition. Most fans at the Rumble would remember him because fans at The Royal Rumble are hardcore fans. They aren't casual spectators from the local city that is hosting WWE Raw or Smackdown. I don't think he's been seen in WWE since maybe 2008 or 2009, so a D'Lo appearance isn't one fans would probably see coming.

Steve Blackman - Okay, I watched Steve Blackman since his debut and throughout his entire WWE career. I always wanted to like him. He's a legit tough man and he was always in great shape, but he lacked the charisma to keep me interested. His Head Cheese partnership with Al Snow was OK. His brief alliance with Trish Stratus worked, too. Somehow, none of it stuck.

It's 2023, however. Since then, internet fans have grown to appreciate Blackman more than they originally did, mostly because of the stories about him standing up to Bradshaw. He's got somewhat of a cult following now. WWE should give the man a spotlight, even if it's just for a few moments. He's never likely to end up in the Hall of Fame and he's retired from wrestling as far as I know (you're not going to see him work the indy scene or go to AEW or Impact), so a Royal Rumble appearance would cap off his career nicely.

Gangrel - I said it last year, and I'll say it again this year, I want to see Gangrel return for a quick entry in the Royal Rumble. Number one, he never got as much attention as he should have in his original run. No, he wasn't the best worker in the world, but he was alright in the ring and he had an entertaining act. Two, his entrance is very cool. Hearing the music, seeing him rise up out of the circle of flames, and then do the red mist would be a nice bit of nostalgia.

Finally, given Edge teasing a return to his Brood roots earlier in the year, a face-off with Gangrel in the Rumble makes sense creatively. Maybe Gangrel even teams up with some members of The Judgment Day during the Royal Rumble in order to try to eliminate Edge. Of course, that alliance wouldn't last, and Gangrel would be eliminated by one of the members of The Judgment Day.

Sycho Sid - It would be cool to see the big man again. He's one wrestler who hasn't worn out his welcome by constantly returning to every single Raw anniversary, Legends Night, or Royal Rumble that occurs. No, Sid has been relatively M.I.A. since he retired from regular in-ring competition.

Of course, we all remember that gruesome injury he had at the WCW Sin pay-per-view in 2001. If you don't remember it, you've probably heard about it or seen it. That was a disgusting looking ankle injury.

As far as I know, Sid has rehabbed from that injury, so he should be able to handle a little bit of ring time in the Royal Rumble. Not only would it be an exclamation point on Sid's carer, but it would also give a rub to one of the newcomers (presumably another big guy like Omos or Braun or Damian Priest) when he eliminates Sid from the match.

Rikishi - This is a more contemporary pick than Sid. He's another big man. Big 'Kish hasn't worn out his welcome either. He's had brief appearances with WWE in the past few years, but never any that were on a stage like the Royal Rumble. You don't have to worry about a pop with Rikishi. He'll get one. He could also add some emotion to the match, too.

With the Bloodline storyline going, it would be very interesting to see Rikishi step foot inside the ring again, maybe only to be eliminated by one of the Usos, Solo Sikoa, or Sami Zayn. That'd get them some heat!

I'm not sure what kind of physical condition Rikishi is in. He may have back pain or bad legs due to his size, but he didn't look to be too bad during his last WWE appearance. Here's hoping he could handle throwing a couple of side kicks, doing a Samoan drop, and being thrown over the top rope. Or should I say, "guided," because nobody is going to be throwing Rikishi over the top rope.

JTG - he made his return just last year as part of Shad Gaspard's Warrior Award acceptance speech at the WWE Hall of Fame, but JTG deserves his own return (maybe leading to an actual contract). He kept his job for year after year when WWE was regularly cutting talent, but, eventually, JTG was released, too.

Since then, JTG has actually gotten in better shape than when he was in WWE and continued honing his skills in the NWA and other independent promotions. I'd love to see a Royal Rumble appearance occur as almost a tryout match for him coming back full time because it seems he could handle it. Plus, it would be a nice tribute to Shad and a way of rewarding the strong work ethic that JTG has shown since being released. Hearing 'Brooklyn, Brooklyn' come over the arena speakers would certainly get the crowd to their feet.

Damien Sandow - If Cody Rhodes makes his return at the Royal Rumble (he's pretty much got to at this point), then this would be the perfect time and place for Damien Sandow to make an appearance. It doesn't have to be a long-lasting entry, but it makes too much sense not to happen.

Damien has history with Cody Rhodes and with The Miz. A Sandow / Miz / Rhodes standoff could be a lot of fun. Who would Damien side with? Maybe he switches allegiances based on who has the upper hand. Or maybe Damien tries to get Cody and The Miz on the same page, working together.

Damien doesn't even need to be eliminated by anyone else. I want to see Damien go back to his mimic gimmick. When The Miz gets throw over the top rope and eliminated, Damien needs to throw himself over the top rope as well, eliminating himself from the match. It would be a fun, goofy moment.

Damien is currently working with the NWA, but, again, if Billy Corgan is smart, he'd allow a one-time Royal Rumble appearance. It can only get people searching for Damie's most recent work, and then stumbling upon NWA content they probably weren't familiar with before.

I could list 15 more men I'd like to see in the Royal Rumble, including Chavo Guerrero Jr., Santino Marella, Tyson Kidd, Corey Graves, Alex Wright, The Blue Meanie, and X-Pac, but the names above are at the top of my priority list.

Now, let's take a look at the women's side of things:

Cherry - Even though she was only on Smackdown for a couple of years, and she competed for an even shorter time than that, Cherry got over pretty easily when she transitioned from a valet to a wrestler and Michelle McCool's sidekick.

Seeing Cherry come out and interact with today's crop of women would make for some entertaining moments. Cherry against Rhea Ripley? That's a contrast in styles. How about the always shy Cherry and the ballsy Shotzi having some kind of interaction? Or Nikki Cross staring down Cherry. Her gimmick clashes with a lot of the modern women, so this return could be a lot of fun to see!

Plus, it would be a nicer sendoff than her surprising release in 2008. Cherry is still good friends with Beth Phoenix and Natalya, so I hope they're pushing for her to get a spot one of these years.

Nidia - Another character who excelled but didn't get a lot of the spotlight was Nidia. 20-some years later and Nidia is still remembered fondly for her run with Jamie Noble on Smackdown.

Nidia was the closest we got to ODB in WWE. Her white trash, redneck, trailer park manners gimmick led to some hilarious segments. When she moved to the Raw roster and competed regularly in the women's division, she got lost in the shuffle. Certainly capable of putting on a good match, Nidia never rose to her full potential. The few times she's been seen after her wrestling retirement, Nidia has been in great shape, so hopefully a Rumble appearance isn't out of the question.

Of course, if Nidia and Jamie Noble are both in Rumble matches, Nidia needs to accompany Jamie Noble to the ring. If the women's Royal Rumble happens before the men's Royal Rumble, then Nidia can show up as a surprise in the women's Rumble first, and then still accompany Jamie Noble for the men's Rumble.

Alundra Blayze - She was on my list last year, and she's on it again this year. Alundra Blayze, or Madusa, is a WWE Hall of Famer, she's a three-time champion, and she was involved in every prestigious pro wrestling show or event in the 1990s. Starcade? Yep. Won a title there. Wrestlemania? Retained a championship there. The Tokyo Dome? She wrestled in front of a huge crowd and put on a classic! There's not much she hasn't done.

She managed, wrestled, did publicity on major TV talk shows, was featured on posters, and sold merchandise. That was just in her pro wrestling career! Still, Madusa hasn't competed in the Royal Rumble match. She also has never received the proper in-ring sendoff that she deserves. I'm sure Alundra would've received a bigger part in the battle royal at Evolution, but she was still recovering from knee surgery.

Now she's healthy, she's signed to a WWE Legends deal, and she wants a final moment or match. It's time for WWE to give that to her, especially if the likes of Rhea, Asuka, Charlotte, Beth, and Natalya are in this year's Royal Rumble match. Alundra wants to wrestle all of them, and she could accomplish that in one night if WWE allows it to happen.

Madusa - Wait, what? Yep, Madusa would be another entrant I'd like to see. Mick Foley competed in the 1998 Royal Rumble as Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind. There aren't a lot of women who have enough names and gimmicks under their belts to pull off something similar, but Alundra / Madusa could.

She could enter as Alundra Blayze earlier on in the match, have a tussle with Nattie and Asuka, perhaps, and then get eliminated. Several minutes later, she shows up as entrant 21, let's say. Now, she can have some interaction with Ronda Rousey, Rhea, Charlotte, and Beth. That would allow Madusa a bit of a break. Let's face it, she hasn't been in the ring for a long time, so she'll probably be gassed if she is in the match for over 10 or 15 minutes. It would also be a bit of a shocker since something like this hasn't been done in the women's Royal Rumble before.

If there are no other surprise entrants than Madusa / Alundra this year, then I'd like to see her pull off something like this and take up two spots. I'd be completely satisfied with that. If it's down to a choice: entering as Alundra Blayze or as Madusa, it's Madusa all the way! Sorry, Alundra.

Beth Phoenix - Yeah, Beth has returned before, but she's got more to do this year. There are some scores to settle. She needs to interact with Rhea Ripley after the situation with The Judgment Day and Edge earlier in 2022. I know Beth and Madusa would like to have some in-ring interaction as well. If Madusa is involved as a competitor, then Beth needs to be, too.

Plus, Ronda is back. A Beth / Ronda standoff would elicit quite a crowd reaction. I'm sure we'd hear a few "This is Awesome!" chants if they exchanged a few blows. Other ladies on the active WWE roster also look up to Beth, so there would be a list of eager participants who want to share a moment with her in the women's Rumble. Raquel Gonzalez and Aliyah are two of them who have mentioned Beth before.

A Royal Rumble appearance by Beth is always welcome, even if it's been done before because, of all the women who come back to compete in the Rumble, Beth is probably the most athletic and still in the best shape.

Candice Michelle - While Candice will never likely end up in the Hall of Fame, she did show a lot of heart and determination, improving a whole heck of a lot during her time in WWE. She improved so much that she was the first Diva Search contestant to be rewarded with a WWE Women's Championship reign.

She's got a long history with Beth Phoenix, so much so that Beth thanked Candice in her Hall of Fame acceptance speech. It's true what Beth said there, too. Without Candice and her selling as a babyface, the Glamazon wouldn't have gotten over as the heel character that she was.

Candice already retired in a match against good friend Victoria, but Royal Rumble returns don't really nullify retirements. The Rumble is a special night where retirements get thrown out the window. Candice deserves a bit of shine, and the Royal Rumble is the perfect time for that to happen.

Jazz - This is one woman who may never get the acknowledgment she deserves. To be honest, Jazz had a hard time getting over in WWE. She was a heck of a competitor and a good heel against Trish, but Trish's feuds with Molly and Victoria, and Lita got more of a reaction than any of her matches against Jazz. I think that's simply because WWE didn't know how to utilize Jazz. She didn't fit the Diva mold.

She was a heel, but not exactly stellar on the mic. Then again, she had to reign it in on the mic, too. In ECW, Jazz dropped some curse words and got the fans riled up as a babyface.

There was the concussion lawsuit that Jazz was (or maybe even still is?) part of, too. If that's all been settled, then I think Triple H and Stephanie may be forgiving enough to give Jazz one final return moment in WWE. If WWE allows Jazz to compete in the Rumble, then she's got a chance at ending up in the Hall of Fame one day alongside her fellow women's division workers of that era, Trish, Lita, Jacqueline, Ivory, and Molly Holly.

WWE didn't push Jazz enough when she was there, so I'm not sure a Hall of Fame induction will ever happen. That's why a Royal Rumble appearance would be nice for Jazz and her fans. It would let them show her some love that she may not otherwise get the chance to receive.

Sharmell - Speaking of Hall of Famers, Sharmell was inducted last year. Personally, I disagreed with that decision. I was a big fan of her in the late '90s, too. She was my favorite valet in WCW. I remember her walking out with The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea and then Kwee Wee. 

Her work with Booker T in WWE was entertaining enough as well, but I always wanted to see her compete a little more. Sharmell showed promise while training at the Power Plant in WCW. There are a few clips of her, and she's doing spinning wheel kicks off the second rope.

Then came her time in TNA and that horrendous match with Jenna Morasca. After seeing that, I thought, 'OK, maybe she doesn't need to compete in the ring anymore!' WWE may as well make her earn that Hall of Fame spot with a Royal Rumble appearance. It does kind of suit her. It's not a lot of in-ring work, she'd get to mix it up with Bianca Belair, psycho Nikki Cross, Queen Zelina, and others.

If Roxanne Perez is in this year's Royal Rumble, then Sharmell needs to be, too. Roxanne trained with Booker T and Sharmell to become a wrestler, so I'm sure they'd like to share the ring together. Since the Rumble is in Texas this year, it's the perfect time for that to happen.

Layla - One lady we haven't seen much of since she left WWE back in 2015 is Layla El. The former Diva Search winner transitioned into a WWE Women's and Diva's Champion. She worked as an annoying heel with Michelle McCool and as a peppy babyface against The Bellas and Beth Phoenix.

Things were starting to change when she retired in 2015, but, during her entire run, women's wrestling wasn't really a priority. Layla was able to have some competitive matches, especially during her last few years with WWE. She, Eve Torres, Beth Phoenix, Natalya, and Kaitlyn were given a decent amount of time every now and then, but this was all pre-women's revolution. It was before Charlotte, Becky, Sasha, and Bayley came up to the roster and put a focus on in-ring work. There was no women's Royal Rumble for Layla to compete in. There were no tag team titles for her to try to win.

Unless she and Michelle McCool return for a short run, the tag titles are something Layla won't ever add to her resume, but competing in the Royal Rumble is something she could do. It's possible she ends up in the Hall of Fame when WWE starts inducting women from her era, so having a Royal Rumble appearance just adds a little bit more content for WWE to work with when they put together that video package. Michelle McCool competes in almost every women's Royal Rumble (and she will likely this year, too, since it's in Texas), so having a confrontation or reunion would tell a nice story.

Jacqueline - One final Hall of Famer and Texan should enter this match. Jacqueline was part of the first-ever women's Royal Rumble several years ago but hasn't made any kind of in-ring appearances since then. Jackie took down Kelly Kelly, Natalya, and attempted to beat up Nia Jax, but her time in that Royal Rumble was short-lived.

I love Jackie, so she's always someone I'd like to see get more time in the ring. She's older, so she's not in the shape to do a full-time schedule, but she can more than handle a Rumble appearance. Jacqueline still keeps in good shape. It makes sense to have one more WWE appearance, especially since this Royal Rumble is in San Antonio.

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The Best Options to Replace Mandy Rose in Toxic Attraction

There hasn't been a day that's gone by in the past couple of weeks that Mandy Rose hasn't made news on the pro wrestling news websites.

Ever since she was released, apparently due to the explicit content on her FanTime page, people have been reacting, speculating, weighing in, and taking sides.

My thoughts on the matter: I liked Mandy. She was always OK, but was never involved in anything I was excited about. Her feud with Sonya was good, her relationship with Otis was fun, her alliance with Paige was a good way to debut, and the best part of her tag team with Dana Brooke was Asuka naming the duo her, "Sexy Muscle Friends."

I think her work with Toxic Attraction is a little overrated, but she did manage to reinvent herself and made names out of Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne along the way. While Mandy certainly improved in NXT, I wouldn't say she affects the women's division in NXT, or in WWE, in any significant way.

NXT has half a dozen (or more) women there who are more athletic than Mandy. WWE has women on the main roster who are just as beautiful as Mandy, too. The way I see it, there's no big loss in letting Mandy go or jumping ship to AEW. 

Best of luck to Mandy with her future endeavors, or a possible WWE return down the road. I just don't have strong feelings about her release. It's an interesting situation, but I'm not emotionally invested in any of this.

I'd hate to see Jacy and Gigi suffer because of Mandy's release though. They're not the best workers in the world, but they have unique personalities, have the gimmick down already, and are a good tag team. Lord knows the WWE could use some credibility in their women's tag team division, no matter what brand we're talking about. The question is: what happens to Gigi and Jacy?

Now is the perfect time to call them up to the main roster. It doesn't have to be a big debut. I'd have them show up and watch a tag match. The next week do some guest commentary. After that, step in the ring for a tag match, and not against the champions right away! Build them up a little bit.

Maybe wait until sometime in January. I would probably call them up before the Royal Rumble though. They could be surprise entrants in the Rumble, but that could backfire on WWE. If that Toxic Attraction theme hits and there's no Mandy Rose, the crowd in San Antonio (likely to be filled with smart marks) could react negatively to Gigi and Jacy .

From there, give them a few wins on Smackdown or Raw going into Wrestlemania, and, if fans receive them well on the main roster, give them the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles at Wrestlemania. It's likely to be a 3 or 4 tag team match, so maybe don't give them the win at 'Mania. 

Natalya or Sonya could lose in a match against Damage CTRL, Toxic Attraction, and another team like Raquel and Shotzi or Tegan Nox and Liv Morgan.

If Gigi and Jacy don't eat the loss at Wrestlemania, then they could have match for the titles at Wrestlemania Backlash and win them there. I know WWE doesn't like heel vs. heel feuds, but maybe the new regime under Triple H would be more receptive to it. This doesn't need to be a long feud. 

Damage CTRL could still feud with another team of fan favorites at the same time. Maybe Raquel and Shotzi or Tegan and Liv or Asuka and Candice LeRae cost Damage CTRL the titles, resulting in Toxic Attraction securing the victory. 

Regardless of how it all goes down, there's a lot that can be done with Toxic Attraction on the main roster. Mandy Rose's release is the perfect time to move them up because they really don't have anything else to prove in NXT.

If Toxic Attraction gets called up, how does their act change? Do they find a replacement for Mandy Rose? TNA faced a similar situation with The Beautiful People in 2009 after Angelina Love had some issues with her work visa. 

Lacey Von Erich was brought in to join Madison Rayne and Velvet Sky as the third member of the group. Angelina eventually returned and feuded with the updated version of The Beautiful People. WWE could easily do something like that here, but who are the best candidates to replace Mandy Rose in Toxic Attraction?

Here are the options on my list:

Sonya Deville - This alliance was already previewed in NXT several weeks ago. Sonya made a couple of guest appearances, noting that she and Mandy patched things up. Sonya would certainly bring a different dynamic to the group than Mandy does, but the more focused, business-minded Sonya could provide a nice evolution for Toxic Attraction.

It would take some adjusting, but I think Gigi and Jacy could develop some chemistry with Sonya, too. I really didn't see much chemistry between Gigi, Jacy , and Mandy to begin with.

 They are just the mean girls of NXT. Sonya proved a few times now that she can pull off a mean girl character, too, even if it's not Regina George mean, but a Cruella Deville-style mean instead.

Eva Marie - This former Diva sparked some speculation recently as rumors ramped up that she could return. I honestly don't see a purpose in her returning but she's the most capable one of filling Mandy Rose's spot in the same gimmick. 

She'd be more of a manager than the wrestling centerpiece of the group, but maybe that's a good thing. I feel that Jacy and Gigi were often overshadowed by Mandy because all the focus was on Mandy as the NXT Women's Champion. 

Eva would certainly help get Gigi and Jacy heat if WWE wants a women's tag team that can get a reaction. As silly as it is, I have to talk about Eva's hair. She had red hair during her first stint, purple hair on Celebrity Big Brother, and pink hair during her second WWE run. 

If she were to return with Toxic Attraction, she's gotta' go black. It would bring a harder edge to the group. She could have plenty of hashtags to work with, too, since she's always focused on social media. #Blackout

Cameron - I don't think WWE would be interested in this, but Cameron is another possibility. She's another one from the end of the Divas era who has the mean girl routine figured out. During her return to NXT a few years ago, her couple of appearances in AEW, and few moments in the Royal Rumble last year, Cameron showed she was more comfortable in the ring than before. 

She's also probably more athletic than a lot of us give her credit for. Rather than a Mandy Rose clone with different colored hair (see Eva Marie), Cameron offers some flavor and sass to the group. Even if she's not the 'leader,' she could be the mouthpiece that stirs the pot and gets the group in trouble with other teams on the roster.

Summer Rae - While Summer also returned at the 2022 Royal Rumble, and was backstage for Raw in Nashville this past week, I don't know that she'd fit in very well here. The pairing could work, but Summer isn't my first choice.

She's more of a prissy heel who doesn't want to get her hands dirty. Toxic Attraction is all about bringing the fight, fighting dirty, and winning. I don't think Summer's character would be an immediate fit. They could certainly develop some chemistry along the way, but it would be almost a mismatch on paper.

Blair Davenport - Even though Blair is currently out with an injury, joining Toxic Attraction when she returns could be a big benefit to her career. Blair, being the most experienced wrestler of the bunch, would be the in-ring leader, for sure.

She'd actually be benefitting, too, though. Toxic Attraction made a name for themselves in NXT, and even though Blair has been successful in putting on good matches while in AEW and NXT UK, she hasn't formed a memorable character in WWE yet. She just moved over to NXT in 2022 and then got injured.

Blair is a good talent. She can talk, she can wrestle, and she has a funky look that would pair well with Gigi and Jacy. This could be just the spot she needs to help not only Toxic Attraction, but herself as well.

Alicia Fox - Speaking of funky, Alicia Fox has a lot of that. She's almost a bit too crazy to join Toxic Attraction, but she'd certainly add some character to the group!

Alicia is an underrated wrestler, she's good on the mic, and she has the longevity in her career to lead a team like Toxic Attraction. She can definitely help Gigi and Jacy navigate main roster life.

Of course, this all depends on Alicia Fox even wanting to return to WWE. I have no idea if Vince McMahon or Triple H (whoever ends up being in charge in Stamford) are fans of Alicia, but she's made appearances since her departure from the full-time roster, so there must be someone backstage who is pulling for her.

Chelsea Green - Rumors have been floating around for about a month that WWE is bringing Chelsea Green back, that WWE is bringing her husband, Zack Ryder, back too, and that WWE is going to debut a new reality series about the couples of WWE.

Chelsea can work, so she gets an immediate point in that area. She also has an attitude to her that could match very well with Gigi and Jacy.

It's a bit of funk, a bit of edge, and a bit of sexy. She's got enough ring experience that she could fully lead the group, not just on the mic. I think Chelsea could be put in a lot of other storylines on her own, so working with Toxic Attraction isn't necessarily the only option for her, but it would help the group if she showed up and lead the way for them in 2023.

Emma - Another woman who can get the job done in the ring is Emma. She's the best wrestler on this list, honestly. Emma is a face right now, but she's kind of in limbo on Smackdown as it is.

Emma, like Chelsea, brings a different kind of appeal than someone like Mandy Rose or Eva Marie. She's got looks, but she's also got in-ring skills and mic skills.

Plus, based on her previous work in WWE, ROH, and Impact, she brings a fun and unique heel persona that could play off of Gigi and Jacy very well if given the chance.

I don't see a big push coming for Emma until after Wrestlemania. Using the Royal Rumble to set up Wrestlemania is the priority right now, and Emma doesn't fit into those plans. She could easily be a Wrestlemania-worthy competitor, but not right now when Becky, Charlotte, Ronda, Bianca, Rhea, Alexa, and Asuka are all around.

Emma needs to find her groove in this new women's division she's in. Working with Toxic Attraction could be exactly what she, Jacy, and Gigi all need to make an impact.

Carmella - This is probably the best fit of the bunch. Carmella, sadly, shared news about losing her child in an ectopic pregnancy. The miscarriage happened in early September, so that's why she's been off TV for a while.

If she's ready to return, Carmella could easily step into the spot as the third member (and leader) of Toxic Attraction. She's got the charisma, the on-screen character, and the main roster experience to lead Jacy and Gigi to success on Raw or Smackdown.

It could be a nice evolution for Carmella, too. She already won the Smackdown Women's Title (after being the first Ms. Money in the Bank), she won the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles, and she's feuded with all the major players who are currently in the division outside of Ronda or the up-and-comers like Raquel, Aliyah, Xia Li, and Candice LeRae.

Working in a faction while still maintaining her status as a singles competitor would be very beneficial to Carmella. Like a few others on this list, Carmella could also help Jacy and Gigi in terms of mic skills, the politics that comes with being on the main roster, and solidifying their characters in front of larger audiences.

Nobody - Jacy and Gigi aren't at Becky Lynch's level on the mic, but they're actually quite capable on their own.

They have shown glimpses of that during the promos for their two main roster tryout matches on Smackdown this fall. They've shown that during the little bit of mic time they've been given during Toxic Attraction promos on NXT, too.

I think a third member would certainly add more excitement to their group, but going into the main roster tag division as just the two of them isn't out of the question. Considering these are two women I thought may struggle to find their place in NXT, they formed an alliance with Mandy and never looked back.

I have a feeling they'd get over just fine without a third member of the group. It may be a slower process, but it'll happen.

RELATED CONTENT:

• My 2022 Royal Rumble Wishlist
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• Who should win the 2021 women's Royal Rumble?
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My 2022 Royal Rumble Wish List

It's that time of year again. Yes, it's almost time to point at the Wrestlemania sign ad nauseam. Unfortunately that is actually a fact, but what I'm looking forward to is the usually exciting, sometimes career-making Royal Rumble match ... hopefully with some jaw-dropping surprises.

It's those surprises that I really look forward to. After two decades of booking the Rumble, WWE producers and matchmakers now realize the importance of surprise returns and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the match. However, they don't always live up to my expectations.

Granted, my expectations can sometimes be too high, but usually WWE just falls short on things that they should've and could've booked. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but I have a full list of expectations this year.

I, like some of the Internet Wrestling Community, am a little upset that WWE ruined some of the surprise entrants in the women's rumble this year. Summer Rae isn't someone I was anxious to see, but she's not someone I would've expected to get a spot. It's that surprise, good or bad, that makes the Rumble fun. Apparently WWE still has some good surprises planned. Let's hope so.

In case they need some ideas, here's my wish list for both the men and women's Royal Rumble matches:

Alexa Bliss: obviously Alexa is already part of the Raw roster, but I have loathed this ridiculous, cartoonish copy of The Fiend (which is a stupid gimmick by itself). Then they added Lily to the mess. So freaking stupid. If you want to appeal to kids, sure, but it's hard to stomach as an adult. Anyway, I want Alexa's old music to hit and to see the original Alexa strut down the ramp. It'd get a huge pop. While I have no interest in seeing Alexa in any top feud in the women's division, her old character was at least entertaining, so I'd welcome any way to bring that character back to the division.

Melina: another woman whose music always gets a pop is Melina. She signed with NWA and appeared with Impact as recently as 2021, but her WWE chapter always felt unfinished. She was released unexpectedly in August of 2011. Like others on this list, she didn't get a retirement match, a send off, or much recognition for her contributions to the industry. Let's face it: she deserves some love. Without her, there'd be no Sasha Banks. Half of Sasha's move set comes from Melina. That's not a dig, by the way. That just highlights how influential Melina was. Coming off of a few big matches last year, the Royal Rumble would be a nice way to cap off her in-ring WWE career.

X- Pac: I believe X-Pac has had some injuries the past few years, so he hasn't been medically cleared to return and get physical. As one of the innovators of fast-paced, high-flying, martial arts action, I'd like to see X-Pac get another moment to really shine inside a WWE ring. He's already in the Hall of Fame as a member of DeGeneration X and he's made frequent appearances on reunion shows, but he never had a retirement match or even a real good send off. Getting the chance to work with guys like A.J. Styles, Ricochet, and others who he likely influenced is the high note he needs before hanging it up for good.

Gangrel: funnily enough, Gangrel has a little bit of Royal Rumble history with X-Pac. He lost to X-Pac in a European Title Match back in 1999. Gangrel isn't someone who would typically be on my list, but WWE needs to strike while the iron is hot. With Edge using some of the Brood gimmick over the past year, having Gangrel show up, seemingly align with Edge, and then turn on Edge would be a neat nostalgic moment.

Bayley: after an injury sidelined Bayley last year and left her feud with Bianca Belair on hold, she's been understandably absent from WWE programming. There's been no guest commentary position or podcast appearances. Bayley has been tweeting, of course, but there haven't been any status updates on her recovery. I've got to think that's leading to a Royal Rumble spot. In a way, it'd be more surprising if she showed up on Raw or Smackdown after the Rumble since everyone kind of assumes she'll be in the Royal Rumble itself. Still, I'll settle for a surprise entrant that everyone is expecting.

Paige: another woman who has been out with an injury is Paige. Although, in this case, she's been on the inactive list for years now. Despite that, she's been working on a return for years. It's just a matter of whether or not she can get to the point that she can get medically cleared. It happened with Daniel Bryan and Edge, so maybe it'll happen with Paige too. If she did return, I'd be a little concerned about whether Paige could hang with an evolved women's division, but even a small run with minimal matches could be very cool. Maybe even a tag team title run. Even if it's just a one-time Royal Rumble appearance, at least she could chuck that off her list.

Tyson Kidd: here's another competitor who was forced to retire from in-ring competition due to an injury. Tyson isn't the most charismatic wrestler WWE ever signed, but he was an exceptional worker. His in-ring skills were the perfect combination of high-flying and technical. There weren't any flippy flippy spots just for the sake of it. Everything he did made sense. He's still in great shape, based on Natalya's tweets. If he ever does get cleared, I hope WWE does surprise us. A Royal Rumble is the perfect way to return. In the current WWE, he'd easily be Intercontinental or U.S. Title material. A solid run with one of those mid-card, workhorse titles is definitely deserved! Hopefully it'll happen at some point.

Santino Marella: after his sister, Santina, entered the women's Royal Rumble in 2020, it's time that Santino has a chance at going to Wrestlemania. He's a fun character who always generates a reaction, but, unlike some of the other WWE alumni, Santino hasn't been overexposed. He's not at every Raw Reunion. He hasn't had multiple Royal Rumble appearances since retiring. Hornswoggle, the Boogeyman, and others have shown up so many times that I just don't even care when they do. That isn't the case with Santino. He's mostly a comedic wrestler, but Santino does have some impressive in-ring abilities. I'd love to see him get a couple of eliminations if there is a Rumble appearance. Comedy is the easy route with Santino. Why not throw everyone a little off and give him a chance to eliminate Randy Orton or a bigger nam? I was just watching the 2002 Royal Rumble the other day and Maven eliminating the Undertaker got a huge pop! Nobody looked weak, Maven got over, and it was memorable. WWE doesn't take risks like that anymore, but they should.

Victoria: like Molly, Victoria has already appeared in the Royal Rumble. In fact, it was just 12 months ago that Victoria showed up. It was a special moment because she's been overlooked for the past five years or so. Nobody really knows why. Was someone upset that she went to TNA after quitting the WWE? I'm not sure, but there's some heat with someone because they even quit inviting her to the Hall of Fame ceremony. She finally got a chance to return in 2021, but it was during COVID so there were no fans to give her the pop she deserves. It was still a great Rumble surprise entrant, but I'm going to be a needy fan and request a little more. A return in front of a live crowd, please! Unfortunately, I don't see it happening.

Mighty Molly: If WWE doesn't capitalize on this moment, I'll be very disappointed. Molly Holly was in the first women's Royal Rumble a few years ago. Then, she showed up again as Mighty Molly. Normally, I wouldn't be requesting another appearance so soon, but there's one reason I am: Nikki A.S.H. Now that Nikki turned heel, this is a perfect moment for Mighty Molly to come out and have a fun superhero moment. Nikki can get the rub by eliminating Molly, but I want a showdown. Molly can attempt the chokeslam, like The Hurricane used to. Molly is currently a backstage agent for WWE, so there's no excuse for it not happening other than WWE officials not being smart enough to make it happen.

Bubba Ray (or Spike) Dudley: if this doesn't happen, no big deal. Bubba had his 2015 surprise appearance (and subsequent return run). If that's all he gets, then at least we had that. However, I'd like to hear that music one more time and see him show up again. I'd add D-Von to the list, but I don't think he has any interest in returning to in-ring action. Heck, it doesn't even have to be Bubba in the Rumble. It'd be kind of a swerve to hear the music hit and then have Spike show up instead of Bubba or D-Von. I'd enjoy him getting another chance to step into a WWE ring and get a few moves in. Sure, he'd get eliminated rather quickly, but a few moments is all he needs.

The Blue Meanie: if we're talking about ECW wrestlers, then Blue Meanie may be my number one ask. I always appreciated the athleticism of the Blue Meanie. His b.W.o. gimmick was great, his moonsault was good, his interactions with Goldust were interesting, and the way he handled the JBL situation after One Night Stand was highly commendable. He'll never be a Hall of Fame inductee, but there's no reason he can't get some love through a Royal Rumble appearance. I think he'd get a decent pop since the Rumble usually has some avid, long-time fans in the arena.

Jamie Noble: another guy who was a fun character to watch was the redneck Jamie Noble. I had already tuned out of WWE programming by the time he and Joey Mercury were the new stooges for the McMahons, so I can't really comment on how that version of Jamie Noble worked out. It's been close to two decades since the redneck Noble was seen on WWE programming. That's the Noble I want for a Royal Rumble appearance. That's the one that would be a fun throwback. If I'm not mistaken, Jamie is still employed by WWE as an agent, so maybe there's a chance. It's been long enough since he was on WWE TV that an appearance would be welcomed.

Ivory (preferably the RTC version): even though Ivory was in the women's battle royal at WWE Evolution a few years ago, she hasn't appeared in a Royal Rumble. As one of the best characters of the Attitude Era and a inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame, Ivory doesn't need a Royal Rumble appearance to enhance her resume. It would be nice to see her show up and get that pop though. Or, in her case, if the RTC music hits, it'll be boos. Ivory never had a full retirement match and, while the appearance in the women's battle royal at Evolution was nice, a Royal Rumble appearance could help make an even better ending for her WWE career. I'm sure she has the energy to get through a few minutes in the Rumble. Ivory never runs low on energy.

Madusa / Alundra Blayze: another woman who last showed up in the women's battle royal at Evolution, Madusa was recovering from a knee injury, so she wasn't able to really work much in that match. A couple of years after that surgery, I'm hoping she's in better shape than before. It'd be fun for Madusa to interact with Beth Phoenix, Charlotte Flair, Natalya, and Mickie James. I know she'd like to have some showdowns with them and the Rumble is the perfect format for that to happen. Then again, with Beth being involved in a mixed-tag match this year, maybe the 2023 Rumble is the best time for Madusa to show up.

Layla: it seems that Layla quit WWE and never looked back. She's not one who is active on social media or wrestling for other companies. She's made a few appearances at conventions, but that's it. I don't know if she's even in ring ready shape, but since we know Michelle McCool and The Bella Twins are going to be in the 2022 women's Royal Rumble, why not throw a little LayCool into the mix as well? We'll never get full-on matches with this generation of women. Maybe that's for the best anyway. The ring work has evolved into something more demanding than when the Divas were three-minute filler matches. That's why the Royal Rumble would be a great time to bring Layla back for another small, fun moment to cap off her career.

Corey Graves: I have honestly never seen Corey wrestle. I've only known him as a commentator. He's actually one of the best heel commentators in years. Very few people can replace Bobby Heenan or Jesse Ventura or late 90s Jerry Lawler, but JBL and Corey Graves come close. I'm a huge fan of his commentary. That being said, I don't have a desire to see him compete. Apparently he wants to and is now medically cleared to return, but is he even in ring shape? He isn't fat, but he's not toned from what I've seen. I don't think he's a Wrestlemania headliner. I don't even know that a feud with Corey would be mid-card level. Perhaps he could get involved in a storyline that involves Carmella, kind of like Maryse gets involved in angles with The Miz. If he appears, though, then good for him.

Wade Barrett: although he's already a member of the WWE family, Wade Barrett has only returned in the capacity of a NXT commentator. While everyone is focused on Corey Graves making a potential in-ring return, I'd like to see Wade Barrett step in the ring. Most people probably wouldn't expect his return, so it would get a big pop. He's got the size to be a threat and he's still in good shape, so he could even conceivably be one of the final four competitors instead of a surprise entrant that only lasts a few minutes. I don't really remember, outside of maybe Mr. Perfect in 2002, when a Rumble return lasted long enough to potentially win the match.

Ronda Rousey: this woman has some unfinished business in WWE. Was Ronda Rousey swerving us recently when she claimed she didn't even know what her contract status was? I hope so. I actually don't really think she'll show up, but I'm crossing my fingers that I'm wrong. The sloppy finish to the Rousey / Lynch / Flair Wrestlemania match leaves things open for Ronda to come back and say, 'I kicked out! You're not even a true champion!' Ronda had a baby. Maybe she wants another one, but, if not, then she can check motherhood off her list. One more WWE run could wrap up some things very nicely.

Connor McGregor: another UFC icon, McGregor could easily pull a Ronda Rousey and get some eyeballs on the product. Matches with Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and A.J. Styles would be very interesting to see. I don't think he'd be a longstanding member of the WWE roster, but a 1 year deal with some fantasy matches? Absolutely! In a time when WWE needs to kind of compete with AEW (and, more importantly, just draw more attention to their own product), McGregor is a name who could make some headlines. I really don't think he'll end up in WWE, so he'll have a permanent spot on my WWE wishlist.

BONUS: Tessa Blanchard: she'd be the biggest free agent name to show up in the Royal Rumble since A.J. Styles. It wouldn't work for very competitor, but Tessa is well known enough that she'd get a reaction. If WWE doesn't sign her soon, then a Charlotte / Tessa Blanchard feud wouldn't happen. I don't have much hope that Tessa will end up in WWE, but I'd mark out if she did. She and Charlotte is a match that could main event Summerslam or Wrestlemania.

Those are the main people I'd pop for, but I'll leave you with a few other names I'd like to see: Mr. Kennedy (if he's in ring shape), Kurt Angle, Jimmy Wang Yang, Disco Inferno, Tajiri, Lacey Evans, James Elsworth, and Candice Michelle.

Related Content:

• Who should return for the 2021 men's Royal Rumble?
• Who should win the 2021 women's Royal Rumble?
• WWE Hall of Fame suggestions through 2031