Which Four Superstars Could Be Surprise Entrants for the Royal Rumble 2026?
As the Royal Rumble quickly approaches, many superstars have begun announcing their spots in the Royal Rumble match, where 30 men and 30 women will compete for an opportunity to challenge for a world title in the main event of WrestleMania. Some of the announced names are superstars from the Raw and SmackDown roster, but the excitement level about who will show up at the Rumble doesn’t come from those who are already in the match. One of the main reasons the Rumble is a popular favorite amongst the WWE Universe is due to the unpredictability of who might show us unannounced. There have been many surprise appearances over the years, such as The Hurricane in 2018 and ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper in 2008. This year’s Rumble feels a lot different, with the possible inclusion of superstars from TNA and AAA. Here is a prediction on who might walk out from behind the curtains at the Royal Rumble.
Mr. Iguana
Mr. Iguana rose to popularity with the WWE Universe after his appearance at Worlds Collide in June 2025, following WWE’s purchase of AAA Wrestling. Iguana’s entrance, followed by his comedic wrestling and his crafty puppet, La Yezca, by his side, had fans wanting more of the reptilian superstar. Iguana has made multiple appearances on WWE television ever since, and each time, he is greeted with a warm reception. Iguana could easily provide comedic relief at the Rumble, especially if R-Truth is around. The sky is the limit for Iguana, and an appearance at the Rumble would definitely help him gain more fans from across the world.
Leon Slater
TNA’s X Division Champion is only 21 years old, but he has made quite a name for himself in the world of professional wrestling. At TNA Slammiversary 2025, Leon Slater captured the TNA X Division Championship from Moose, becoming the youngest champion in the promotion’s history. Since winning the title, Slater’s stock has continued to rise, even going as far as competing in a tag team match on the Saturday Night’s Main Event card, which featured John Cena’s final match. Slates would also appear on an episode of SmackDown, where he would challenge for Carmelo Hayes’ United States Championship unsuccessfully. Slater is destined to become a world champion one day, and fans should be able to see what he brings to the table inside the ring with an appearance at the Royal Rumble.
Sol Ruca
No NXT superstar grew quite like Sol Ruca did in 2025. Since debuting on NXT in 2022, Ruca has grown into one of WWE’s most must-see stars. Her finisher, the Sol Snatcher, went viral for how well she executes the move when you least expect it. In 2025, Ruca won the NXT Women’s North American Championship in a Ladder Match and held the gold for 189 days. Ruca also won the NXT Award for Female Superstar of the Year and Tag Team of the Year alongside Zaria. Ruca is becoming a major player in the WWE, and fans should expect her to be a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble match, even going as far as possibly being the Iron Woman of the match. It will be interesting to see who she will interact with during the match, such as Liv Morgan, a leading contender to win the Rumble match. Ruca’s career has been amazing to watch, especially seeing her walk into WWE with no prior wrestling experience. After the Rumble match, fans will know exactly who Ruca is.
Léi Yǐng Lee
Formerly known as Xia Li in the WWE, Léi Yǐng Lee transformed herself into a threat in the TNA Knockouts Division. Her time finally came at the top of the division when she captured the TNA Knockouts World Champion at NXT Gold Rush in a Triple Threat Match, which featured then-champion Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace. Lee making an appearance at the Rumble is a perfect opportunity, as she is already well-known by the WWE Universe. Also, Lee entering the Rumble with the Knockouts World Champion would make her the third female to enter the Rumble with that championship, replicating what Mickie James did in 2022 and Grace in 2024.
