Who is going to show up?

WWE's 2023 Royal Rumble pay-per-view is upon us, and already several wrestlers have earned their shot at a place among the 30 men and women for the event. Kofi Kingston, Santos Escobar, Ricochet, Austin Theory, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Baron Corbin, Rey Mysterio, Gunther, Cody Rhodes, and Omos have all staked their claim for the men's match. Liv Morgan, Candice LeRae, Rhea Ripley, and Raquel Rodriguez will participate in the women's match, with the latter making her Rumble debut.

The 36th Royal Rumble is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas as part of the Alamodome's 30th-anniversary celebration. The winner of the Rumble gets an automatic title shot at Wrestlemania against a champion of their choosing. It's unclear at this time if the winner of the men's gets to choose an individual title or the collective Undisputed Universal Championship that Roman Reigns has held for almost a year.

The Rumble is also used to introduce new stars to the WWE audience as well as for current performers to make their return after a long absence. We know that Cody Rhodes is coming back after almost seven months away recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, but who else could make their way to the ring and shock the WWE Universe? Here are nine stars who could appear and walk that aisle to the Rumble.

John Cena

A two-time Rumble winner, Big Match John recently celebrated over 20 years with WWE and will be the face and focus of WWE 2K23. It's been five years since we've seen Cena make a Rumble appearance and the "face that runs the place" is past due to take one last shot at Wrestlemania glory.

Bad Bunny

One of the top-selling musicians of the decade, Bad Bunny has been showcased more in WWE programming, even shown walking around in the latest WWE 2K23 commercial. He's had a number-one song titled Booker T, named after the WWE Hall of Famer, and even participated in a match at Wrestlemania 37 and the Royal Rumble last year and eliminated Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler. Bunny making back-to-back in Rumble appearances feels pretty strong.

Bron Breakker

The son of WWE Hall of Famer and tag team legend Rick Steiner, Bron made a name for himself as a singles star at the beginning of NXT 2.0, quickly winning the NXT Championship. Being in NXT doesn't disqualify a competitor from being in the Rumble as other NXT stars have been seen throughout the years, including Adam Cole in his only Rumble appearance in 2018.

"Switchblade" Jay White

If it's January, it must be "Jay White to WWE" month. For the past three years, Bullet Club leader Jay White has teased making the jump, and every year wrestling fans work themselves up thinking this will definitely be the year, but it never is. What if it is this year, though? White's contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling is up this month, and WWE and NJPW have formed a working relationship recently, so don't be too shocked if the Catalyst of Professional Wrestling shows up.

"Demon" Finn Balor

The dark side of the Judgment Day leader hasn't been seen in almost two years, and the Rumble is primetime for a return. The former two-time NXT Champion and first Universal Champion hasn't had much luck in the Rumble match itself, or main eventing for a title, but Demon Balor has yet to make a Rumble appearance.

Ric Flair

Ric Flair is a legend in his own time. During his 50-year career he's become a recognized 16-time world champion, five-time United States Champion, the oldest Intercontentinal Champion, and Tag Team Champion. He was recently seen on Raw Is XXX and you should never count the Nature Boy out. If the Flair enters, he would undoubtedly be the oldest Rumble entrant of all time at 73 years old. Flair won the Rumble back in 1992 for the vacated WWE Championship and drew #3, the lowest entrant to win the Rumble at the time, and a record that would go unbeaten for three years until Shawn Michaels drew the dreaded #1 slot but emerged victorious.

The Undertaker

One of the most iconic WWE stars of all time has done it all, including a former Rumble victory back in 2007--the first time a #30 entrant won--and multiple championships in his 30-year career. The Dead Man has always done well in the Rumble and still holds the second-most career eliminations at 44.

Zack Ryder

Since being released from WWE in 2020, Matt Cardona has won numerous championships across a slew of companies, including a brief reign as NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. It was recently reported that Cardona had officially trademarked his former ring name Zack Ryder, so it seems that a Rumble return could be on the horizon. You know it.

Randy Orton

The two-time Royal Rumble winner and 14-time world champion has been out of action since last year. Orton's full-time return is looking doubtful, with reports of a severe back injury making an imminent return unlikely. However, should the future Hall of Famer make his Rumble return, fans would assuredly pop big for the 20-year veteran.