The Road to Wrestlemania begins with the Royal Rumble PPV in January 2017. The occasion is even bigger with the event celebrating its 30th anniversary. Resembling the saying ‘everything is bigger in Texas’, this year WWE has to sell out a crowd more than 65000. Hence, we are constantly speculating big names.
As reported earlier, Shawn Michaels’ name is expected big time as he is the hometown boy in San Antonio, Texas. 20 years ago, in this very venue and the same PPV, he had his ‘boyhood dream’ come true.
The WWE has tried to reach the legendary wrestler to make special appearances under wrestling capacity in recent times but he has refused to do so. He was rumored to have a one-off match against AJ Styles as per the past speculations but he is not willing to come out of retirement.
A recent report from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter suggests the WWE might bring him in a different capacity now. It is going to be in a ‘special enforcer role’. Perhaps, in the role of a special guest referee for a big match such as Triple H vs. Seth Rollins, if it indeed takes place at the Royal Rumble PPV.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxbH2klGS6I
Meltzer quoted:
“He’s been real adamant to everyone that he doesn’t want to wrestle again. As far as being on the [Royal Rumble] show in some form, I think that there’s a good chance of that. If it’s me, and it’s San Antonio, and, he grew up there, I would try to figure out a way for him to be on the show.”
“Obviously, wrestlers always change their mind, but even a couple of months ago, I know people who talked to him, and he does not want to ever wrestle again.
To make the event a grand success, the WWE has already announced the presence of Goldberg and Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble match. Plus, we might get the Undertaker against AJ Styles match for the WWE World Title.