As reported earlier, WWE has announced 19 wrestlers for the 30-Woman Royal Rumble 2022 Match this past Friday on Smackdown. The most surprising announcement regarding this match to include the Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Mickie James. For the first time, an outside WWE Superstar who is under contract with a rival brand will compete in a WWE show.
In an update, WWE reportedly has plans for at least two more former Superstars to return for the 30-Woman Royal Rumble 2022 Match, later this month.
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At present, the plan is for Cameron and former WWE Women’s Champion Melina to be surprise entrants in the upcoming match, according to PWInsider. There’s no update on whether WWE will announce them ahead of time, or if they will remain as surprise entrants to be revealed during the match, only.
Melina has not competed in a WWE ring since the summer of 2011. Despite numerous return rumors throughout late 2020, she hasn’t shown up. She rather worked the NWA Hard Times 2 pay-per-view back on December 3, losing to NWA World Women’s Champion Kamilla. She remains tight-lipped about a possible appearance at Royal Rumble 2022.
Cameron, who is also known as Ariane Andrew, has been away from professional wrestling for the most part since leaving the WWE in 2016. But then she made her AEW debut in July 2020, teaming with Nyla Rose for a loss to Anna Jay and Tay Conti in a match for the AEW Women’s Tag Team Cup Deadly Draw Tournament. She previously expressed interest in making returns to the WWE.
Royal Rumble 2022 PPV match card
WWE Royal Rumble 2022 is scheduled to take place on January 29 from The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The updated card for the event stands as follows,
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
Johnny Knoxville, Austin Theory, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Sheamus, WWE United States Champion Damian Priest, AJ Styles, Big E, 20 Superstars TBA
30-Woman Royal Rumble Match
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H., WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella, WWE Hall of Famer Brie Bella, Shotzi, Natalya, Michelle McCool, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Carmella, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Queen Zelina Vega, Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James, Tamina Snuka, Kelly Kelly, Aliyah, Summer Rae, Naomi, Shayna Baszler, WWE Hall of Famer Lita, 11 participants TBA
(including Melina and Cameron, 9 participants remains to be included)
WWE Title Match
Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar (c)
WWE Universal Title Match
Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns (c)
RAW Women’s Title Match
Doudrop vs. Becky Lynch (c)
Mixed Tag Team Match
WWE Hall of Famers Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz and Maryse
