Imagine this: the biggest star in WWE declares himself for the Royal Rumble... without even stepping foot in the arena! That's exactly what Roman Reigns just did, and it's got the wrestling world buzzing. I'm Cain A. Knight, a hardcore wrestling analyst for Cageside Seats since 2014 and a fan since the 80s, and I'm here to break down why this is such a big deal.
WWE was a little slow off the mark in announcing who would be battling it out at next weekend’s Royal Rumble (January 31st for those keeping track) in Saudi Arabia. Cody Rhodes kickstarted things on SmackDown last week, becoming the first official entrant. Then, more big names followed suit on Raw. You can check out the full list of confirmed participants here [link to previous article].
But SmackDown really brought the heat. They dropped a bombshell: Roman Reigns is officially in the Royal Rumble! And he didn't even need to be there in person. WWE simply aired a hype video announcing his return at the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Talk about making an entrance... or, well, not making an entrance until the Rumble itself!
Now, several other stars made their intentions known on SmackDown, practically confirming their participation. We're talking about Jordynne Grace, the powerhouse Solo Sikoa, the always dominant Charlotte Flair, the rising star Giulia, Lash Legend, the mischievous Chelsea Green, the imposing Nia Jax, and the unpredictable Alexa Bliss. It's a stacked roster!
And then there's R-Truth. He literally put his Royal Rumble fate in the hands of SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, asking for a spot. But here's where it gets controversial... will R-Truth even make it to Saudi Arabia? He's had some travel mishaps in the past [link to article about R-Truth missing SmackDown], so it's definitely not a guaranteed thing. Imagine the chaos if he gets lost again!
But here’s the real question: what do you think about WWE choosing to save Roman Reigns' return for the Royal Rumble itself, rather than a typical Raw or SmackDown episode leading up to it? Is it a brilliant move to maximize the surprise and impact? Or is it a missed opportunity to build even more hype beforehand? And this is the part most people miss... could this be a sign that Reigns isn't winning the Rumble? Saving him for the match could mean he's there to advance another storyline or put over another wrestler.
Is this a stroke of genius, or a risky gamble? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, Cagesiders! I'm genuinely curious to hear your opinions.
And don't forget to catch up on all the SmackDown results in our live blog right here [link to SmackDown results live blog].
