5 Former WWE Champions Who Can Win Their Maiden Royal Rumble 2024
Every January, WWE programming builds towards sports entertainment’s most chaotic and unpredictable spectacle – the 30-superstar over-the-top-rope Royal Rumble match. Since its inception in 1988, the revolutionary battle royal has shaped WWE history by catapulting winners like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and John Cena to WrestleMania main events. After 35 years of shocking moments and underdog stories, Tampa Bay crowds will witness the 2024 edition, where past champions vie for career resurgence.
In 2023, a familiar scene unfolded – the deafening eruption of Tampa Bay fans as countdown clock expired for entrant #30 – only for Cody Rhodes to emerge and claim Rumble victory. Despite returning from a devastating torn pectoral months earlier, Rhodes went bell-to-bell outworking 29 fellow superstars. His storybook comeback exemplified the match’s magical unpredictability – where anyone can achieve glory.
In 2024, Rhode’s monumental homecoming frames the perfect backdrop for other redemption-seekers. Leading the pack is Chicago’s favorite son, CM Punk, whose triumphant AEW arrival in 2021 fast unraveled backstage. No matter where Punk travels, chaos follows – but so do ticket sales and television ratings. If Punk patches things up with WWE, the Royal Rumble stage allows him to thrill fans worldwide just like Cody did last year. After years removed from WWE’s spotlight, could Punk mimic Rhodes’ magic at nearly the same age?
Speaking of redemption, 16-time champion John Cena stunned Royal Rumble crowds in 2008 – returning months early from injury to claim his first Rumble victory. In similar position lies AJ Styles after The Bloodline’s merciless attack sidelined The Phenomenal One indefinitely. But if Cena taught wrestling anything, it’s to never underestimate the heart of a champion. A Royal Rumble return would put WWE on notice and set Styles back on a collision course with Universal Champion Roman Reigns. Could we witness shades of Cena’s glory in AJ’s comeback story 14 years later?
While Punk seeks applause and AJ targets retribution, former allies now turned enemies clash as Kevin Owens brings the fight against Sami Zayn’s conspiracy movement. In December 2014, Owens shockingly betrayed real-life best friend Zayn to capture NXT gold. Nine years later, another Royal Rumble in Florida marks opportunity to turn back time. Owens is renowned for giving and taking a beating to get results when it matters most. If the Prizefighter’s resilience wrestles victory over Zayn’s stable, we’ll revisit where their blood feud began.
Elsewhere Kofi Kingston looks to defy odds, not gravity, for a change. For over a decade, Kingston escaped Royal Rumble elimination by walking on his hands or leaping onto the barricade. In 2024, the power of positivity must lift Kingston to victory. His experience and endurance evidence enough weapons in his arsenal to outwork even the toughest foes. Can Kingston shift from his specialty of stealing shows to winning the headliner?
Lastly the veteran Miz enters obsessed with furthering his legacy. Across 15 Royal Rumble appearances, The Miz built a Rolodex of dirty tricks aimed at shortcutting success. But the brighter lights of WrestleMania keep eluding WWE’s most must-see superstar. Expect Miz to pull out all the stops and then some to scratch and crawl his way toExtended assault just might allow one A-lister to reach the mountaintop of WWE.
Come January 28, 2024, the pageantry and prominence of the Royal Rumble converge at Tropicana Field where fighting spirit and fearlessness are rewarded. Punk seeks adoration, Styles chases redemption, Kingston aims to defy odds, Owens yearns to turn back time, and Miz obsesses over his legacy. On that one night, the stars align in Tampa Bay for new legends to emerge while past champions resurrect their elite statuses.
