How crazy would it be if Penta won the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble? It’s a possibility, as the newly signed luchador is one of 15 men confirmed for the Men’s Royal Rumble on February 1 in Indianapolis.
Penta has been an even bigger hit with the WWE Universe than the promotion likely expected since he came over from AEW. The veteran’s mask skyrocketed to the top of WWE’s merchandise sales.
I’d still consider him a longshot because WWE likely already had their WrestleMania 41 plans in place when Penta made his debut. Still, he is part of the group that makes up half the field.
Confirmed Male Entrants For The WWE 2025 Royal Rumble
- LA Knight – January 3, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- John Cena – January 6, 2025 (Announced on Raw’s Netflix premiere)
- CM Punk – January 6, 2025 (Announced on the Raw Netflix premiere post-show)
- Jey Uso – January 6, 2025 (Announced on the Raw Netflix premiere post-show)
- Roman Reigns – January 10, 2025 (Announced by Paul Heyman on SmackDown)
- Seth “Freakin” Rollins – January 13, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Drew McIntyre – January 13, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Rey Mysterio – January 17, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- Sami Zayn – January 20, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Shinsuke Nakamura – January 24, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- Logan Paul – January 27, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Penta – January 27, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Chad Gable – January 27, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Bron Breakker – January 27, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Carmelo Hayes – January 27, 2025 (Announced after Raw went off air)
More announcements are expected on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, but based on this group, the top contenders would seemingly be Cena, Punk, Reigns, Rollins, and Paul.
I don’t believe Cena will win the Royal Rumble, but he has to be on the shortlist. WWE is likely going to allow Cena to win his 17th world championship—as it should. However, it seems like that will come later in the year and not at WrestleMania.
Punk could easily win here, and it makes sense because he desperately wants to main event WrestleMania.
Reigns is the Tribal Chief. He doesn’t need to win, but having him go over here would be a safe choice. However, there is a chance that the inevitable fallout between Punk and Reigns could begin at the Rumble.
Rollins deserves another major moment. Perhaps it’s wishful thinking on my part to include him here.
Lastly, Paul is a needle mover. Many purists will scoff at him winning the Rumble, but if he does, it will make the event even more of a lightning rod for conversation. I fully expect him to be one of the final four men in the ring.
Side note: I’m hopeful we get to see Jacob Fatu in the Rumble. He won’t win, but it would be great to see him put on a memorable performance.
Confirmed Female Entrants for the WWE 2025 Royal Rumble
The Women’s Rumble field currently has 10 announced entrants. More will likely be added on SmackDown, but here is the confirmed list:
- Nia Jax – January 13, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Bayley – January 20, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Charlotte Flair – January 24, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- Naomi – January 24, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- Bianca Belair – January 24, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- Liv Morgan – January 24, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- Raquel Rodriguez – January 24, 2025 (Announced on SmackDown)
- Lyra Valkyria – January 27, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Ivy Nile – January 27, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
- Iyo Sky – January 27, 2025 (Announced on Raw)
First, there is almost no way WWE allows Bayley to win the Rumble in consecutive years. Bianca has a shot, of course, as does the returning Charlotte Flair.
I expect Liv Morgan to hang around for a while, but not to win. Nia Jax will likely get the traditional giant treatment, where multiple women team up to eliminate her.
Quite honestly, it’s possible the winner of the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble hasn’t even announced her participation yet.
Becky Lynch’s return seems imminent, and she’s always a contender. The dark horse is Jade Cargill. She’s been out of action, and the Rumble might be the best spot for her return.
If she wins and kicks off the investigation storyline about the person behind her attack, we could have a dandy angle to enjoy on the Road to WrestleMania.
