It was announced on-line a few weeks ago that WWE were set to change the Royal Rumble to a 40-man over the top battle royal, much like back in 2011.
Last night on Raw it was announced that WWE would have a traditional 30-man rumble instead, whether this is because of recent injuries or the fact that Daniel Bryan wont be ready to return are all just speculation at this point, but it doesn't make a lot of sense.
With all the talent in WWE right now, a 40-man battle royal would have been a more obvious choice because then a lot of NXT superstars could have played a part in the match just so that the crowd will become more familiar with them.
This is what happened with Bo Dallas a few years ago, he was brought up for the Rumble and put into a short feud with Wade Barrett (Bad News Barrett) before the feud was apparently cancelled and Bo returned to NXT and was later called up under a new gimmick.
This would be an easy path for many other superstars so that they can test the waters in WWE and see if they have a place on the main roster without all the promotion leading up to a debut and all the pressure upon the chosen superstars.
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Roman Reigns is one name that it is thought will definitely be returning at the Rumble, if not before. He is the one who many have had down to win the Royal Rumble and go on to face and defeat Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania.
Final three?
Various reports also have Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose making up the final three in the Rumble match and the three having to fight it out, in what could be an interesting encounter between the three former "brothers."
This could mean less of the surprising entrants that we have had in former years and less of the shocking comebacks, but at the same time WWE could decide that they will leave some of the current roster out in favour of up and coming talent from down in NXT.
As stated, the Rumble is still around three months away so this is just the height of speculation right now, all that is known for definite is that the main event has been changed back to a 30-man match for unknown reasons that could be announced in due course.
