It sounds like Kevin Nash and Booker T are confirmed for the Royal Rumble. A few thoughts on that, plus some other possible surprise names worth keeping in the back of your mind (total speculation, though)

First, regarding Booker T, it makes sense on a number of levels. The fact that TNA had plans to bring him back as part of the return of the Main Event Mafia is a small incentive to Vince McMahon, but he wouldn't do it just for that reason. He doesn't follow TNA closely and wouldn't make a major move with the Rumble just to stick it to TNA.

However, Booker T is a recent-former WWE main eventer with World Title history. WWE is low on star power these days and in need of some wrestlers to make WrestleMania stand out as something above and beyond what they've been offering recently on PPV. Booker alone isn't an answer, but he contributes to that aspect of the show as long as there are others.

He can still work when he wants. He's not completely broken down or spent. He looks younger than he is (last we saw). So all in all, a good addition to the roster, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's around for a year or even two. WWE needs him, and he's had enough time away to be refreshed. He could work as a babyface against Miz, as a heel against Edge, as a babyface against C.M. Punk, or as a heel against John Cena, as a babyface against Sheamus or Wade Barrett or C.M. Punk.

It doesn't hurt that the Best of Nitro DVD is coming out later this year, and he'll be all over that.

Nash is even more intriguing. It could be a one-off for Nash. He shows up at the Rumble as a surprise entrant, he eliminates five or six guys in a throwback to one of those early Rumble Moments we all remember, and then he puts over a younger wrestler who get Their Moment, such as Mason Ryan or Ezekiel Jackson eliminating him.

Also, Nash is a dark horse candidate I've been talking about in recent weeks as an opponent for Undertaker. They have a history, they're similar in size, they both started in the WWF around the same time, and it'd be an easier night for Undertaker in the sense that expectations would be lower and they could meticulously book a match with veteran shortcuts that would hopefully still be crowd-pleasing.

Nash has a connection stoyrline-wise to Shawn Michaels. Nash was Michaels's bodyguard in the early 1990s in the WWF. Undertaker ended Michaels's WWE career last year. Nash could come in to get revenge. So it's even possible Nash will show up at the Rumble, but not be in the Rumble itself, but rather issue a challenge to Undertaker. Rather than have Nash get eliminated in the Rumble, "protect him" and instead have him cut a promo challenging Taker.

Taker's likely going to be in no physical condition to actually put on a match that comes anywhere close to his past two matches at WrestleMania, so Nash could be that "storyline-based" opponent and Taker can go Old School in his style of victory.

Now, speaking of Nash, what about X-Pac? If WWE wants to use Nash at house shows, X-Pac could be the work horse of the team and carry the bulk of the in-ring duty, just as was the case in WCW. So a longshot dark horse would be X-Pac. Plus, X-Pac has connections with Michaels, so he might have reached out anyway to ask to be part of the Hall of Fame.

(This could also be an elaborate ruse to get Nash into the news before appearing on Impact this week, but he no-showed a fan convention and correspondents are reporting seeing him at the airport in Boston.)

And finally, another longshot dark horse is Diamond Dallas Page. He's the host of the upcoming Best of Nitro DVD. He keeps himself in great shape since he's big into his own YRG yoga fitness program. It would help sell the WCW DVD if DDP were brought back into the spotlight, even if just for one Rumble appearance.

The safest bet for a surprise entrant, I think, is Awesome Kong. It'd be a great way to introduce her to the WWE audience, most of whom won't know who she is.

Please Recommend or Like This Article on Twitter or Facebook

KELLER BLOG: Paul Heyman alliance with C.M. Punk - where does it go from here?

KELLER'S WWE SUMMERSLAM PPV BLOG: Results and analysis throughout the show including Lesnar vs. Triple H, Cena vs. Punk vs. Show

KELLER: C.M. Punk is not best utilized as a tweener, despite a recent reader poll; he should be all out heel

Comment on this Article Below