The 2024 Royal Rumble had lots of surprise appearances but some famous wrestlers did not take part. They were not there for different reasons, like having other stuff to do or planning things in a certain way. In this quick look, we’ll find out why these wrestlers were not in the Rumble which makes fans curious about what is next for them in wrestling.
1. John Cena
John Cena did not participate in the 2024 Royal Rumble. There are a lot of reasons. Firstly, Cena has talked about retiring from wrestling and doing other things. He might be busy with non-wrestling projects. Secondly, WWE might be saving his return for a big event like WrestleMania. This way, it can be a surprise and get much attention. Lastly, the Royal Rumble story this year might not have involved John Cena. Other interesting things were happening, so WWE might have chosen a different plan.
2. The Rock
Rock did not show up at the Royal Rumble 2024, it could be because firstly, The Rock is super famous in Hollywood, doing lots of movies. Being in the Royal Rumble needs a bunch of time for training which might be hard with his busy schedule. Secondly, The Rock may be facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Skipping the Royal Rumble could be a plan to keep the excitement for that big match. If he showed up at the Rumble and didn’t win, it might not be as exciting as saving his return for a huge event like WrestleMania.
3. Sheamus
Sheamus was not at the 2024 Royal Rumble because he was healing from a shoulder injury he got in August 2023. There could be more to it than just getting better. Sheamus was part of a group called The Brawling Brutes, but with the others doing their own thing it left Sheamus without a clear plan. Bringing him back without a solid idea for his role might not have been as exciting, especially for a big event like the Royal Rumble. Also, the championships in WWE had their own stories going on which made it tricky for Sheamus to fit in as a top contender right away. Even though he was not in the Rumble, Sheamus is still in the picture. He talked about wanting to face Gunther on social media, hinting at a possible future rivalry.
4. Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio did not show up at the 2024 Royal Rumble, and there are different stories about why. One idea from WWE’s storytelling suggests his son Dominik might have attacked him backstage which creates drama for their ongoing story, and possibly leads to a big fight at WrestleMania. But there are also rumors from behind the scenes that Rey might have gotten hurt again, maybe during training. This lines up with him not being at recent SmackDown events and his name being taken off Rumble promotional stuff.
5. Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus was not at the 2024 Royal Rumble, and there are different ideas about why. One reason could be that she is busy with other projects like her yoga studio and podcast which makes it hard to fit in the Rumble. Another possibility is that she wants to have a big showdown with Zoey Stark, and she might be saving it for a major event like WrestleMania instead of doing it at the Rumble. Trish has also hinted at maybe thinking about retiring. Skipping a big match like the Rumble could be a way of taking things slow and not rushing into any decisions.
Conclusion
Some big wrestlers like John Cena, The Rock, Sheamus, and Rey Mysterio did not show up at the 2024 Royal Rumble and fans are wondering why. It could be because of personal stuff, plans by the wrestling organizers that get better from injuries, or the stories they are part of.
