3 TNA talents we'd like to see enter the Royal Rumble

The road to WrestleMania 41 is upon us - the 38th Royal Rumble goes down Saturday from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The event comes on the heels of WWE's announcement of its new partnership with TNA Wrestling. The union between former competitors opens the door for crossover opportunities, as WWE referenced in its Jan. 16 news release.

What better way to showcase your new partnership than at an event that's all about surprises? Here are three TNA talents we'd like to see enter the Royal Rumble match.

Nic Nemeth

Nemeth was a WWE staple as Dolph Ziggler for 11 years. With a tenure that included two World Heavyweight Championship reigns, the ultra-athletic Nemeth seemed destined to be a WWE lifer. Instead, a shocking September 2023 release led him to TNA and its world title.

Given the impact he's made in TNA, it seems like a no-brainer to have him enter his 15th Royal Rumble match. If WWE wants to show that anybody can walk through the door, why not say hello to an old friend?

Masha Slamovich

The Women's Royal Rumble has a history of bringing out TNA champions. Mickie James was an entrant in 2022, and Jordynne Grace appeared in last year's event. Should the tradition continue, recently crowned Masha Slamovich would be the perfect candidate. The six-year TNA veteran has worked her way to the top of the Knockouts division, dethroning Grace to become champion.

WWE fans may not be familiar with the entire TNA roster, so showcasing a standout like the hard-hitting Slamovich would help acquaint the audience with TNA's top performers.

Joe Hendry

Do you believe in the man who would appear if you said his name? Joe Hendry is no stranger to the WWE Universe. Hendry's growing popularity in TNA caught the eyes of WWE and led the promotion to feature him in NXT before their partnership officially began.

The NXT crossover benefited Hendry, as the rising star captured the TNA World Championship over Nemeth at January's Genesis pay-per-view. As the poster boy for the WWE-TNA partnership, Hendry would be the ultimate surprise entrant for the 2025 Royal Rumble.