What defines a mystery opponent in WWE?

[Bullet Sniper]

I know I don't really watch wrestling, but it's a long story as to why I ask... I heard of this concept called the "Royal Rumbles" and someone on youtube made this show of his called "Deadliest Fictional Warrior" and had a special where he pit like 30 characters against each other from match-ups he already used. But 5 of them are mystery characters. And they turn out to be characters who haven't been used on his show previously.

How does the concept of a mystery character work in WWE Royal Rumbles or any match in WWE? What defines it exactly? I'm curious.

[Brandon Hanvey]

The Royal Rumble is a yearly match held at the start of the year. It is what is called a battle royal match. There are different kinds of battle royals. Most involve a large number of wrestlers. The Royal Rumble usually involves 30 participants.

Unlike a typical battle royal where all the wrestlers start out in the ring, the Royal Rumble starts with only two wrestlers in the ring. Then every minute and a half another one of the 28 other wrestlers comes out and enters the match. This keeps happening until all 30 have entered. Wrestlers are eliminated by being sent over the top rope and both feet touching the outside ring floor. The winner is whoever is the last man in the ring once all 30 have entered and the rest eliminated. For the past few years, the winner of the Royal Rumble has received a shot at the top title in a match at Wrestlemania.

As for mystery opponents, they are basically unannounced participants. For the Royal Rumble, the WWE usually announces most of the 30 participants. They typically have a few slots that are open for "mystery opponents" These are used to keep the fans guessing as to who might win and to have some surprises/fun such as wrestlers have have shown up for a while (ie older wrestlers who have semi retired/left the company) or wrestlers who are returning from injury or time off.

[Bullet Sniper]

The Royal Rumble is a yearly match held at the start of the year. It is what is called a battle royal match. There are different kinds of battle royals. Most involve a large number of wrestlers. The Royal Rumble usually involves 30 participants.

Unlike a typical battle royal where all the wrestlers start out in the ring, the Royal Rumble starts with only two wrestlers in the ring. Then every minute and a half another one of the 28 other wrestlers comes out and enters the match. This keeps happening until all 30 have entered. Wrestlers are eliminated by being sent over the top rope and both feet touching the outside ring floor. The winner is whoever is the last man in the ring once all 30 have entered and the rest eliminated. For the past few years, the winner of the Royal Rumble has received a shot at the top title in a match at Wrestlemania.

As for mystery opponents, they are basically unannounced participants. For the Royal Rumble, the WWE usually announces most of the 30 participants. They typically have a few slots that are open for "mystery opponents" These are used to keep the fans guessing as to who might win and to have some surprises/fun such as wrestlers have have shown up for a while (ie older wrestlers who have semi retired/left the company) or wrestlers who are returning from injury or time off.

so the mystery opponents are either wrestlers who haven't shown up for a while and are only brought back when they are "retired" or out of the company and wrestlers who have just came back after a long break? or is it wrestlers who are only used for a very special occasion?

[lancerman]

so the mystery opponents are either wrestlers who haven't shown up for a while and are only brought back when they are "retired" or out of the company and wrestlers who have just came back after a long break? or is it wrestlers who are only used for a very special occasion?

It can realistically be anybody who the crowd doesn't have reason to believe is in the match. Usually a wrestler who hasn't been in the company recently. But for instance, in 2008, John Cena (the current top star) had an injury that was supposed to make him miss something like September through April. The Rumble is in January. Cena healed a lot faster than expected, and he was a mystery entrant at the end of the match. Kevin Nash/Diesel, a former WWE champion from the mid 90's, made an appearance at one of the more recent Rumbles. Things like that.