Nick Khan Explains Lack of Surprise Entrants at 2026 Royal Rumble

Nick Khan is addressing one of the biggest talking points coming out of the 2026 Royal Rumble—the lack of surprise entrants that fans have come to expect.

Speaking on the Bill Simmons podcast, Nick Khan was asked directly about the lack of surprise returns at the 2026 Royal Rumble. With fans noticing the absence of nostalgic appearances—something that has long defined the match—Khan offered a detailed explanation.

Khan pointed to a major change in how long wrestlers are able to compete today compared to previous generations. That change, according to Khan, has made it harder to find those unexpected names from the past who are both available and able to compete. He explained that even when you look back at iconic eras like the late ‘90s, the pool of potential returning stars isn’t what it once was.

“So one inherent issue—that is solvable, but not as easily solvable as it used to be—is that athletes, with science and training, their careers go much longer than they used to. If I said to you, okay, who from the late ’90s nWo would you like to see come back—there’s no one.”

Khan then brought up specific examples to show why those kinds of returns aren’t always possible anymore, referencing both health and availability.

“Hulk Hogan—rest in peace. Even late 2000s or early 2010s—Stone Cold Steve Austin retired when he was 38. Kurt Angle—bad knees, just had surgery—we can’t clear him medically.”

He made it clear that the issue isn’t just about creative decisions—it’s about whether those performers can realistically return at all. Khan also pointed out how much time has passed for some of the names fans might expect to see again, using past returns as an example.

“There aren’t men or women where you’re like, ‘That’s just readily available.’ Remember when Tatanka came back 10–15 years ago—how old is he now? 65?”

The explanation definitely changes the conversation from WWE simply choosing not to do surprise returns and toward a deeper issue—there just aren’t as many viable options as there used to be. Khan isn’t saying surprises are gone forever, but based on his comments, the days of multiple nostalgia returns every year may be harder to pull off than fans realize.

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