D-Von Dudley Targets In-Ring Return At WWE Royal Rumble 2022

D-Von Dudley has revealed his intentions of coming out of retirement to wrestle once again, targeting a WWE return at the 2022 Royal Rumble. 

The WWE Hall Of Famer's last match for Vince McMahon's outfit was on the SummerSlam kick-off show in 2016, but D-Von has not competed inside a ring since the end of that year. 

The 48-year-old, who recently admitted to suffering a stroke, is adamant he is back to full-heath and implied that his recent scare has motivated him to resume his in-ring career. 

Speaking on his Table Talk podcast, Dudley said: "I do plan on coming out of retirement now. I’m willing to get back in the ring and do it again. I didn’t think I would, but I think I am. 

"I think after going through what I went through and now back on the road to recovery, doing what I’m doing, like, I’m just trying to be strong, my trainers trying to get myself back to where I need to be, dropping all sorts of weight. I think I’ll be ready."

Recognised by WWE as having 18 tag-team championship reigns, D-Von was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 alongside long-standing tag-team partner Bubba Ray Dudley. 

Bubba Ray was a surprise entry in the 2015 Royal Rumble, and D-Von says his aim is to return to in-ring fitness in time to feature at next year's annual Over-The-Top-Rope melee. 

He added: "Listen, I’m not putting it out there, I’m not saying I’m going to be in the Royal Rumble. What I’m saying is I would love to be in the Royal Rumble next year. 

"If everything still goes right with me, I would love to have the opportunity to do that. But, I have to be straight. My body has to be good and ready to go. I’ll be honest with you, I think I’ll be fine. I’ll declare myself in saying that I will try to get ready for the Royal Rumble and hopefully Mr. McMahon picks me to be in it. But if not then I can’t do it.”

H/T SportsKeeda