The 2024 Royal Rumble will surely go down as a monumental one in many ways. Cody Rhodes became the first wrestler in 26 years to win back-to-back Royal Rumbles. Roman Reigns defended his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a Fatal-4-Way match. Kevin Owens and Logan Paul put on a decent match for the United States Championship match. And talks of the Vince McMahon lawsuit brought up some question. However, it was the Women that wound up stealing the show at the pay-per-view.
Women made the most of their opportunities
One. The Royal Rumble match card had one match that featured women. Granted, there were only four matches, but neither of the main roster women’s champions made an appearance. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky were nowhere to be found in action.
I understand that the Royal Rumble has the two longest matches of the year in the Royal Rumble themselves, but shortening the fatal-four-way match and Logan Paul match seemed like they could try to make room for at least one of them to defend their title.
The Royal Rumble itself (Part1)
Right off the bat, fans were treated to a surprise return as Naomi made her return to WWE programming. Her last match was in May of 2022. Then came in a surprise entrant at number 5: Jordynne Grace. Grace was maybe the biggest star of the night in any match. The spots that she was able to pull off were incredible and showed that she has a lot of potential, even though she only lasted until the 14th competitor. However, WWE fans will have to wait to see more of Grace as she is currently signed with TNA and will sparingly be on WWE programming.
Three members of Damage CTRL were in the ring before we got to the twelfth entrant, Bayley, Asuka, and Kairi Sane. Sane would nearly get thrown out by Kayden Cater but nearly had this magnificent Kofi-like save that was nothing short of impressive that she was able to hang on as long as she did. All three members had strong spots in the match. Bayley suddenly found herself being the only member of the group left in the ring.
The Rumble Itself (Part 2)
The comedy duo of the rumble was seeing tag team partners Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. They came in at numbers 14 and 15. Green lasted just five seconds in last year’s match, and I bet she wishes that that’s how long it lasted this year. Niven saved Green by catching her as she was falling out of the ring. Then proceeded to pretend to drop her to get a good laugh. Niven would then accidentally hit Green with multiple running corner body splashes throughout the match.
Nia Jax entered the Rumble at number 19 and got her usual spots displaying her strength. She eliminated Ivy Nile and Katana Chance immediately when she entered the ring. At one point, all seven women in the ring tried to eliminate her at one time, but Jax pushed them all away. Niven was then eliminated by Jax.
Becky Lynch entered at 21 and made an instant bee line for Jax, eventually dropping her with a dropkick from the top rope. At 28, another surprise entrant made her way to the ring. Jade Cargill, who had previously been with AEW and hasn’t had a match since September, made her way to the ring. Cargill made an immediate impression, having a stare down with Jax. After the two traded blows, Cargill picked up Jax twice. Once to perform a slam, and another time to throw her over the top rope.
At entrant 29, former NXT Womens Champion Tiffany Stratton made her main roster debut. The WWE universe was in for one more big surprise at number 30 when former Smackdown Womens Champion Liv Morgan returned after being out since suffering a shoulder injury in August.
The Final Three
After all the chaos of 30 superstars, only three remained in the ring: Liv Morgan, Jade Cargill, and Bayley. The three would tumble over the top rope onto the apron. Bayley and Morgan would try to team up on Cargill with both women on opposite sides of her. But it was to no avail.
Cargill had an answer for everything they threw at her, from punches to kicks. Bayley would sneak in under the bottom rope unnoticed, and Morgan would perform a move that would send Cargill outside. While still on her back on the apron, Bayley would kick Morgon off. Thus, ending the 2024 Royal Rumble, with the last woman standing being Bayley. Bayley now has her choice of either Rhea Ripley or fellow Damage CTRL member Iyo Sky at Wrestlemania.