With Survivor Series WarGames coming up at the end of this month, it is as far as we know, the last premium live event on the 2022 schedule. As a result, the next one will be the Royal Rumble which takes place at the end of January. The annual event will host its sixth 30-woman Royal Rumble match with the winner going on to headline WrestleMania 39.
The past winners include Asuka, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, and Ronda Rousey. Out of the five previous winners, three (Lynch, Flair, and Belair) would go on to win a championship at WrestleMania.
With the event still just two months away, there’s still plenty of time for new contenders to emerge who may win the match, but who do we think may take it based on what we currently know?
Although nowhere confirmed, the likely matches at WrestleMania if the current champions stay in place could possibly be Charlotte Flair vs. Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey.
Check out the Diva Dirt staff picks below –
Colby’s Picks
As of this writing, Rhea Ripley is my personal favorite to win her first Royal Rumble match. There’s money to be made in running Ripley vs. Bianca Belair in a marquee match on the main roster. From what we’ve seen of their interactions in NXT and as the final two in the 2021 Rumble, these two can make magic. It also helps that Triple H is a supporter of Ripley and he can be trusted to book her journey to Mania, no matter who is champion.
The Boss will return to WWE one day. There’s no denying that she should’ve won the 2022 Rumble match to get the SmackDown title match instead of Rousey… but here we are. If Banks were to win the Rumble, she could challenge anyone really. Belair, Rousey, Charlotte, Bayley. All of those options are worthy of headlining WrestleMania whether she’s a babyface or a heel. Plus, Mania is going Hollywood this year and Banks in a marquee match just makes perfect sense.
I know we’re just now seeing Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey as partners, but I secretly look forward to the day we finally see them as opponents. Baszler has come close to winning the Rumble before, and she’s another one that Triple H could get behind for a WrestleMania draw. With the right direction, Baszler vs. Rousey is worthy of a spot on the biggest show of the year.
Before walking out (and rightfully so), Naomi was reportedly set to win a major number one contender’s match that would’ve afforded her the opportunity to challenge Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. Those are two things Naomi has never done before – faced Belair and won the Raw title, let alone challenge for it. Plus, Naomi has spent a majority of her career as a babyface, and I believe there’s untapped potential in a heel run whether she’s part of The Bloodline or not. Naomi stepping up to Belair would produce some Mania magic.
We still don’t know where Liv Morgan’s character is going, but a redemption storyline could lead to a huge Royal Rumble win. Personally, I would want to see Liv win the Rumble if Rhea Ripley wins the Raw Women’s title in the next few months. Liv’s edgier character versus Judgment Day Ripley would be the perfect full-circle moment after they formed a tag team for the previous WrestleMania. Even as a heel, Liv vs. Belair would be intriguing. Right now, she’s my dark horse pick.
Gary’s Picks
Liv Morgan
I always want the Royal Rumble winner to be someone who NEEDS it and an argument could be made that Liv, as a former Women’s Champion, does not need it but I would be all for Liv getting back to the top of the mountain and secure an extra accomplishment.
Charlotte Flair
The Men’s Royal Rumble have had repeat winners before and if the WWE were ever going to do that with anyone, it would be Charlotte. I’m not saying I want her to win it, she simply does not need it, but I could see it happening as part of her return to the fold.
Picture it. Counting down to the final number 30 spot, we have some favourites left in the ring and Mandy Rose comes out, flanked by Toxic Attraction, shenanigans ensue and Rose wins. People would hate it but it would effectively put her over as a heel. Rose is a controversial figure, some online hate her while the NXT crowd love her, let’s bring her back to the Main Roster with some turmoil!
Flipping with what I said about Charlotte, this is one I don’t see happening but my gosh would I love to see it. Those who have worked with Dana have only ever said positive things, she works hard and is a contender in that ring despite what her naysayers may say. Not to repeat what happened with Liv but let’s see Dana be snubbed from WarGames because even the babyfaces doubt her, bring back promos like what she did to Ronda in her first run and build Dana as the passionate albeit underestimated competitor she is and do something unexpected. Let her win the Rumble.
Rhea Ripley
Again, Ripley doesn’t need the Rumble to get in the title picture and she is a considerable threat but Bianca Belair vs Rhea Ripley at Wrestlemania is not a bad match! Leading up to it we could see Judgment Day and Street Profits get into it as well and have an all out war between the two factions fuelled by their female counterparts and the RAW Women’s title.
Nick’s Picks
Hear me out. This first choice is pure fantasy booking and in no way would I expect this to happen but it makes me feel good. So, Mickie who is currently with IMPACT and in her “Last Rodeo” tour will lose at IMPACT’s Hard to Kill. For those of you who may not know, Mickie has stated that she is wrestling her last run in IMPACT. The thing is, she is going to continue to have matches until she gets to a championship match. If she loses a match along the way, or in the championship match she will hang up her boots.
This could be the perfect moment to bring Mickie back to WWE for one last good run. And what better way then to win the Rumble and go on to WrestleMania? She could lose a championship match at Hard to Kill and then can show up in the rumble match just a couple of weeks later.
Mandy Rose
With the long run that Rose has had as champion, WWE needs to keep their foot on the gas when she and the rest of Toxic Attraction move to the main roster. Although it would be an overall unpopular win, it would continue to propel Mandy forward and she can use the WrestleMania build as well to fully introduce Toxic Attraction on the main roster.
Shotzi
Above all else, I always hope that the winner of matches such as a Royal Rumble goes to a talent that needs a big push and one who needs more exposure. Shotzi has all the boxes checked on who could be the next big star. She has a title match against Ronda Rousey coming up at Survivor Series and now with Shayna Baszler teamed up with Rousey it won’t be in Shotzi’s favor. She could rebound from that with a Royal Rumble win.
Liv Morgan
The booking for Liv Morgan throughout 2022 has been a roller coaster to say the least. With her first title win now in the books and a rejuvenation of sorts since dropping the title, Morgan still has a lot of fans firmly behind her. She has proven she can handle matches on premium live events so give her the chance on the biggest stage of them all. More importantly have her win the title and engage in a successful run.
Becky Lynch
If she is ready to come back, Becky would be an expected winner. I really don’t want someone who has won before to win again this soon and nor does Becky need this to go to WrestleMania. However, it is likely we may get Becky v. Ronda so her winning here would be very deja vu of 2019. This time though they can not convolute the win of Becky at the Rumble as they did last time.
Who do you think will win the 2023 women’s Royal Rumble match? Chat below.
