*This article includes possible spoilers for the 2021 Royal Rumble match. If you do not want to know any potential spoilers you may want to discontinue reading.*
The Royal Rumble is finally here and after tonight we will see the seeds planted for WrestleMania. The fourth annual women’s Rumble match will take place tonight and there are currently 13-women declared for it as we are just hours away from the event.
Outside of these 13-women, we can assume the active women on both the RAW and SmackDown rosters will be included. Let’s break down some women who are currently on the roster but haven’t declared a spot heading into the event.
Nikki Cross has not been added but she has been having weekly video promos on social media hyping her up for it so she will most likely take part in it. Billie Kay and Lacey Evans will likely be added as well.
Two other women, Lana and Chelsea Green have a good chance at being in the match as well based on recent reports. From the news of her COVID-19 positive result, Reckoning will not be included.
Mickie James is still listed on WWE’s active roster and may have a spot although she has not wrestled for months. Although she hasn’t been active since August, Naomi could make it two years in a row that she returns at the Rumble. She is currently listed on the RAW brand and was drafted from SmackDown in October. and Lastly, Sonya Deville has returned into an authoritative role. There isn’t any build or certainty on if she will enter the match or not at this time.
Even with these names added, this opens up several spots and anticipation on who may be included. Of course, Alexa Bliss could play three different characters and that could take up two more entries. With or without that thought in place there are a few women who could make a surprise entrant.
Please note that these choices below also include some potential spoilers so read forward at your own cognizant.
The Bella Twins
The Bella Twins could be potential entries. They have been in the news a lot lately saying they want one more run with the company. Going after the Women’s Tag Team Titles is something they have always wanted and coming back in the Rumble is a great way to spark that idea. In the most recent reports of them returning, they mentioned waiting until their newly born sons were two and possibly at WrestleMania in Dallas next year.
Ronda Rousey
This name will forever be on the list of returning talent and especially in the Royal Rumble match. Rousey left WWE in 2019 after WrestleMania but ruling out a return in some capacity isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Stephanie McMahon recently spoke with hopes of a Rousey return but this isn’t a surprise as WWE has always left the doors open for her.
If she does return tonight during the Rumble match it would be hard to believe that she wouldn’t be the winner. Her close friend and trainer Natalya has scored the number 30 entrant into the match. Although it was already known that Natalya declared a spot being given the last entrance has sparked some ideas.
Rhea Ripley
This may be the least “surprising” entrant for lack of a better word. Rhea Ripley hasn’t been seen on television since she lost the Last Woman Standing match against Raquel Gonzalez at NXT’s New Years Evil on Jan. 6.
Ripley moving on to either the red or blue brand has been highly rumored for months. She even has gone on record saying she thought she was moving on from NXT during the draft in October. Making waves in the Rumble match may be just the way to fully introduce Ripley to the main roster and hopefully, she goes to RAW because that roster needs some fresh faces.
Eva Marie
Eva Marie’s name has been floating around for months as a return. There have been prior reports of her being backstage at RAW. She also had an interview several months ago saying she would return to WWE if it “made sense.” There has been far too much noise on her returning for her not to. The Royal Rumble would be the perfect way to reintroduce her.
Taya Valkyrie
This choice would certainly be a big impact (no pun intended) on the Rumble match. Taya Valkyrie has seemingly ended her time with IMPACT Wrestling. She was written off of IMPACT programming by “being taken to jail for shooting” John E. Bravo. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Valkyrie move to WWE as her husband, John Morrison is with the company. The surprise would be to introduce her in the Rumble and then see where they would place her afterward. Most talent comes in and goes to the NXT brand first.
Trish Stratus
This choice has perhaps the most substance to it becoming a fact. Hall of Famer Trish Stratus was last seen in a match against Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam in 2019. She entered in the first women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018 at entrant number 30.
Natalya perhaps spoiled Stratus’s entrance into this year’s match. She posted on her Instagram story alongside the Hall of Famer. In the caption, she stated she can’t wait for Sunday. It is stated that Natalya quickly deleted this shortly thereafter.
Who do you think will be a surprise in this year’s Royal Rumble match. The event and match will air tonight on the WWE Network at 7 P.M. EST (U.S.).
Check back in with Diva Dirt as we provide coverage for tonight’s big event and join in on the Discussion Post.
