Since Stephanie McMahon announced the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble in a ring filled with Monday Night RAW’s female roster on Monday December 18th, fans, media, and the Internet has been buzzing.
Last night, thirty women participated in a coveted match that the men have been doing since 1988, an event that marks the Road to Wrestlemania, a bout that has huge impacts and significance. With this Rumble, the women no longer play second fiddle to the male superstars in the company and while in years past the females have often been left out of high-level Mania matches – this Rumble guarantees that won’t ever happen again.
Simply put, the 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble nailed it; succeeding the expectations and hype that the WWE brought forward these past few weeks.
As multiple stories unfolded, the action was stellar, the surprise entrants were incredible, the entrance spots each talent was given was perfect, and the legendary female superstars, as well as those on the current roster, brought their A-game; not only offering entertaining moves and aggression, but each woman helped to sell their opponents well.
From @trishstratuscom to The @BellaTwins to @NiaJaxWWE, the past and present have converged in the first-ever Women’s #RoyalRumble Match! #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/uC3rncUVCt
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
What did I like best about the match? Other than the fact that it main evented one of the Big Four pay-per-views (PPV), the first one of the year? Well, seeing Lita, Trish Stratus, Jacqueline, Beth Phoenix, Michelle McCool, and Molly Holly return and take center stage was a big part of what made this match work. I was blown away by the fact that these women clearly ‘still had it’ and it was a great testimony to their contributions to the women’s revolution in the past (before the WWE was ready to allow for a revolution), the division, and the company’s history as well. I loved the fact that Trish Stratus entered in at 30: as a huge fan of hers, I was on the fence as to whether or not she’d even be in the match, not because she wasn’t well-deserving, but her entrepreneurial schedule and being a busy mom of two young and gorgeous little ones. Hitting 30 kept me on my toes and I literally yelled, ‘yes’ in my living room as her music hit. Not only did Stratus prove to have minimal ring rust, she also helped put over Nattie, Sasha Banks, The Bella Twins, and other younger talents within the current roster.
The spots and stories in this match, though. My favorites included: Lita, clearing house with her Twist of Fate; Naomi pulling an awesome Kofi Kingston by not allowing both feet to drop on the floor – balancing over a barricade and swinging on a chair – to make it back into that ring; Vicky Guerrero’s ‘Excuse Me’ entrance and elimination; BFFs Nattie and Beth Phoenix teaming up against Nia Jax, only for Natalya to turn on Beth and eliminate her; The same similar story unfolding between The Bella Sisters; and of course, Asuka coming out on top.
The story didn’t end there. I was a bit taken aback when I realized that Ronda Rousey didn’t make an appearance as an entrant and I fluffed it off after Stratus came out at 30. Nice ending with Rousey coming out, just as Asuka won the Rumble, was in the middle of the ring, and deciding which superstar she planned to fight come Wrestlemania 34 – SmackDown LIVE’s Women’s Champion Charlotte or Monday Night RAW’s Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss – Ronda simply pointed to the Wrestlemania sign nicely dangling above the arena and then went to shake Stephanie McMahon’s hand.
Everyone’s eyes are on #WrestleMania 34…
…including @RondaRousey‘s!!! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/ynkps4gqx5
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Michael Cole instructed fans to hit social media for breaking news and the WWE Universe was shocked to find out that Ronda Rousey has finally landed to the brand, signing a long-term contract.
Excellent way to close a match, even better to end a PPV. So many questions unanswered, so much speculation, yet fans were satisfied with entertainment.
Overall, in my humble opinion, the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble was a smashing success.
WNZ fans! What were your thoughts on the 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble? Favorite spots? Leave your comments below!
