2018 Women’s Royal Rumble Match (30-Woman Royal Rumble Match for a Women’s Championship Match at WrestleMania 34)
WWE
Winner: Asuka!
Highlights: Before this history making bout took place, Maria Menounos, special guest commentator Stephanie McMahon, and both Women’s Champions of Raw and SD Live arrived. Entrant #1 was then announced as Sasha Banks, while #2 turned out to be Becky Lynch. Both women fought hard and gave the crowd something to applaud. After beating each other down, Sarah Logan ran out as #3. She made sure to tear into Banks and Lynch as soon as she entered the ring. #4 turned out to be Mandy Rose. Mandy used a flying knee strike on Banks and tried eliminating her soon after. Lita then made her shocking return at #5! The crowd came unglued as she landed a double clothesline on Banks and Lynch. Then Lita got into a brawl with Mandy while the rest of the ladies continued to fight. Lita eventually eliminated Mandy after shoving her off the ring apron. #6 was the inaugural Mae Young Classic’s winner Kairi Sane. Kairi used a Spear, a flying elbow strike and her gorgeous elbow drop to take down the competition.
Tamina then entered the match as the 7th entrant. She launched into a “Superkick Party!” on a few women, but then she ended up catching a DDT from Lita. Lita then dished out a Twist of Fate to Banks and Lynch, then planted both of them with her signature Moonsault. As the crowd cheered her on, Lita forced Tamina to eliminate herself by running clear over the top rope. But then Lita unexpectedly got thrown out herself! Dana Brooke then ran out at #8 and became the one to eliminate Kairi Sane. Then Torrie Wilson made her in-ring return at #9! Torrie ended up taking out Dana Brooke soon after her arrival. Sonya Deville then ran out as the match’s 10th competitor. Sonya handed out her most wicked MMA strikes and literally kicked Torrie out of the Rumble. #11 turned out to Liv Morgan, who focused her attention on Lynch and Banks. Molly Holly made her return as the 12th entrant and she quickly eliminated Logan. Then she came off the top rope with her Molly-Go-Round right onto Banks. #13 ended up being Lana, who got fired up as she targeted Liv and Deville. Then Michelle McCool entered the fray at #14 and eliminated both those women, Molly Holly and Lana.
The 15th entrant turned out to be Ruby Riott, who almost faced elimination as the remaining women in the ring took aim at her. Vickie Guerrero shrieked as loud as she could as she walked down the ramp at #16. She yelled “EXCUSE ME!” several times and caused the rest of the women in the ring stop everything they were doing just to eliminate her. Then Carmella entered the match at #17 with her MITB briefcase in tow. Vickie took Carmella’s suitcase right out of her hands and clocked her with it when they met each other on the ramp. #18 signaled the arrival of Natalya, who dropped her gear over a fallen Carmella. This woke up Carmella, who shoved Natalya off the ring apron when she attempted to enter the ring. Carmella looked good for a while during her offensive flurry, then Kelly Kelly ran in as #19. McCool eventually got thrown out, which then led into the entrance of Naomi as #20. Naomi “glowed” brightly as she took out most of the opposition. Lynch then went on an Exploder Suplex spree for a bit until Riott eliminated her.
Jacqueline then made her entrance as the 21st entrance. Miss Jackie toughed it out and handed out clothesline to the ladies who stepped in her warpath. The massive Nia Jax then came in at #22 and quickly got rid of Jacqueline and Kelly Kelly. Then she Gorilla Press Slammed Riott onto the top ring apron and forced her to fall to the outside. Nia also eliminated Naomi, but she was saved and caught by all the women standing on the outside. Then the NXT Women’s Champion Ember Moon entered the Rumble at #23. She took aim at Nia with repeated strikes, but Nia easily threw her across the ring soon after. On the outside, Naomi did her best Kofi Kingston Rumble save impersonation by using a chair. It didn’t pay off though since Nia caught her coming off the top rope and eliminated her. Beth Phoenix shocked the crowd by coming out at #24. She engaged in a powerhouse battle with Nia as the crowd went crazy. Beth picked up her twice and looked to get rid of her, but her efforts failed. Natalya ran back in and helped Beth push Nia through the middle rope, but then Natalya turned on her former running mate by forcing Beth over the top rope.
Asuka arrived as the 25th entrant and cleaned house on everyone in the ring. She then re-ignited her NXT feud with Ember Moon. Ember caught Asuka with her Eclipse finisher, but her injured arm ended up costing her the match. Asuka recovered and slammed her arm into the top rope and eliminated Ember. #26 turned out to be Mickie James. Later on, Nikki Bella made her return at #27. Both women landed their best moves on their hapless victims. Carmella targeted Nikki for a bit and landed a few moves on her, but then Nikki placed her on the ring apron and soon eliminated her. #28 ended up being Nikki’s twin sister Brie. “YES!” chants erupted as Brie struck down the competition. “Twin Magic” became the focal point of the match as it took down Nia and Natalya. Bayley entered the ring at #29 and knocked down the Bella Twins. While in the ring, Bayley began duking it out with Asuka. The final entrant ended up being Trish Stratus!
Trish chopped down the Bella Twins and then planted them both with a Stratusfaction Bulldog. After using a Frankensteiner to take Bayley off the top rope, Trish locked up with her old rival Mickie. Their fight ended with the elimination of Mickie, which got followed up by Nia making her return to continue her reign of terror. It didn’t last long though as every woman in the ring launched Nia out of the ring. While Bayley had her back turned, Banks catapulted her friend over the top rope. Natalya found herself in a battle with Trish that resulted in her locking in the Sharpshooter on the Hall of Famer. Trish eventually escaped, broke the hold, and eliminated Natalya. Then Banks ended up being the one to get rid of legendary Women’s wrestler. Banks turned around to face Asuka and it looked as if an unlikely alliance would form between them. But that didn’t come to pass. Asuka got beaten down by all three women for a while, but she eventually fought back.
Banks found herself eliminated in the middle of the Final Four brawl by Nikki and Brie, then Asuka did her best to beat back the twins. Nikki and Brie fended her off at one point and teamed up with her sister for some more tandem offense. But then Nikki got rid of her own sister. Nikki soon found herself getting the better of Asuka, but then the roles got reversed. As both women fought tooth and nail on the ring apron, Asuka got knocked down with a stiff elbow from Nikki. Asuka landed back first on the ring apron, but she used her quick thinking to trip up Nikki and cause her to tumble to the ground. Asuka wins! During Asuka’s post-match celebration, both Women’s champions entered the ring. Then all of a sudden, UFC’s Ronda Rousey entered the ring and made her presence felt. Alexa Bliss, Charlotte, Asuka, and Ronda Rousey stood in the ring and caused the crowd to erupt. Ronda made her away around the ring to chill with the fans and even shake Stephanie McMahon’s hand. Asuka continued staring down her championship opportunities as Ronda exited the arena.