The women’s Royal Rumble match will hit its third consecutive year in a row getting a battle royal with a title shot at WrestleMania like the men have had for decades. Asuka and Becky Lynch are currently the two ladies to win the Rumble and move to a championship match at WrestleMania. The Women’s Championship picture on Raw and Smackdown are wide open heading into WM season.
Becky Lynch and Bayley are both in the midst of dominant title reigns. The run of Lynch has been going strong ass the Raw Women’s Champion since WrestleMania 35. Bayley has been the main Smackdown Women’s Champion since Money in the Bank. We will look at current favorites and unlikely winners for the women’s Rumble based on the current landscape of WWE. Find out if your favorite lady has a chance. These are five women who have a good chance at the Royal Rumble and five that don’t have a prayer.
10 Good chance: Sasha Banks
The Bayley vs Sasha Banks split never happened after rumors of one turning on the other. Banks left WWE for months following the end of their Women’s Tag Team Championship reign with Bayley. The return saw her attack, Becky Lynch and Natalya.
Bayley eventually turned as well to align with her best friend, but the singles feud must happen at some point. Banks winning the Rumble would set the stage for the ladies to have their big match on the biggest stage. The biggest issue would come when trying to figure out which one plays a face.
9 No chance: Nia Jax
The injury timetable is running out for Nia Jax with an eventual return at some point in early 2020. Wrestlers recovering from injuries with such a time frame will often be saved for the fun reveal as a surprise Royal Rumble match entrant.
Jax is someone that has strong WWE support, but neither main program makes sense right now. There would be little fan interest in a face Nia vs heel Bayley feud. Jax facing Becky Lynch would have potential based on their past, but that’s not a huge attraction match WWE wants from the Becky match.
8 Good chance: Charlotte Flair
Charlotte Flair is always involved in a main women’s feud for better or worse. WWE views Flair as the most consistent top star in the women’s division even if Becky Lynch passed her in the overall pecking order. Regardless, the presence of Flair will always have a strong role in WWE.
If no one has strong momentum like Becky did last year, WWE may tend to go back to the well for another big Charlotte match. The right booking could land Flair a match against Lynch or Bayley on the biggest stage in a main event level attraction.
7 No chance: Natalya
WWE trusts Natalya to be one of the most consistent sources of productivity in the women’s division. Shows like Summerslam or Survivor Series will see Natalya sometimes get a bigger role, but there’s no chance of her getting a title match at WrestleMania.
The floor of Natalya of higher than most thanks to her experience, but the ceiling is lower since she doesn’t have the same level of star power as the top names. Natalya would struggle in such a role and WWE will likely never have her in the WM singles title matches.
6 Good chance: Shayna Baszler
The strange end of Survivor Series saw Shayna Baszler defeat Becky Lynch and Bayley in the main event to represent NXT strongly. Lynch, however, chose to attack Baszler to end the show standing tall. There is speculation this was meant to set up a bigger singles match between the two.
The idea would see Baszler lose the NXT Women’s Championship to Rhea Ripley and debut on the main roster in the Royal Rumble match. A win would give Shayna the chance to challenge Becky on the biggest stage. There aren’t many realistic candidates from Raw to face Lynch on the biggest show. This could lead to the Baszler NXT call-up.
5 No chance: Nikki Cross
The rise of Nikki Cross has seen her become one of the more beloved face characters during her storyline with Alexa Bliss. WWE has kept Cross and Bliss together for most of the year as a team forming a close friendship by working together.
Cross did get a few singles matches against the two Women’s Champions before the draft, but WWE doesn’t appear to see her singles potential. The chances of her going far in the Royal Rumble match are low unless it’s to help Bliss.
4 Good chance: Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss is clearly still a top priority for WWE in the women’s division. The team of Bliss and Nikki Cross is currently on the Smackdown brand primarily working together. Various injuries kept Alexa off television for multiple extended periods, but she is back and 100% heading into 2020.
Bliss would be on the top tier of female performers based on how WWE views her. Aside from the time injured, most of Alexa’s time on the main roster has seen her involved in one of the various women’s title pictures. A win at the Royal Rumble could land her a massive WrestleMania match.
3 No chance: Lacey Evans
WWE is trying to turn Lacey Evans' face on the Smackdown roster. The women’s division clearly needs new faces on Smackdown to oppose the power duo of Sasha Banks and Bayley. Evans is the first lady to stand up to them following the brand split.
Time will tell if Lacey can live up to the WWE expectations for her, but it makes little sense right now to put her in a WrestleMania program. Evans looked out of place and inexperienced during her matches with Becky Lynch. It will take at least another year before Lacey is ready for a top WM match.
2 Good chance: Ronda Rousey
The future of Ronda Rousey is unknown regarding WWE. Some rumors claim WWE is planning to bring her back for the Royal Rumble match. Others believe she is looking to start a family with a pregnancy planning removing her from the wrestling picture.
Rousey would make the most sense if she wanted to return. The end of the WrestleMania 35 main event came in a controversial fashion. There is still a conflict between Rousey and Becky Lynch, especially since they’ve yet to have a singles match. If Rousey has any plans to return, she is definitely winning the 2020 Royal Rumble match.
1 No chance: Asuka
Fans have found some hope in Asuka’s future due to the dominant tag team run with Kairi Sane as the Kabuki Warriors. Becky Lynch and Asuka have the most intense personal rivalry in the tag picture as Asuka is the one woman Lynch has yet to defeat.
Any hope for Asuka winning the Royal Rumble and getting a singles match with Becky should slow down. The chances of this remain slim due to WWE liking Asuka in the tag division. Asuka’s singles push would end abruptly every time on the main roster. Vince McMahon clearly doesn’t have the trust to put her in a major WrestleMania 36 match.