Rhea Ripley has earned a title shot at WrestleMania after a record-breaking victory from the #1 spot in the 2023 women’s Royal Rumble match.
She set the record for the longest appearance in a women’s Rumble match at 1 hour, 1 minute, and 8 seconds.
#RoyalRumble just became RHEA RUMBLE!@RheaRipley_WWE has won the Women's Royal Rumble Match from the number 1️⃣ spot and now … MAMI IS GOING TO #WRESTLEMANIA!!! pic.twitter.com/5zWrk4QwKN
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2023
Ripley was booked incredibly strongly, with 12 competitors still in the ring when the 30th competitor, the returning Nia Jax, entered the match.
Liv Morgan and Asuka joined Ripley in the final three, with Asuka eliminated immediately after misting Morgan in the face.
Liv Morgan was also booked very strongly, lasting to the end of the match from the #2 spot.
Notable returns or appearances from non-main roster talent included:
- B-Fab of Hit Row, who entered at #7 for her first main roster match. She was eliminated quickly by Rhea Ripley.
- Roxanne Perez, the NXT Women’s Champion, who entered at #8. She was eliminated by the members of Damage CTRL teaming up.
- Natalya at #11, who had been out since October 2022, recovering from nasal surgery. Both she and Baszler were eliminated by Damage CTRL.
- At #13, Zoey Stark from NXT. Stark had a very good run in the match, finally being eliminated by a fresh Sonya Deville, who entered at #27.
- Asuka at #17. She appeared sporting face paint reminiscent of her former ‘Killer Clown’ persona that she used as Kana before signing with WWE. Asuka had been on hiatus in Japan.
- Piper Niven at #18. The former Doudrop had been away since September 2022 after dealing with complications post Covid.
- Chelsea Green at #20. She was immediately eliminated by Rhea Ripley.
- At #25, Michelle McCool. She entered the match from the front row of the crowd, where she had been seated with her kids.
- Indi Hartwell of NXT at #26.
- A returning Nia Jax at #30. Jax had been released by WWE in November 2021. Jax was eliminated by the remaining field after taking a Riptide from Rhea Ripley.
