9 Minor WWE Royal Rumble 2018 Changes That Would Make A Major Difference
2. A 20-Woman Royal Rumble
The 2018 Royal Rumble will be a notable show whatever happens, as the very first women’s Royal Rumble will take place. 30 women will enter and one will emerge victorious, with a championship match at WrestleMania the prize. Ronda Rousey and Asuka are the current favourites, but anything can happen between now and Sunday.
Let the sign-pointing begin!
WWE has announced that 30 women will compete in the match, and that is where the problems begin. At time of writing, there are just 21 women on the main roster. This includes managers and inactive performers, and means that a number of performers will be brought up from NXT to take part. That in itself is fine - but five women have already been called up from developmental in 2018.
The match would have been better served as a 20-woman match, with a series of qualifying bouts to determine the participants. This would have added true prestige to participation, as opposed to everyone being involved because it needs every warm body available. The first men’s Royal Rumble was a 20-man affair as well, so the obvious symmetry was there.
The women’s Royal Rumble is long overdue, and the only real frustration is that its booking is considered a surprise by some. 30 combatants is just too much however, and the bout itself will struggle. The entire show could be a drag, which is the last thing a Royal Rumble should be.
Non-US fans could well be in for a long, long night.