WWE made changes to this year’s Royal Rumble event. In a surprise move, it cancelled the planned Ronda Rousey vs. Raquel Rodriguez match from the show. It was instead moved to SmackDown a few weeks early.
As of last month, WWE had plans for Edge to go against Finn Balor in a Hell in a Cell match at the Rumble. These plans were also scrapped, according to WrestlingNews.co.
Beh Phoenix is also scheduled to be at the Royal Rumble. However, according to reports, it is not known if she will be in the Women’s Royal Rumble or if she will just be backstage. With many talks about Beth wrestling again and even plans of Beth and Edge teaming up to against Balor and Rhea Ripley in a mixed tag team match, this doesn’t look very unlikely. Since so many changes have happened recently, it is difficult to say for sure if the mixed tag team match will happen at all.
Other than the match lineup changes, it is also being reported that Ronda Rousey will no longer be part of the Royal Rumble match. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE wants to maintain Rousey’s star power. It wants to do this by not having Rousey be “just someone in the match.” Rousey was last seen on WWE television when she dropped the Women’s Championship title to Charlotte Flair on 2022’s last episode of SmackDown.
Ripley on the other hand, could emerge as the winner for the Royal Rumble. During a recent interview, Ripley stated her goal is to win the Royal Rumble and that she doesn’t care what number she comes in at, she will make it to the end and throw everyone out to get her “golden ticket to WrestleMania.” The Royal Rumble takes place this Saturday, and fans are eagerly awaiting to see what other surprises and changes the WWE has in store.
