Nikki Bella appeared on WWE Raw’s Netflix premiere. (Credit: Olivera/Getty Images)
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The 2025 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble has unsurprisingly taken a backseat to the men’s match, and yet, it is shaping up to be one of the most newsworthy women’s Rumbles ever.
Yes, a few major threats loom large, namely Charlotte Flair, who is confirmed to return in the 30-woman battle royal, and Becky Lynch, who has re-signed with WWE and is reportedly returning imminently. In addition, former TNA star Jordynne Grace has reportedly signed with WWE, adding yet another top name to WWE’s stacked women’s division and the Royal Rumble mix.
The names of Grace and Lynch have come up so often in Royal Rumble discussions, however, that any potential surprise return has essentially been spoiled for hardcore fans. Those same fans can rest assured, however, that with less than half the field confirmed for the women’s Royal Rumble match, this bout will be filled with a number of legitimate shockers.
Here are five potential surprise entrants in the women’s battle royal at WWE Royal Rumble 2025.
ForbesWWE Royal Rumble 2025: Liv Morgan And 5 Women’s DarkhorsesBy Blake OestriecherAsuka
WWE’s creative team has reportedly begun exploring creative ideas for the return of Asuka, who has been sidelined since May 2024.
One of the most accomplished stars in WWE history, Asuka is a former six-time world champion, Money in the Bank winner and Royal Rumble winner. As such, Asuka is desperately needed in a WWE’s women’s division that is deep with talent but lacking in terms of notable main event level stars.
If WWE can bring back Flair, Lynch and Asuka all within the same Royal Rumble match, that would certainly be the trifecta of signicant returns that could really revitalize the women’s division. Asuka, of course, could fit in on either Raw or SmackDown as a heel or babyface, too, only making her potential return all the more impactful if it happens.
And if Asuka does show up, she would be a darkhorse candidate to win it, too.
Masha Slamovich
In 2022, then TNA Knockouts World Champion Mickie James became the first TNA Champion to appear on WWE programming while holding the title.
In 2025, the current TNA Champion Masha Slamovich could very well follow suit, and the reasoning is simple. Earlier this year, WWE made its working relationship with TNA official and will be utilizing that relationship for more crossover opportunities between the two companies.
Slamovich recently appeared on WWE NXT to confront Cora Jade, so WWE has already laid the groundwork for the TNA star to make the jump to WWE’s main roster for a one-off appearance. Although Slamovich isn’t as well known as James, a former WWE star herself, it’s important for WWE to effectively utilize its TNA-WWE crossovers.
There is no better opportunity for that than at the Royal Rumble, and as TNA’s current roster stands, its No. 1 star is Slamovich.
Roxanne Perez
NXT’s Roxanne Perez has been involved in a feud with Raw’s Bayley that has been mostly relegated to NXT. Well, now is the perfect time to bring that rivalry to the main roster.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, who trained Perez, has made it known that he believes she is ready to move to Raw or SmackDown but says it needs to come at the right time, and he’s precisely right. Now indeed is the right time, too.
The WWE women’s division is in a bit of a state of flux, with lots of talented stars but many of those stars being unable to break through that proverbial glass ceiling and make it to the next level. There is arguably no better prospect in WWE’s women’s division than Perez, who at just 23 years old is already one of the best in-ring performers in WWE.
Perez has the potential to be a staple of WWE’s women’s division for the next decade or more, and a meaningful Royal Rumble appearance combined with a main roster rivalry with Bayley could help get her there.
Jade Cargill
Jade Cargill’s WWE absence has been a hot topic of debate over the past few months, but the former AEW star’s return is expected to happen in the near future.
Of course, Cargill was written off TV in late 2024 as part of a “who dunnit?” attack angle that makes the women’s Royal Rumble match the perfect time and place for her to return. The story is an easy one to tell, with Cargill targeting whichever star attacked her and put her on the shelf.
Thus far, WWE hasn’t revealed who attacked Cargill, and her closest allies—Naomi and Bianca Belair—have both denied it. Imagine, then, a scenario where Cargill returns while her attacker, whoever that may be, is in the ring, she runs to the ring at a lightning quick pace and immediately goes after her attacker.
That would answer the mystery without anyone having to say a world and potentially set the stage for a significant WrestleMania 41 match for Cargill and whoever her attacker is—likely Belair or Naomi.
Nikki Bella
After her surprise appearance on the Raw on Netflix premiere, Nikki Bella is reportedly discussing a contract with WWE to return to the company.
Bella last wrestled a WWE singles match in 2018, but her most recent in-ring appearance for the company came—as you may have guessed—as a surprise in the 2022 women’s Royal Rumble match. Three years later, history looks set to repeat itself as Bella potentially makes a full-blown return to the company after a seven-year hiatus.
The WWE women’s division Bella left looked a lot different then than it does today, but her impact on women’s wrestling can’t be understand. Nikki and her twin sister Brie helped make women’s wrestling more mainstream, and though they were not everyone’s cup of tea, their contributions are undoubtedly significant.
Bella returning to WWE in the women’s Royal Rumble would create immediate buzz and potentially lead to some intriguing matches with new stars like Liv Morgan and Tiffany Stratton.
