The Women's Revolution going on in WWE right now will continue at the Royal Rumble.
Stephanie McMahon announced on Raw that the Royal Rumble will kick off with a Royal Rumble match featuring women superstars. No further details were mentioned.
Immediately after the announcement was made, ESPN put up an interview with Stephanie McMahon talking about the announcement.
"I think that it's long overdue. There's been an incredible movement that's been happening in our business that started nearly three years ago" she said. "They've been regularly headlining television and pay-per-view events, including their first-ever Hell in a Cell match and first-ever women's Money in the Bank match," McMahon said of the big steps forward. "Now, for the first time ever, we're going to have a women's Royal Rumble match."
There currently is no word on any specific details, like if the match will have 30 women, if the winner gets a women's title shot, etc. Speculation had been rampant in recent weeks about a possible Rumble match, especially with the addition of the Absolution and Riott Squad.
WWE has issued a statement on the match :
For the first time in history, WWE’s female Superstars will perform in a Royal Rumble match on Sunday, January 28, where Superstars will go head-to-head with the winner receiving a championship opportunity at WrestleMania® 34 this April. This milestone was announced tonight by WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon during Monday Night Raw® live on USA Network.
The women’s Royal Rumble marks another milestone in WWE’s women’s evolution, which has placed a spotlight on its female performers, involving them in more prominent storylines, with deeper character development and longer matches.
“The first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match will mark a significant moment in the evolution of WWE,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. “WWE’s female performers are role models, inspiring and empowering women and girls to be confident and strong. They deserve their own match at Royal Rumble.”
At WrestleMania 32, WWE unveiled a new Women’s Championship title belt and re-branded the Divas Division to become the Women’s Division. Since then, WWE has placed a greater emphasis on its female performers, including recruiting female talent from around the world, as well as the recent signings of the first female recruits from the Middle East and India.
This year, WWE created the first-ever women’s tournament, Mae Young Classic, which included 32 of the top female competitors from 16 countries, underscoring the breadth and international diversity of women in sports entertainment. In addition, earlier this month, WWE Superstars Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss took part in the first-ever women’s match in the Middle East, and this summer in partnership with Mattel, WWE unveiled the first-ever Fashion Doll line featuring its female Superstars.
The Royal Rumble is scheduled to take place on January 28 in Philadelphia.
