The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal match has been a staple of the last few Wrestlemanias. The match, which made its debut back at Wrestlemania 30, was originally intended as a platform to launch future WWE stars. Somewhere along the way, though, WWE’s mission statement got lost, and the match has become nothing more than a way to help mid-carders and jobbers find a way onto the card.
Last year’s match, which saw Mojo Rawley walk away with the trophy, was seen by many fans as the kiss of death for the match, and rumours began to surface this week that the company was considering scrapping the match altogether.
Apparently, the company are considering replacing the match with a female equivalent this year. A move which makes a lot of sense when you consider the current hype surrounding the Women’s division.
The world’s eyes will be on the WWE at Wrestlemania, and with Ronda Rousey making headlines around the world, the company will want to make sure the women of the WWE get the correct treatment on the grandest stage of them all. After botching the first ever Women’s Money in the Bank match, the company have redeemed themselves in recent months, delivering the right result, and excellent matches, in the shape of the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches.
If the WWE decides to book a women’s battle royal at Mania, then it is paramount that the company get the result right. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five women who could potentially win the rumoured Women’s Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 34.
1: Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch remains the queen of under-used WWE talent. She is one of the company’s most capable female athletes, is super over, and is one of the company’s most natural babyfaces. Becky has not had so much as a sniff at the Smackdown’s Women’s Title since her run as Smackdown’s first ever Women’s champion was brought to an end by Alexa Bliss, and fans would love to see her elevated back up to that level once again.
Thankfully, due to Bliss’ popularity, and the clear lack of legitimate title challengers on Smackdown, Bliss could be instantly elevated up to that level on any given Tuesday, but a more organic rise back to the top would be more appreciated by the fans.
Bliss is basically just used a side-kick for Charlotte these days, so having her break out, and walk out of Wrestlemania with a big win under her belt would be a great way to re-establish her on the Blue Brand.
2: Nikki Bella
This is a decision we definitely shouldn’t rule out. Nikki Bella had been absent from WWE for 9 months before she returned and was runner-up in the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match, and there is every chance that she will be making her presence felt once again in New Orleans.
The WWE, whether we like it or not, see Bella as one of the key women in the women’s revolution, and her largely positive reaction at the Royal Rumble will only reinforce that in the eyes of the creative team.
It is also worth remembering that Nikki has considerable backstage clout due to her relationship with John Cena. This, combined with the fact that she has never been one to stray away from the limelight, could see her hand raised on April 8th.
3: Trish Stratus
Of all the surprise entrants at this year’s Royal Rumble, Trish Stratus was the one who got the biggest pop. Seeing Trish step foot back inside a WWE ring was a great little trip down memory lane for a lot of fans, and if the WWE has any sense, they will do their best to get her back into the ring for this match at Wrestlemania.
Trish is adored by a generation of wrestling fans and has been instrumental in the history of Women’s wrestling in the WWE. She famously turned down the opportunity to take part in the Women’s Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 25, recognising that the company had made a farce of the whole division, and the company would be silly to let such a nostalgia pop slip through their grasps once again.
4: Ember Moon
Recent reports have suggested that Ember Moon, along with several other superstars, is on her way up to the main roster following Wrestlemania.
Moon is currently set to face Shayna Baszler at NXT Takeover: New Orleans, and it seems very likely she will drop her title at the event before moving on up to the main roster. If that is the case, then Moon making her debut inside a Wrestlemania battle royal would be a great way to introduce her to the WWE universe.
Moon made a notable appearance inside the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match, and it is very likely that she will be put into a title picture pretty quickly when she does arrive on Raw or Smackdown. Having her make her debut, and win, in the Mania Battle Royal, would be a real signal of intent from the company, and it’s not like they are shy of giving such a victory to a new roster call-up, just look at Baron Corbin a few years ago.
5: Nia Jax
When looking at women who need a big win at Wrestlemania, it is difficult to look much further than Nia Jax. Jax has been on an excellent run as of late, and fans are desperate to see her rewarded for all of her hard work.
Original rumours had Jax set to face off with Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women’s Title at Wrestlemania, but recent reports suggest that the company has gone cold on the idea and that Asuka will remain on Monday nights and challenge Alexa instead.
If that is the case, then Nia will be in desperate need of something interesting to do at Mania, and having her pick up such a historic victory would be well deserved. It would also help establish Nia as a legitimate threat to Asuka, leading to a showdown between the two sometime after Wrestlemania.
For the sake of Kayfabe, she is also the most believable winner of the match, especially with the likes of Asuka and Charlotte tied up elsewhere.
