During the build-up to WrestleMania 39, there was little of note happening in the women’s division outside the rise of Rhea Ripley. Fast forward to over a year later, and Triple H’s star promotion has been quite effective at the top of the card.
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky — who look likely to hold the Women’s World Championship and WWE Women’s Champion going into the show of the shows — have cemented themselves as two of the most prominent acts in WWE as part of their factions, and have even shown evidence of being needle movers.
Several promising opponents await them, and there are a few contenders who could potentially set up a title match at WrestleMania. Here are five of them:
Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch is one of the two biggest favorites to win the women’s Royal Rumble match. On the January 15 episode of RAW, she came face-to-face with Rhea Ripley to foreshadow what looks to be the direction for the Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania. They’ve both deliberately been kept apart over the last year to set up what could be a blockbuster clash.
Lynch is arguably the greatest women’s wrestler in WWE history, and she’s one of the biggest icons of her generation. She’s already left a lasting impression on the industry, and has an impact on business to this day.
However, she will be 37 years old when WrestleMania comes around and has the majority of her career behind her. The Irish star — who has always relied on her heart and wit to best more physically gifted opponents — is undergoing a crisis of confidence following a high-profile loss to Nia Jax. This sets the premise for our story.
Lynch is now questioning whether she can overcome the dominant Ripley, who has been booked as a force of nature and is the symbol of the next generation. To get to the match, the likeliest path would see Lynch winning the Rumble. However, they could always add another obstacle in her path and have her win the Elimination Chamber to earn a title shot at WrestleMania instead.
Bayley
Bayley is the other strong favorite to win the women’s Royal Rumble match. During her run in NXT, she was one of the most beloved babyfaces in wrestling and an iconic character. Her match with Sasha Banks at the first NXT Takeover: Brooklyn is still an enduring memory for fans and helped inspire an entire generation of female wrestlers.
Unfortunately, as was the case with several other call-ups, Vince McMahon mishandled Bayley and squandered her vast potential. The character went cold and she was forced to turn heel. She has since had her most success on the main roster as a heel, but the fans who followed her in NXT still clamor for a babyface Bayley run on the main roster.
When Iyo Sky won the WWE Women’s Championship, the feeling was that Bayley would eventually turn on the Stardom product. However, WWE have managed to subvert the audience’s expectations in this story. Bayley believes in Iyo and wants the best for her but has lost trust because of some of her actions going awry despite her best intentions.
The Damage Ctrl story has been handled quite deftly and Bayley challenging for the title at WrestleMania has the potential to deliver a feel-good moment earned through good storytelling. While the Elimination Chamber is a possibility, Bayley winning the Royal Rumble would be the ideal outcome as it would allow them to have enough time to tell the story of her rising against the other members of Damage Ctrl.
Nia Jax
When Nia Jax was released from WWE in November 2021, her stock was at an all-time low. Her in-ring form had deteriorated and her performances had become the subject of derision. Nia’s surprise inclusion in last year’s Royal Rumble and eventual full-time return to the promotion in September were met with groans.
However, Jax has been used exceptionally well since returning and has added an extra dimension to the RAW women’s division. She’s even had a good match with Raquel Rodriguez and revisited her history with Becky Lynch in a very solid showing. She has been booked as a force of nature and it’s going to mean a great deal for an opponent to eventually topple her.
Nia Jax is on a collision course with Rhea Ripley and is likely to be the next challenger for the Women’s World Championship. While admittedly unlikely, If the program has enough steam, they could certainly hold it off until WrestleMania or do a triple-threat match also involving Becky Lynch.
Liv Morgan
Over the last couple of years, Liv Morgan has blossomed into one of the most popular wrestlers in the women’s division. She’s been on the shelf since July because of a shoulder injury and was written off TV following an attack from Rhea Ripley, laying the groundwork for a clash between the two down the road. There is a good chance that the 29-year-old could return at the Royal Rumble.
In addition to the injury angle, there is also history between Morgan and Ripley that could provide them with enough material to tell a compelling story. The two of them were tag-team partners at one point and Morgan was also the last person to pin Ripley in May of 2022. There’s also the classic narrative of the plucky underdog going up against the force of nature that they could weave into the in-ring work.
One of the hallmarks of the Triple H regime in 2023 was their ability to attach interesting premises to feuds. This is one that they could get a lot of mileage from.
Bianca Belair
With her impressive showings over the years, Bianca Belair has established herself as one of the best stadium wrestlers in WWE. She’s certainly made the WrestleMania stage her own with epic encounters against Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch that will likely stand the test of time. The brighter the lights, the more her performances shine.
Damage Ctrl debuted as a faction at SummerSlam 2022 after the EST defeated Lynch in the final chapter of their epic rivalry. This remains a loose end that hasn’t been entirely tied up. Iyo Sky won the WWE Women’s Championship by cashing in on an injured Belair. There is still a looming final confrontation between the two.
Since Belair is one of the biggest stars in the promotion, there is always the possibility that WWE could hold off on completing Bayley’s arc so that they can put the University of Tennessee product in a marquee match at WrestleMania, which has become her annual showcase.
