Asuka vs. Becky Lynch confirmed for WWE Royal Rumble
Asuka vs. Becky Lynch is — finally — official for the Royal Rumble.
Lynch defeated Carmella and Charlotte Flair in a triple threat number one contender’s match on this week’s SmackDown and will challenge for Asuka’s SmackDown Women’s Championship at the Royal Rumble. The pay-per-view is taking place at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on January 27.
Lynch submitted Carmella with the Dis-Arm-Her to win the number one contender’s match. Asuka came out after and went face-to-face with Lynch.
A miscommunication led to Asuka vs. Lynch originally being announced for the Royal Rumble on an episode of Main Event that aired last month. WWE then offered a storyline explanation for why it wasn’t official yet, with Paige tweeting that she tried to make the match while she was still SmackDown general manager.
Despite being in the title match, Lynch could still be an entrant in the women’s Royal Rumble. Sasha Banks has been announced as a Royal Rumble entrant but is challenging for Ronda Rousey’s Raw Women’s Championship at the PPV.
Here’s the updated card for the Royal Rumble:
- Women’s Royal Rumble match
- Men’s Royal Rumble match
- Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defending against Braun Strowman
- WWE Champion Daniel Bryan defending against AJ Styles
- Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey defending against Sasha Banks
- SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka defending against Becky Lynch
- SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus defending against Shane McMahon & The Miz
- WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy defending against Kalisto, Akira Tozawa, and the winner of Cedric Alexander vs. Hideo Itami (airing on this week’s 205 Live) in a fatal four-way match