WWE announces women’s Royal Rumble entrants: Mickie James, Bellas, Charlotte, more

WWE has announced 19 of the 30 entrants who will be competing in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match.

The entrants were revealed during a promo by Charlotte Flair on tonight’s SmackDown. Despite being the SmackDown Women’s Champion, Charlotte declared that she will be taking part in the Rumble match. Charlotte said she’ll be the first champion to win the Royal Rumble and choose her WrestleMania challenger.

Charlotte announced that Mickie James, Nikki & Brie Bella, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, Summer Rae, and Lita will be returning for the women’s Royal Rumble. WWE acknowledged both on television and on social media that James is the current Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion.

James will defend her Knockouts title against Deonna Purrazzo in a Texas death match at Impact Wrestling’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view this Saturday.

James was released by WWE during the company’s April 2021 roster cuts.

Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H., Shotzi, Natalya, Dana Brooke, Carmella, Zelina Vega, Tamina, Aliyah, Naomi, and Shayna Baszler have also been announced for the women’s Royal Rumble match.

The Royal Rumble is taking place at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis on Saturday, January 29. Angelo Dawkins, Montez Ford, Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Austin Theory, “Jackass” star Johnny Knoxville, and Sheamus are the first seven participants to be confirmed for the men’s Rumble match.