Royal Rumble 2018 results: Asuka wins 1st-ever Women’s Royal Rumble match

The 2018 Royal Rumble show ended with the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match, making history on multiple levels. Asuka won the women’s Rumble, earning her shot at a title match in WrestleMania ... if Ronda Rousey doesn’t have any plans first.

After Asuka cleared the ring to win the match, Rousey made her entrance (complete with the iconic “Bad Reputation” song from her UFC heyday), to point at both Asuka, Bliss, and Charlotte. What this means for WrestleMania remains to be seen, but Asuka remains the winner of a memorable historic match.

The women’s Rumble got the honor of the main event spot, going on last at the Royal Rumble card. Maria Menounos did the guest ring announcing and Stephanie McMahon joined the commentary desk. Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, and SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, both sat at ringside for this historic match.

No. 1 entry: Sasha Banks

Sasha gets the distinctive honor of starting off the first women’s Rumble match.

No. 2 entry: Becky Lynch

Two members of the Four Horsewomen both get to start this match, marking their place as important trailblazers. Sasha went for the backstabber early, but it was largely a back-and-forth before the next entry came out.

No. 3 entry: Sarah Logan

The first member of the Riott Squad makes her entry here.

No. 4 entry: Mandy Rose

Rose is representing Absolution, a faction led by Paige — who unfortunately had to withdrawal from the Rumble after aggravating a neck injury. Either way, Rose got right into the fray.

No. 5 entry: Lita

Our first surprise entry is the WWE Hall of Famer Lita! She took it to Becky and Sasha, before Mandy went to work on her in the corner. Lita turned it around and knocked Mandy off the apron. Mandy Rose eliminated.

No. 6 entry: Kairi Sane

The winner of the Mae Young Classic gets down to business, taking over the ring with kicks and chops. She went up top and hit the Insane Elbow on Sasha and Becky.

No. 7 entry: Tamina

The biggest woman in the match so far, Tamina tried to clear house, but was not successful. Lita came back to spam Twist of Fate, and went up top for a moonsault on Becky and Sasha. She also eliminated Tamina, before Becky pushed her out. Tamina and Lita eliminated.

No. 8 entry: Dana Brooke

Dana is representing Titus Worldwide as the team’s statistician, eliminating Kairi in the process. Kairi Sane eliminated.

No. 9 entry: Torrie Wilson

Wilson is another name from eras past. Brooke got dumped in a fracas. Dana Brooke eliminated.

No. 10 entry: Sonya Deville

The former MMA fighter is putting her hair up and squaring up in the ring. Deville almost eliminated Becky, who hung on to the ropes. She did manage to throw out Wilson. Torrie Wilson eliminated.

No. 11 entry: Liv Morgan

Another Riott Squad member enters. She took it to Sasha shortly after getting in.

No. 12 entry: Molly Holly

Another nostalgia entry! Holly threw out Logan shortly after getting in. Sarah Logan eliminated. She also hit a 450 splash, showing that she’s still got the chops at this age.

No. 13 entry: Lana

Absolution and Riott Squad both teamed up to work on Lana, still inexperienced at this stage. Lana fought back to beat on Liv for a bit.

No. 14 entry: Michelle McCool

McCool is yet another entry from years gone by. She threw out both Deville and Morgan. Sonya Deville and Liv Morgan eliminated. McCool also went after Holly and tossed her over the ropes. Molly Holly eliminated. Not to be outdone, Lana got tossed by McCool. Lana eliminated.

No. 15 entry: Ruby Riott

Even with her Riott Squad members eliminated, Ruby still made her way to the ring. She staved off an elimination attempt from Becky.

No. 16 entry: Vickie Guerrero

THE BEST SURPRISE ENTRY YET! Vickie makes her first WWE appearance since 2014, doing the trademark “excuse me” catchphrase to get as much crowd hate as possible. Naturally, everyone in the ring teamed up to dump her out. Vickie Guerrero eliminated.

No. 17 entry: Carmella

Still holding the Money in the Bank briefcase, Carmella made her way to the ring before Vickie laid her out on the ramp.

No. 18 entry: Natalya

Nattie barely got in the ring before Carmella pulled her off the apron, as the latter finally got into the match.

No. 19 entry: Kelly Kelly

Yup, she’s a real nostalgia entry. McCool and Kelly got mixed up, leaving to Nataly dumping out the former. Michelle McCool eliminated.

No. 20 entry: Naomi

The two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion wild in the ring, laying out nearly everyone in a burst of offense. Becky hung on the ropes before getting pushed off. Becky Lynch eliminated.

No. 21 entry: Jacqueline

Jackie proved to be just as tough as she was years ago, taking out competitors left and right.

No. 22 entry: Nia Jax

Nia wasted no time laying waste, eliminating Jackie and Kelly. Jacqueline and Kelly Kelly eliminated. Naomi got thrown over the ropes, but landed on a pile of women, saving her elimination.

No. 23 entry: Ember Moon

The NXT Women’s Champion comes out here. She went wild before running into Nia, while Naomi walked on the barricade. Naomi took a page from Kofi Kingston and used an announcer’s chair to make her way to the ring. She went off the top but Nia caught her and dumped her off. Naomi eliminated.

No. 24 entry: Beth Phoenix

The Glamazon is back! Phoenix stared down with Nia, and they went blow-for-blow for a while. Phoenix almost got Nia up, but Natalya came back in and they double-teamed Nia. Jax went through the second rope, but not eliminated. Nattie and Beth briefly embraced, but Natalya threw her out. Beth Phoenix eliminated.

No. 25 entry: Asuka

It’s time for Asuka to rain terror on the match. She took out everyone and faced off with Ember, her biggest rival from NXT. Ember hit the Eclipse on Asuka, but the latter got her off the ropes. Ember Moon eliminated.

No. 26 entry: Mickie James

James is another women’s legend who gets to make her mark here. She hit a neckbreaker on Natalya, but nobody got eliminated.

No. 27 entry: Nikki Bella

Nikki makes her first WWE appearance since WrestleMania 33. Carmella got tossed out in the process. Carmella eliminated.

No. 28 entry: Brie Bella

Of course the Bella Twins are back together. Brie gets a warm reception after spending so much time away from the ring.

No. 29 entry: Bayley

The former WWE Women’s Champion got a little chance to shine.

No. 30 entry: Trish Stratus

Trish makes her long-awaited return to the ring. Being the last entry also means that Ronda Rousey and Stephanie McMahon won’t be in this match. Trish cleared the ring and got in a showdown with Mickie, one of the best women’s rivalries of the modern era. Trish sent Mickie over the top with a kick. Mickie James eliminated.

With Nia back in control, she took over before the Bellas hung her over the ropes. The rest of the division ganged up to dump Nia over. Nia Jax eliminated. Bayley got thrown out by Sasha shortly afterwards. Bayley eliminated.

Trish nailed Nattie on the apron and got her out of the match. Natalya eliminated. Afterwards, Sasha and Trish got into it, before Sasha dumped Trish over the ropes. Trish Stratus eliminated.

The final four came down to Sasha Banks, Asuka, and the Bella Twins. The Bellas teamed up to get Sasha over the post and out of the match. Sasha Banks eliminated. Now it’s just the Bellas and Asuka, but double-teaming her on the ropes isn’t good enough.

Despite being down 2-1 against the Bellas, Asuka just needed the Bellas to beat themselves. Sure enough, Nikki forearmed Brie off the apron. Brie Bella eliminated. Now it’s only Asuka and Nikki left.Nikki nearly got Asuka over the ropes, but Asuka survived on the apron. She then got Nikki caught in her legs, dragged her on the apron, and kicked her off to win the Rumble.