Report: Top Star To Be Absent From WWE Women's Royal Rumble

One of WWE's major stars won't be a part of the Women's Royal Rumble at the January 28 pay-per-view from San Antonio, Texas. 

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Ronda Rousey was not scheduled to be in the Women's Royal Rumble as of midweek. WWE reportedly don't want her to be in the match as she is not scheduled to win the whole thing like in 2022 and they feel her just being an entrant would "marginalise her star power." Rousey had been SmackDown Women's Champion but she dropped the belt to Charlotte Flair on the December 30 edition of Friday Night SmackDown. 

The current SmackDown Women's Champion also won't be in the Rumble, while NXT talents were still waiting to hear about being in the match as of midweek. 

Only a few entrants have been announced for the Women's Royal Rumble so far. The heavy favourite to win the match this year is Rhea Ripley. The already popular talent's popularity has only grown over the past several months through her association with The Judgment Day.