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Chaos at WWE Royal Rumble as mega stars return including former champ after two-year absence and contract drama
Alexa Bliss is back in WWE after a stunning return to action at Royal Rumble on Saturday night. Multi-time former world champion Bliss has been absent from screens for the last two years, but received a thunderous reaction from a 65,000 crowd in Indianapolis as she entered the women’s Royal Rumble match. Alexa Bliss has been a major miss for WWE in the last couple of yearsWWE It was a full-circle moment of sorts for Bliss ,who last appeared in WWE at the Royal Rumble in 2023, unsuccessfully challenging for the Raw Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair. After that Rumble outing, Bliss battled skin cancer and gave birth to a daughter and, in more recent months, hopes that the 33-year-old would return were dampened by speculation that she’d failed to agree terms with WWE on a new contract. Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted last month: “Alexa Bliss & WWE were at least far enough apart in contract negotiations that people are talking about not expecting a deal to be made.” Come back she did, though, looking cheery as she bounced down to the ring to tangle with old rival Bayley and a clutch of other top stars. Sadly for Bliss, her return proved short-lived. Entering at number 21, she lasted just a few minutes before being dumped over the top rope, much to the disappointment of those on hand. Having her back was all that mattered, though, as fans celebrated online. One said: “That pop was sustained. The crowd kept going and going. Huge moment for Bliss.” Another added: “Welcome back, Queen!” Making rare reference to the online discourse over Bliss’ future, commentator Michael Cole even hissed: “The internet said she wasn’t coming back!” to which colleague Wade Barrett joked: “Stop reading the dirt sheets, Michael Cole!” Bliss is a five-time former world champion across her reigns at the top of Raw and SmackDown, along with a string of additional tag team reigns and a women’s Money in the Bank win, making her one of the most decorated stars in the business. Elsewhere in the women’s Royal Rumble match, Hall of Fame star Trish Stratus made another WWE comeback with her own cameo. One of the biggest stars in the company across the last two decades and a seven-time world champion, Stratus entered at number 25 in the match and, as usual, looked like she hadn’t been away as she nailed a her trademark bulldog to the echoes of ‘this is awesome’ from the crowd. Charlotte Flair capped her comeback by winning the Rumble matchWWE Charlotte Flair won the Rumble match but was just one of major names to returnWWE/Netflix The major returns didn’t end at Bliss and Stratus – Nikki Bella featured for the first time in three years with a stunning showing at the Rumble, while eventual match winner Charlotte Flair also made a triumphant return after her own injury absence. New WWE signing Jordynne Grace also made her company debut at the Rumble in what was a star-studded opening match of the night.
Alexa Bliss is back in WWE after a stunning return to action at Royal Rumble on Saturday night.
Multi-time former world champion Bliss has been absent from screens for the last two years, but received a thunderous reaction from a 65,000 crowd in Indianapolis as she entered the women’s Royal Rumble match.
It was a full-circle moment of sorts for Bliss ,who last appeared in WWE at the Royal Rumble in 2023, unsuccessfully challenging for the Raw Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair.
After that Rumble outing, Bliss battled skin cancer and gave birth to a daughter and, in more recent months, hopes that the 33-year-old would return were dampened by speculation that she’d failed to agree terms with WWE on a new contract.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted last month: “Alexa Bliss & WWE were at least far enough apart in contract negotiations that people are talking about not expecting a deal to be made.”
Come back she did, though, looking cheery as she bounced down to the ring to tangle with old rival Bayley and a clutch of other top stars.
Sadly for Bliss, her return proved short-lived. Entering at number 21, she lasted just a few minutes before being dumped over the top rope, much to the disappointment of those on hand.
Having her back was all that mattered, though, as fans celebrated online. One said: “That pop was sustained. The crowd kept going and going. Huge moment for Bliss.” Another added: “Welcome back, Queen!”
Making rare reference to the online discourse over Bliss’ future, commentator Michael Cole even hissed: “The internet said she wasn’t coming back!” to which colleague Wade Barrett joked: “Stop reading the dirt sheets, Michael Cole!”
Bliss is a five-time former world champion across her reigns at the top of Raw and SmackDown, along with a string of additional tag team reigns and a women’s Money in the Bank win, making her one of the most decorated stars in the business.
Elsewhere in the women’s Royal Rumble match, Hall of Fame star Trish Stratus made another WWE comeback with her own cameo.
One of the biggest stars in the company across the last two decades and a seven-time world champion, Stratus entered at number 25 in the match and, as usual, looked like she hadn’t been away as she nailed a her trademark bulldog to the echoes of ‘this is awesome’ from the crowd.
The major returns didn’t end at Bliss and Stratus – Nikki Bella featured for the first time in three years with a stunning showing at the Rumble, while eventual match winner Charlotte Flair also made a triumphant return after her own injury absence.
New WWE signing Jordynne Grace also made her company debut at the Rumble in what was a star-studded opening match of the night.
