Charlotte Flair Triumphs at WWE Royal Rumble 2025, Secures WrestleMania Spot

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The WWE Royal Rumble 2025 kicked off the road to WrestleMania 41 with high stakes and thrilling surprises Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. Charlotte Flair emerged victorious in the women’s Royal Rumble match, securing her spot in the main event of WrestleMania in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The event featured two Royal Rumble matches, with one male and one female superstar earning world title opportunities by outlasting 29 competitors in their respective divisions. The men’s match boasted a star-studded lineup, including John Cena, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, and Seth Rollins. Meanwhile, the women’s match saw the return of Charlotte Flair after a year-long absence due to a knee injury.

“I’m thinking about the Royal Rumble,” said WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque during the event’s kickoff. “It makes me think, just about anybody could enter the Royal Rumble as a surprise.”

Flair’s victory was a highlight of the night, but the match also featured a surprise appearance by Nikki Bella, who entered as the 30th competitor. Bella, who retired from full-time wrestling in 2019, donned her iconic red hat and joined forces with other wrestlers in an attempt to eliminate Nia Jax. Despite her efforts, Jax eliminated Bella before Flair ultimately claimed the win.

“I’ve missed it for quite a few years,” Bella said in a pre-event interview. “I miss being Nikki Bella. I miss being around that family. I definitely miss being in that ring.”

In addition to the Royal Rumble matches, the card included a ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Championship, where Cody Rhodes defended his title against Kevin Owens. The Motor City Machine Guns also challenged #DIY for the WWE tag team titles.

The event drew a packed crowd and was broadcast live on Peacock, marking another milestone in WWE’s partnership with the streaming platform. With WrestleMania 41 on the horizon, the Royal Rumble set the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable season.