Iyo Sky could be in line for another shot at the world title. (Credit: Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
WWE has had just eight women’s Royal Rumble matches, and there is one common thread among them: predictability.
The marquee names who’ve won the Royal Rumble so far are Asuka, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair (twice), Rhea Ripley and Ronda Rousey. In other words, winning the women’s Royal Rumble is an honor typically reserved for the biggest stars in the history of WWE’s women’s division.
Might that trend come to an end in 2026? The emergence of the tag team division has given a lot of top women’s stars some major storylines without a singles title involved, a list that includes the likes of Alexa Bliss, Flair and even Ripley. With WWE doing a better job of booking its women outside of the singles title scene, that could pave the way for a surprise Royal Rumble winner this year.
Here are five potential darkhorses who could shock the world by winning the 2026 women’s WWE Royal Rumble.
Iyo Sky
In terms of her overall resume, Iyo Sky hardly fits the bill as an underdog. She’s a two-time world champion, three-time tag team champion and former Money in the Bank winner.
But with all the chatter about a potential 2026 Royal Rumble winner largely focusing on stars like Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan, Sky has been largely absent from those conservations even though she shouldn’t be. That’s, at least partly, because of a widespread belief that Sky and Ripley’s tag team will continue through WrestleMania 42.
That, however, reportedly is not the case, which means that Sky’s feud-turned-friendship with Ripley could ultimately come to a climax within the women’s Royal Rumble match. With all of the buzz that Ripley could win it, perhaps she’s ultimately eliminated by Sky. Better yet, maybe Sky eliminates her to win it.
Regardless of the specifics, Sky has established herself as arguably the best in-ring performer in the world, and at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble, she could add to her long list of accolades with a Rumble victory.
Chelsea Green
Chelsea Green is perhaps the most entertaining star in all of WWE, but she’s been largely booked as a comedy character on the main roster.
That’s worked out wonderfully for Green, who recently signed a new five-year deal with WWE and continues to do great work on TV week in and week out. Although Green is technically a heel, she’s so good in her role that she’s earned herself a strong fan base that would allow her to seamlessly transition into a babyface role.
As good as Green is at the comedic aspects of pro wrestling, she’s also good in the ring and on the microphone, making her a potential candidate for a breakout push in 2026. WWE has really focused heavily on the same handful of women’s stars for the better part of a decade, and Green is right on the outside of that group looking in.
A strong performance within the WWE Royal Rumble could go a long way toward cementing Green as a top star. Meanwhile, a win, though not likely, could catapult her to full-blown stardom.
Lash Legend
After spending several years in NXT, Lash Legend was finally called up to SmackDown late last year and has been a huge hit on the blue brand.
In fact, Legend’s virtually instantaneous success on the main roster has earned the former WNBA star high praise from WWE officials, so much so that she’s expected to get a massive push in 2026. Though it might be a bit too early for Legend to join the main event picture, she would be a great choice to do exactly that.
Not only does Legend have the “it factor” that simply can’t be taught, but she’d make a stellar and believable foe for the unstoppable Jade Cargill, the current WWE Women’s Champion. Likewise, Legend could prove to be an ideal opponent for Raw’s Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer.
Although Legend needs to polish up her in-ring work to ascend to the top of the card, she’ll enter the WWE Royal Rumble virtually guaranteed to be one of the breakout stars of the match.
Raquel Rodriguez
Raquel Rodriguez has been feuding with Vaquer for weeks upon weeks on Raw, and yet, she still hasn’t been able to beat Vaquer for the Women’s World title.
However, after spending the past couple of years in the shadows of Liv Morgan in The Judgment Day, Rodriguez is getting oh so close to establishing herself as a legitimate singles star. Though Rodriguez lacks elite charisma and must continue to develop her personality, she’s a very underrated in-ring performer, especially for someone of her size.
WWE’s women’s division needs its equivalents of stars like Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar, behemoths who can perform in the ring and work with smaller stars. Rodriguez could be just that, and all signs are pointing toward her entering that territory at some point in 2026.
Right now, Rodriguez is as close as she’s ever been to becoming a bona fide star, and a 2026 WWE Royal Rumble win could clinch it.
AJ Lee
After initial reports indicated that AJ Lee was returning to WWE full-time, it looks like she’ll be a part-timer for this unlikely WWE run.
Lee’s schedule and how often she’s willing to work will likely dictate the extend of her push as WWE doesn’t push part-time women’s wrestlers (see: Trish Stratus) the same way it does with part-time men’s stars like Brock Lesnar. Still, Lee proved during her brief run at the end of 2025 that she’s as likable as ever and could be the top star in WWE’s women’s division if she was around on a weekly basis.
Whenever Lee does return, she figures to resume her feud with Becky Lynch, but that’s not necessarily set in stone. If WWE wants to get the most out of Lee’s return run, putting her at the top of the card with a new generation of stars she once inspired makes a ton of sense.
Could Lee, an ultimate underdog, make her way into that mix with a 2026 WWE Royal Rumble win? Unlikely, yes. Impossible? Certainly not.