Bianca Belair Wins 2021 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble Match

Bianca Belair made history, becoming the first black Royal Rumble winner in over 20 years by winning the 2021 women’s Royal Rumble, lasting over 56 minutes. She last eliminated Rhea Ripley.

In a Battle Royal chock-full of favorites, wildcards and uncertainties, Belair emerged as the winner of the fourth annual women’s Royal Rumble match.

Belair has shown tremendous promise as not only a top women’s star, but a top overall star the likes of a Serena Williams or Tiger Woods. Belair will now go to WrestleMania and will likely challenge current champions Sasha Banks or Asuka.

WWE’s failure to tell any type of logical story leading up to both the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble created a dynamic of accidental anticipation, where the lack of a clear-cut favorite made it seem like this year could be anybody’s year. Both the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble match took on a March Madness feel, but not at the beginning of the tournament where four No. 1 seeds have been established, more like the middle of the tournament around where the University of Kansas makes its annual early exit, thereby busting the field wide open.

Rhea Ripley, Belair, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, Lana, Becky Lynch and even Ronda Rousey were just some of the names that received considerable buzz as the women’s Royal Rumble approached. Unlike the confusing and vague eligibility requirements for the men’s Royal Rumble, every woman was free to declare for the women’s Royal Rumble regardless of stature, championship history or wins and losses.

The uncertainty set the stage for a dramatic Royal Rumble filled with surprise entrants as only 13 of the 30 Royal Rumble women were announced as of January 31.

Bianca Belair’s win is the next step on a seemingly inevitable journey to becoming a bona fide star, whether WWE’s leadership remains incompetent or not. She’s that good.