It's fair to say the WWE had a very successful night, with two Royal Rumbles that were well recieved, not to mention the debut of one Ronda Rousey.
This was the first year of the women's Royal Rumble and in another bold step they actually had it headline the show. The match itself was won by Asuka but the real interest for fair-weather fans would have been the many returns of former WWE wrestlers of years gone by.
The women's division's smaller roster meant that we were guaranteed a few suprises in order to fill a 30-woman rumble but there turned out to be nine big returns in total. We were gifted a decade's worth of big names, from Trish Stratus and Lita to the more recently contracted - and arguably the greatest heel of the last 10 years - Vickie Guerrero.
Michelle McCool returned and actually had the most eliminations (4) in the Rumble but the pop of the night was undoubtedly entrant no.30, Trish Stratus. Here's everyone who made an appearance.
Entrant no.5 Lita
Nailed a twist of fate and got two eliminations before Dublin's Becky Lynch threw her out.
# = @WWE Hall of Famer @AmyDumas!!! #LITA#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/OuP2JWzs30
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.9 Torrie Wilson
Came in ninth but didn't last long. Eliminated by Sonya Deville.
# = The one and only @Torrie11!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/KiIJjrPyuh
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.12 Molly Holly
Her superhero counterpart, The Hurricane, also meant a surprise return in the men's Rumble and frankly it was a disgrace that they weren't reunited on tv.
#... What a MIGHTY SURPRISE, it's #MollyHolly!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/iHKPCV8zIe
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.14 Michelle McCool
Hugely impressive Rumble. Four eliminations before she was knocked out by Natalya, the woman she beat for the first every Diva's Championship.
# = former #DivasChampion AND #WomensChampion @McCoolMichelleL!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/c4gHNY9rEs
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.16 Vickie Guerrero
Came, screamed the house down, got thrown out and then hit Carmella with her own Money In The Bank briefcase. A vitntage appearance.
#... EXCUSE ME!!!!!!!! It's @VickieGuerrero!!!!!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/REBezo7XoJ
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.19 Kelly Kelly
Was one the former wrestlers to feature on RAW 25 last Monday but her return to the ring was short lived, as she fell victim to Nia Jax.
# = Former #DivasChampion @TheBarbieBlank! #KellyKelly#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/W19TS6PDES
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.21 Jacqueline
The Hall of Famer had an even shorter stay than Kelly Kelly, thanks to the aforementioned Nia Jax.
# = @WWE Hall of Famer @JackieMooreTx!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/inmcvz2voX
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.24 Beth Phoenix
The Glamazon became the first person to ever appear in both the men's and women's Royal Rumble. A feat that will probably never be matched.
# = @WWE Hall of Famer @TheBethPhoenix!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/YzeoCPMhTs
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Entrant no.30 Trish Stratus
The main event. Trish came in last and tore the house down before getting thrown over the top rope by Sasha Banks.
# = @WWE Hall of Famer @trishstratuscom!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/gK381X9IRS
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
The Bellas got a dose of Stratusfaction.
Not really the kind of #TwinMagic The @BellaTwins were hoping for...
DOUBLE STRATUSFACTION by @trishstratuscom! #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/nlGlUYy6q9— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 29, 2018
Honourable mention:
Mickie James
Another star of the mid-2000s but the six-time women's champion doesn't really count given she rejoined WWE last year and has been on tv nearly every week.
# = 6-TIME #WomensChampion @MickieJames!#RoyalRumble #RumbleForAll pic.twitter.com/bsHSJErXgc
— WWE (@WWE) January 29, 2018
Meanwhile in the men's Royal Rumble, Celtic legend, Shinsuke Nakamura picked up the win in a highly entertaining match. It didn't feature nearly as many surprises but Rey Mysterio had a great return and played his part in an iconic image of future v past in final six, as he, Randy Orton and John Cena stared down Nakamura, Finn Balor and Roman Reigns.
