After Kofi Kingston, former Women’s Champion, Naomi, is making quite the name for herself as the ultimate Royal Rumble survivor. For the past few years, she has utilized some unique tactics to survive in the match.
In the Royal Rumble 2021, Naomi made her in-ring return after a couple of months of inaction. She had been out since September because of Fibroid surgery.
She made her return as the number two entrant in the Rumble match. Naomi and former Women’s Champion, Bayley, started things off and were soon joined by Bianca Belair.
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Welcome back, @NaomiWWE! #RoyalRumble
(via @WWE) https://t.co/1Nm5hkDYU4
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 1, 2021
As the match became more and more intense, eliminations poured in. In one instance, Belair almost eliminated Naomi when she threw her over the top rope.
Naomi fell flat on her back, but her feet never touched the floor. Although she was not eliminated, it looked impossible for her to return to the match.
However, Naomi did the unthinkable and used Bianca Belair’s long braid to literally pull herself back into the match. Bianca and Naomi both helped each other as they were in the same position to get eliminated.
Despite surviving for most of the match, newly crowned Tag Team champions, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler eliminated her at number 22. Interestingly, Naomi did not eliminate anyone throughout the match.
Bianca Belair won the Royal Rumble 2021 after outlasting Naomi
The final four came down to Natalya, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and Bianca Belair. Belair eliminated the number 30 entrant Natalya.
Ripley and Belair then double-teamed and took Flair out of the game. The final two women almost eliminated themselves as they sat on the apron.
“I did. Now I’m gonna put the EST in @WrestleMania.” – 2021 Women’s #RoyalRumble Winner @BiancaBelairWWE pic.twitter.com/SIINButIhC
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) February 1, 2021
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However, the fight shifted to the middle of the ring. Belair soon became the fourth woman to win the Royal Rumble match as she eliminated Rhea Ripley.
Following the elimination, Bianca started crying and tearfully thanked her family and fans. She proclaimed she is going to be the EST at WrestleMania as fireworks celebrated her victory.
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Belair lasted a record 56 minutes and made four eliminations to win the match. Naomi lasted the second-longest before Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler eliminated her.
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