Booker T Explains Why Rhea Ripley Should Win Women’s Royal Rumble

When it comes to what woman should win the Royal Rumble match this year, Booker T believes it is time for Rhea Ripley to get the big win.

During her WWE career, Rhea Ripley has been known for her dominance from when she was in NXT to her time on the main roster.

Rhea Ripley was the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion, then she moved to NXT and became their Women’s Champion in December 2019.

When Ripley moved to the WWE main roster prior to WrestleMania 37 in 2021, she was quickly pushed into the title picture as she challenged Asuka for the Raw Women’s Title at WrestleMania 37. While Ripley’s reign as Raw Women’s Champion lasted three months, it also took place at a time with no fans and wasn’t an impactful title reign.

After Ripley turned heel to join The Judgment Day group last spring, Ripley has flourished in her role as a devious ally of Finn Balor, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio. Ripley often interferes in matches to help her friends win and even gets physically involved like when she bodyslammed Luke Gallows on the floor during a match.

While speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T gave his predictions for the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches.

“Of course in the men’s, it’s gonna be Cody Rhodes.”

“In the women’s, it’s going to be the Rip (Rhea Ripley). It’s time for the Rip to get that push. It’s time for the Rhip to come out of that shadow of the women. Being able to just sit back in the wings, watch and wait, you know, with Judgment Day as of late, has given her a little bit of time to get that hunger back to go out there and really take control of that women’s division.”

“I really think she can. I really think Rhea Ripley is the future of the women’s division.”

The TJRWrestling team has previewed the Royal Rumble as well and as you might expect, Ripley is a popular pick to win there as well.