WWE superstar Alexa Bliss returned to competition at the women’s Royal Rumble event on Saturday. The former SmackDown Women’s Champion hadn’t wrestled since 2023, when she lost to champion Bianca Belair. According to reports, Bliss was not initially scheduled for the match but appeared in the building ahead of its rehearsal. Her appearance was seen as a surprise, coming after months of reported contract negotiations with WWE.
Bliss entered the #21 spot in the match, which was originally intended for Shotzi. Shotzi had missed several matches due to a knee injury and hadn’t wrestled on the main roster since last year’s Royal Rumble. Some sources were thrilled to see Bliss back in action, while others felt sorry for Shotzi.
Bliss had recently posted about spending Saturday with her baby daughter, sparking speculation that the post was staged to promote her appearance at the event. The exact nature of her contract negotiations is unclear, but it appears WWE has given her a spot in the match.
Source: https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1777999/alexa-bliss-replaced-superstar-royal-rumble-last-minute