AEW’s RJ City has openly mocked WWE’s Royal Rumble format while outlining a groundbreaking vision for women’s wrestling, igniting discussion about how women’s matches are structured in major wrestling promotions. Speaking during a recent interview, RJ City questioned the need for replicating the Royal Rumble model for women, suggesting a new direction for the division as Royal Rumble 2026 prepares to make history in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The History and Influence of the WWE Royal Rumble
Since its modest start as a house show match in the 1980s, WWE’s Royal Rumble has evolved into a foundational event, becoming an annual spectacle that signals the start of the Road to WrestleMania. The show is well known for its surprise entrants, including unexpected debuts, legendary returns, superstars re-signing, and NXT talent appearing on the main stage. In 2018, responding to calls for greater inclusion, WWE introduced a Royal Rumble for the women’s division, with Asuka earning the honor of being the inaugural winner.
RJ City’s View: Moving Beyond Imitation in Women’s Wrestling
However, not everyone in the wrestling community has embraced the idea of simply mirroring the men’s match formats for women. AEW writer and interviewer RJ City, previously known for hosting Hey!(EW), shared his candid opinion during an appearance on Black Girl Wrestling. He expressed frustration with the approach of offering women “their own version” of established men’s matches, particularly when it comes to having back-to-back Royal Rumbles on the same show.
“I also feel like the women are so strong this year that the answer is to not just give them their own version of the same s**t the men already have because like there’s now a show with two f*****g Royal Rumbles in it and it’s like exhausting.”
– RJ City, AEW Writer & Interviewer
City’s remarks reflect a subtle discontent with repetitive and possibly unimaginative booking in women’s wrestling, suggesting that the division deserves its unique creative spotlight instead of adopting formats already used for men.
Pushing the Envelope: A New Direction for the Women’s Division
RJ City also spoke about his ambition to expand women’s wrestling into unexplored territory. He noted that the current women’s roster has talent such as Willow Nightingale and Toni Storm, both of whom bring a distinctive flavor and abilities to the division. City advocates for creating opportunities and experiences in women’s wrestling that are exclusive and not simply “the same” as what the men’s division offers.
“I think it’s important to push them in territories that the men aren’t in and give them their own stuff and I think about Willow, and I think about Toni Storm and I’m going ‘Geeez, they do shit that the men just can’t.’ so I think it’s more important to head into that direction.”
– RJ City, AEW Writer & Interviewer
This approach underscores his belief that women like Willow Nightingale and Toni Storm are capable of performances and storytelling that transcend the boundaries set by previous men’s matches, and that they should be given the space to showcase those strengths.
What’s Ahead for Royal Rumble and Women’s Wrestling?
As WWE prepares to host its 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—marking the first time this event takes place outside North America—the ongoing debate about the most effective way to promote women’s wrestling continues within the industry. RJ City’s comments highlight shifting expectations for originality and ambition in women’s matches, suggesting that the future of the women’s division may depend on breaking away from imitation and moving toward innovation in both format and opportunity.
