Nia Jax reflected on her unexpected involvement in the men’s Royal Rumble match in 2019, revealing she found out on the very day of the event. Known for being the fourth woman to enter the men’s Rumble, Jax’s surprising appearance took place at the WWE pay-per-view held that year, where she replaced R-Truth at entry number 30. During her three-minute run, she eliminated Mustafa Ali before being ousted by Rey Mysterio. This moment was a significant break in wrestling norms, introducing a female competitor into a predominantly male match.
During an interview on Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Jax recalled the sequence of events leading to her involvement, emphasizing how she initially thought it was a joke when informed by WWE executive Johnny Ace.
So we had rehearsals that day, the Women’s Rumble, because it was me, Becky and Charlotte at the end of that one. So the doors were opening, and we were in Arizona, I believe. I was walking back, and Johnny Ace was like, ‘Hey kid, you got to rehearse more.’ I said, ‘Oh, what are we doing?’ He was like, ‘You’re in the Men’s Rumble.’ I said, ‘What?! Doors are open Johnny. When am I going to rehearse?’ [He said] ‘Oh, we’re just gonna rehearse this part with Truth, and then you go do the Women’s Rumble, and then we’ll talk about the guys after.’ I thought he was kidding. But then when we rehearsed it with Truth, me beating up Truth and everything, entering at number 30, I was like, this is happening. So then I had to focus on the Women’s Rumble, because I had stuff to do with Lana in that match, and then Becky and Charlotte, and then run back. I had to go into a room with a bunch of the guys, and they’re going over stuff, and they’re like, ‘Hey guys, Nia’s in the Rumble. So run through with what you’re gonna do with her.’ I was like, I don’t get to go into a ring?
?Nia Jax, WWE Superstar
Details of the Match and Coordination with Other Wrestlers
Jax shared insights about the individuals she interacted with during her entry in the men’s Royal Rumble, naming Andrade, Mustafa Ali, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Dolph Ziggler. She explained how the sequence was planned, including her aggressive confrontation with R-Truth, her elimination of Ali, and the final spots involving other wrestlers culminating in her receiving the RKO from Randy Orton.
She revealed her nervousness about executing the RKO properly, describing the importance of that signature WWE move, especially given the crowd’s sentiments towards her at the time.
Yeah, it was Andrade. It was Ali, Randy, Rey and Dolph. So they were in at the time, and they’re like, ‘Yeah, now you’re gonna come in, you’re gonna drop Truth, and then when you slide in, you’re gonna start cleaning house and then you’re going to eliminate Ali, and then there’s going to be a spot with Andrade and Dolph and Rey, and then you’re RKO’d.’ And I was like, ‘I’m going to get what?’ They’re like, yeah, you’re going to take an RKO. Before that, it was like, ‘Yeah, you’re going to go to tackle Randy, and then this happens.’ I was like, Okay. So I was just sitting there going but what if I f*ck up the RKO? That’s one of the most iconic moves in WWE history. Everybody already hated me. So then I look at Randy, and Randy’s super cool. But you know, Randy has a reputation of being like, you know. I was like, Oh, f*ck. I’m like, Randy. He’s like, Yeah? I’m like, ‘I’m nervous. I don’t want to fuck up your RKO.’ And he was like, ‘Don’t worry about it kid. Just when you turn left, I’ll take you. You just turn to the left, and the rest I’ll handle.’ I was like, okay. So out of that whole match, that was the most nervous. I was like, f*ck. I just can’t f*ck up the RKO. We get into it. I beat up Truth, poor Truth, and beat the sh*t out of Truth. Go in there and run the spots. Go to tackle Randy. He takes a bump for me, and I was like, f*ck, did I just hit him too hard? In my mind, I’m thinking sh*t, did I just hit Randy too hard? Meanwhile, I hear Kim cussing me out. She’s yelling at me. I’m like, oh sh*t. And then whatever we run through, do the RKO, I take the 619, the RKO. I’m like, Holy sh*t, this is not happening. Then they dump me, then they drop kick me off the apron. When you’re in the moment, you don’t realize that. When I was done, I was like, that was a massive moment for me that those guys didn’t have to. They could have said no, that they just did for me.
?Nia Jax, WWE Superstar
Potential for Further Intergender Storylines and What Happened Next
Following her appearance in the men’s Royal Rumble, Jax indicated there were plans to extend her intergender wrestling presence. She mentioned a brief storyline involving Dean Ambrose, including a minor confrontation. However, this narrative was discontinued due to venue rules in certain states that prohibited intergender matches at the time.
The proposed live event featuring an intergender match was eventually canceled, causing the storyline to fade away abruptly.
So at the time, we did have something. I think I went to a storyline with Dean Ambrose right after, where I hit him, or I bumped him the ground or whatever. I think there was supposed to be something that went to into a storyline there, but it just kind of fell off. There was a promotion that we were promoted to have a match at a live event. I think in that state, it couldn’t be inter gender matches. So then they had to scrap it. Then after that, I think they just kind of let that story fade away.
?Nia Jax, WWE Superstar
The Significance of Nia Jax’s 2019 Royal Rumble Role
Nia Jax’s involvement in the 2019 men’s Royal Rumble stands out as a rare moment of female participation in WWE’s male-dominated event. Her unexpected entry not only shocked fans but also demonstrated WWE’s willingness to challenge traditional gender divisions in wrestling. Despite the nervousness and challenges Jax faced executing high-risk moves alongside established wrestlers like Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio, her performance was widely noted.
The planned extension into further intergender storylines, although ultimately curtailed due to regulations, hinted at potential growth in this area within WWE. Jax’s willingness to jump into this role with minimal notice showcased her adaptability and determination to expand her presence in WWE’s evolving landscape. The episode remains a notable moment in both her career and the company’s history involving crossover gender matches.
