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Disclaimer: This article is the opinion of the author and doesn't necessarily represent Sportskeeda's views.
WWE fans were expecting a major surprise at the Royal Rumble. #30 was R-Truth's spot and we all knew it. Perhaps there was a possibility of someone taking R-Truth out and taking his spot.
Maybe Sami Zayn, or Kevin Owens? Many fans also believed in the remote possibility of Kenny Omega appearing in the Royal Rumble, especially given that he seems to be done with NJPW.
However, R-Truth was taken out. And it wasn't by any of the above superstars. It wasn't even by the male superstars. It was by The Irresistible Force Nia Jax! This took everyone by surprise and despite competing in the Women's Royal Rumble just earlier, she made her way into the Men's match as well.
She did make it to the final three of the Women's Rumble, which was impressive in itself. But entering the Rumble and then taking out Mustafa Ali of all people? Interesting. Ali was having quite a great showing during the match until that point. Whether you love it or hate it, it's got people talking, and we tell you a few reasons why WWE pulled this off.
#4 To troll fans
Many WWE fans assume that the company isn't aware of what the audience wants and what they're expecting. Trust us when we say this - WWE is a lot more aware than we think. They have dedicated teams scouring various online platforms, an incredible social media presence and more.
They know that the fans expect something, and they were even aware of fans potentially expecting Kenny Omega. What better way to completely throw people off by having Nia Jax, of all people, enter?
While this shouldn't be taken as gospel, the office is known to pull off a rib or two, time and again on fans.
#3 To have a Chyna-Beth Phoenix-Kharma-like moment
When Nia Jax entered the Men's Royal Rumble match, she became only the fourth woman to ever enter a Men's Rumble match. Prior to her, the only women who entered the Rumble were Chyna, Beth Phoenix and Kharma (Awesome Kong).
What all four of these women clearly have in common is that they were dominant superstars. They would rack up eliminations and etch their place in history. Mustafa Ali was having quite an impressive showing at the Rumble and looked like he was going far until Nia Jax threw him out.
Since these moments don't happen very often, it's likely that we won't be seeing anything like this for a long time now. WWE likes doing this generationally, and the next time we see a dominant female star enter the Mens' Rumble, it'll likely be years later. For now, it's better if WWE chooses to focus on the Women's Royal Rumble and its importance.
#2 The element of surprise
WWE loves surprising us at the Royal Rumble. To the most part, it's the return of legends and NXT Superstars. This year, WWE did a great job with the Women's Rumble, because they chose the route of not having any returning legends, as opposed to 2018 (which had many of that category).
However, apart from slight surprises, WWE didn't have a real big surprise that would have fans buzzing. The booking itself was great, but WWE adding Nia Jax to the men's match definitely goes down as the biggest surprise in the Rumble PPV this year.
As we mentioned, it's got people talking, and that's what WWE wants. There was no Kenny Omega and no real returning superstar, so they needed to pull off a fast one on the fans. Although we aren't big fans of the decision, it's still far less outrageous than Roman Reigns entering at #30 in 2017!
#1 Late punishment for the Becky Lynch incident
This one is pure speculation, so take it as you will. We were all quite outraged when Becky Lynch was pulled from Survivor Series because her scheduled match against Ronda Rousey was by far the most exciting match on that card.
With one punch, Nia Jax had taken away a dream match for fans. However, in hindsight, it worked out better for Becky Lynch. The incident made her the hottest star in the company. Despite Nia Jax being pushed initally, it seems like she's got her receipt. She was attacked by Becky Lynch backstage at TLC and she was eliminated by her at the Royal Rumble.
Despite having an elimination. Nia Jax took quite a beating, particularly at the hands of Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton. It's possible that this was a punishment of sorts for her, but even in doing so, she joined an elite list.
