WWE Royal Rumble 2018: Should Nia Jax Win Women’s Rumble?

Nia Jax has yet to win the Raw Women’s Championship, but could the “Force of Greatness” pick up a huge win at WWE Royal Rumble 2018?

On Jan. 28, WWE will make history by holding the first ever women’s Royal Rumble match during the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Thirty total contestants are slotted to compete, similar in style to the men’s Royal Rumble match, which leaves a lot of open-ended questions and a lot of possible winners.

There are a few contenders that are clear favorites: Becky Lynch, Asuka, a possible Ronda Rousey, and Nia Jax. Even Kurt Angle has announced his prediction that Jax will win the Royal Rumble match.

Why is she being singled out as a favorite? Sheer size and strength. It’s common for the biggest wrestler to be marked as a favorite to win in any match. History tells us the biggest wrestler doesn’t always win, though, especially when concerning Nia.

Since debuting at NXT in May of 2015, Nia’s history has been dripping with missed opportunities and losses.

She debuted at a NXT house show on May 7, 2015, where she was paired with Devin Taylor in a tag team match against Bayley and Carmella, where she was defeated.

After various “I’m not like other girls” intro vignettes filled the airwaves throughout Sept. 2015, Jax looked promising after she made her television debut on the Oct. 14 NXT episode, defeating Evie in a singles match. Shortly after her debut, NXT pushed her on a winning streak, defeating several enhancement talents and NXT star Carmella, helping to establish her reputation as a heel.

During Nov. 2015, Jax formed an alliance with Eva Marie and started her first feud with Bayley over the NXT Women’s Championship. She promptly earned her title match on Dec. 16 at NXT TakeOver: London, where she promptly lost.

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After a month of inactivity due to a story line injury, Jax won a match over Liv Morgan, but her wins at NXT seemed doomed to simple filler singles matches.

After a few contender matches, Jax had another chance at they NXT Women’s Championship against Asuka at NXT TakeOver: The End, but she lost that opportunity, as well.

In a fitting end to what seemed like a fruitless NXT career, Jax lost to Asuka again for the NXT Women’s Championship on Dec. 28, 2016, her last match at NXT.

During this time, Jax was drafted to Raw as part of the 2016 WWE Draft. She made her main roster debut on July 25 of that year, and was sent on a low-key winning streak against small and local talent. Fans and analysts complained that WWE signed a wrestler without seemingly knowing where she would fit. Was this odd winning streak really just a showcase of her strength to the fans?

Her tour at Raw  has been unspectacular since. She had a small feud with Alicia Fox, was defeated at the 2016 Survivor Series women’s match, won against Sasha Banks at the 2017 Royal Rumble pre-show, was eliminated at the WrestleMania 33 four-way elimination match for the Raw women’s title, defeated by Banks at the number one contender’s match for a chance at the Raw Women’s Championship, started a confusing and boring feud against Alexa Bliss, and failed to win the women’s title from Bliss at No Mercy.

Credit: WWE.com

It could be said that the lack of opportunity arises from failure to find decent and fair talent for Jax to compete with. It could also be said, though, that Jax might not have the talent to be at the top. Without much experience in sports other than a college basketball career, Jax has been criticized for being a pretty face WWE has pushed to show that they are fair in hiring practices.

Nia nay-sayers state she’s not agile or athletic enough to compete with the likes of Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Banks, Bayley, and Asuka, and that brute strength is not enough to carry a wrestler into super stardom.

Is Jax just an answer for similar male wrestlers like Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe, who, by comparison, have more experience and are more athletic?

Recently, WWE has given Nia’s character more depth. On Dec. 4, Jax started a confusing, yet hilariously adorable, love story line with Enzo Amore. Her relationship with Bliss has transformed into a friendship, and the two plot lines intertwine often, creating real entertainment.

It’s the character development we’ve all wanted to see for Jax, but we’ve yet to see any development in her wrestling and match opportunity.

Jax has no title reigns to boast, or feuds to draw ticket sales and viewers. If she was to win Royal Rumble, where would that lead us? Well, if Bliss holds on to the title until WrestleMania 34, she would fight against her on-air and real life best friend Alexa Bliss. Which, as good as Bliss is, would not seem like a fair match.

Credit: WWE.com

If Bliss loses the match to someone prior to WrestleMania 34, it would give Jax an opportunity to start a feud with a contender, provided they are physically a fair match to Nia. Predictions of a Jax and Asuka WrestleMania match are being rumored, which would be the closest thing to a fair match Nia could get. It would also rekindle some NXT feud fire.

The question that remains, though, is whether or not Jax deserves the chance. Without proving herself thus far as a top talent, it’s hard to push for Jax for any other reason than entertainment, and possibly to boost her career the short-winded way.

Next: Ranking Every Royal Rumble Winner

Tune in Jan. 28 to the WWE Network to see all of Royal Rumble’s anticipated matches, and whether or not Jax is ready for the top.