Ridiculously Early Predictions for the Women's 2025 Royal Rumble Winner

The women in WWE did a lot of the heavy lifting at last year's Royal Rumble event, making it a memorable show on what is now an iconic road to WrestleMania. The ridiculously early predictions for the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble winner have already started to capture much of that excitement. With eight months until the event, there is a lot of time for different superstars to shoot to the top of the pack. However, one of the reasons the Rumble continues to be so popular is that anyone can win, in theory. Still, there are a few stand-out talented performers who have made a robust yet early case for a WrestleMania main event next year in Las Vegas. Some are up-and-coming stars, while others are more experienced names that could get another run at the top on next year's road to WrestleMania.

Becky Lynch makes a WWE return.

On the most recent episode of Monday Night Raw, Becky Lynch lost to Liv Morgan in her effort to regain the Women's World Heavyweight Championship. As of right now, Becky Lynch has not yet re-signed a new contract with the promotion, making her a free agent and the most famous one in the world for her sport. In hindsight especially, that Raw episode seemed an awful lot like a goodbye to "The Man" Becky Lynch from the team at WWE. This could mean she is AEW-bound like many of her contemporaries, or perhaps Becky is all out of things to learn and fights to win, and it is finally time for her to walk away. If that is the path she chooses, it will have been well-earned. She changed the industry and is the greatest of all time. That is a position that isn't really open to interpretation, a rarity in wrestling today.

However, suppose this hiatus isn't goodbye, but a melancholy see you later situation? In that case, the Royal Rumble is the only place for "The Man" to come around again. If that happens, she would instantly become the favorite to win. Regardless of who the reigning champion was at that time, Becky would be a credible challenger. It could be a redemption for losing to Bianca Belair or Rhea Ripley, another shot at Liv Morgan, who won under dubious circumstances, or as the first real test of a new champion like Jade Cargill. When you have a legend like Becky Lynch looking to make a return, you go all out. Provided that Becky doesn't show up at the AEW "All Out" event a few months prior, a Rumble win is the best way to do that.  

Rhea Ripley gets her revenge.

Rhea Ripley has been out with an injury, and her absence has been felt. For the past year, Ripley was the clear leader of the Judgment Day faction and the top women's champion in all of WWE. Without her every week, multiple stories have felt just a little stilted. Her friends aren't as interesting, and her enemies are less convincing with the Ripley on the shelf. That is the mark of a true star: when the show feels even a tad bit empty in your absence, you've officially made it. Rhea Ripley could be a cornerstone performer for WWE; in fact, she could become the most influential woman in the industry. That is a story for fans to debate or debunk years from now. This year, she needs to come back in a big way to make up for lost time.

Ripley has already won the Rumble recently, and as one of WWE's top stars, she will not be kept off television just for a suprise slot in that match. As soon as Rhea is back on the active roster, she will almost certainly go after Liv Morgan and the world title she never lost. If that injury runs through the remainder of this year, she will shoot to the top of the early predictions for the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble. A top star making a surprise return has worked well in the past. It would likely be a wonder for WWE again next year.

Jade Cargill runs it back for a second year.

Part of the Royal Rumble's excitement last year was Jade Cargill's official debut as a WWE Superstar. A former champion and mainstay on Dynamite each week, Jade is the most high-profile AEW original to join WWE, provided we acknowledge that WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is a hybrid performer. She had a memorable appearance in the Royal Rumble, ultimately placing third in the event. With the winner and runner-up both holding championship gold right now, Jade's the top-performing entrant in the previous year's bout, making her a favorite in early predictions for the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble winner.

Since her electric debut, Jade Cargill has racked up wins, including one at WrestleMania. With each victory, she builds an aura not unlike the one she had as an undefeated champion in AEW. Earning accolades on the road to a WrestleMania match and a likely championship reign makes a ton of sense. Jade seems well poised to do it, too, which is why she is among the favorites to win for a second year in a row at this point. The only thing in question is whether she will still be without a singles championship by the time January hits. A dominant force like Cargill can be hard to contain, even for just half a dozen months. Still, a Royal Rumble win just one year after debuting is an impressive feat and one that Jade could accomplish soon.

Lyra Valkyria becomes a contender.

One of the most impressive superstars to debut on the main roster in this year's WWE draft has been Lyra Valkyria. She wasn't the most well-known of the draftees, but her impact has been immediate. The challenger turned companion of fellow Irish native Becky Lynch had a brief but exciting run at the top of NXT's women's division before firing on all cylinders since her Raw debut with a deep run in the Queen of the Ring tournament. Losing in the finals for the crown means she isn't championship-bound yet. Still, her continued strong performances can change all that by January's return.

In hindsight, Becky's passing the torch and possible exit from WWE has centered around Lyra. She and Lynch faced off down in NXT before she eventually came to save Becky from her foes on several occasions. Becky's inspirational and possibly last words to the WWE Universe were filmed as advice from the veteran to Valkyria. Winning the Royal Rumble in 2025 may be early for the stand-out superstar. However, her win would be a call back to her mentor's own journey and temporary inability to get a world championship match at WrestleMania.

Ranking the early predictions for the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble.

So, of all the top names, with all the early predictions for the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble, what name is the early favorite? WWE's roster of women has never been better, so anyone could make a compelling case. Jade Cargill, though, makes the strongest one this far out from the Rumble. Jade has the look and feel of a megastar; her aura is more in line with a returning legend than a new recruit. She is currently building a championship resume as well. Cargill will likely get several opportunities as a women's tag team champion to work with the best on Raw, Smackdown, and NXT. She deserves to win if her next appearance in the Royal Rumble is as memorable as her last. Wherever WWE chooses to host the Royal Rumble next year, a storm is probably coming with them.