Asuka became the first winner of WWE’s women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018.
The match took place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on January 28, 2018. Asuka entered at number 25 and eliminated Nikki Bella last to win the inaugural 30-woman contest.
The match followed WWE’s growing expansion of women’s wrestling, including the introduction of women’s Hell in a Cell, Money in the Bank, and Royal Rumble matches. Asuka’s victory earned her a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 34.
She challenged Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania, but Charlotte defeated her, ending Asuka’s undefeated singles streak in WWE. Ronda Rousey also appeared at the 2018 Royal Rumble, but she did not compete in the match; she made her entrance after Asuka’s victory.