Nia Jax reflects on competing in the Men’s Royal Rumble and says it was a big deal to have Randy Orton bump for her.
In 2019, Nia Jax competed in the Men’s Royal Rumble, and she took an RKO after she eliminated Mustafa Ali. Jax was just the fourth woman to compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
Jax recently reflected on the experience during an appearance on Stay Busy with Armon Sadler. She described how it was a cool moment, and she recalled being nervous.
“I was in the men’s Rumble in 2019, and I was told when doors were opening that it was happening,” Nia Jax said. “I didn’t get to go through it with the guys. Doors were opening, fans were coming in, we couldn’t rehearse anything. ‘Hey, you’re in the men’s Rumble as well.’ That night, the women’s Rumble was in the beginning. When I was done with that and I went to the back, the guys were sitting in a room just waiting for me to come in, it was such a cool moment because you have Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Dolph Ziggler, Andrade, [Mustafa] Ali.
“Those guys were so kind and giving. I was nervous, they could tell I was nervous, they all just kind of calmed me down. ‘Don’t worry. I got you here.’ Ali was so willing and amazing to let me eliminate him. Rey Mysterio, he’s a saint walking on Earth. He’s one of the nicest human beings. That moment was huge for me. I remember telling Randy, ‘I’m so sorry if I mess up the RKO. I’m so sorry.’ I just kept repeating it. He just said, ‘Don’t worry, kid. Turn left, you’ll be fine.’ I continue to look back on that moment thinking, wow, that was a huge moment.“
Nia Jax Will Never Forget WW Royal Rumble 2019
Jax went on to explain that having Randy Orton bump for her was a big deal, and she said it was unselfish for the men in the match to work with her. She stated that she would never forget the match.
“These are big time names that are doing a big favor to me and I still talk to Randy about it every now and then because we talked about me giving him a tackle and him taking a back,” Jax said. “I tackled him, and he bumped.
“My stomach dropped and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I remember saying, ‘I couldn’t believe you bumped for me.’ In the wrestling business, it’s considered a big deal to have somebody like Randy Orton bump for a girl like me. Those are the moments I look back and go, ‘That was so unselfish of them to do for me.’ I’ll never forget that.” (H/t Fightful)
Jax has declared for the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble, and she will aim to win the match for the first time at WWE Royal Rumble on February 1st.
