Charlotte Flair has spoken about an apparent double standard over how the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches are treated.
Later today, Flair will defend the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39 (Night One).
There have been rumors that this match will headline the event, while some believe that the Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens vs. The Usos tag-team match is more deserving.
Speaking on the “Out of Character” podcast, Flair questioned why it is assumed that the Men’s Royal Rumble winner will headline WrestleMania 39, but that isn’t the case for the Women’s Rumble winner. She said,
“How do I word this politically correct? [laughs]. I understand that the best story should close the show. I understand that, but does the men’s title and whoever wins the men’s Royal Rumble, are they always guaranteed a main event spot? Are they always? 99.9 (percent). The women, last year, last minute, didn’t happen. This year, toss up because of story? You could argue, whoever closes, say it is the tag match, I’m a huge fan. I’ve known Sami and Kevin since I started. I could not be bigger fans, but fighting for Rhea and Charlotte, I just go, ‘that story has been a year in the making, this story has been three years. Three years in the making.’
“I get it. I get top story. I look at it from a fact standpoint instead of who deserves because no one deserves anything. I do not deserve the main event, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying, if you look at it from a factual standpoint; whoever wins the men’s Royal Rumble, they are always, 99.99999 (percent), the main event. If we have two nights, how does that work? If we don’t close, am I going to be disappointed, sure, but is it going to take away from the match and the moment and how we feel? No.
“I just go, how do we as women know, why is theirs guaranteed and ours isn’t? That’s my question. Say the Usos, Sami, and Kevin close. So proud. Especially Sami. Seeing this run and turning it into what he has. I’m just talking from the standpoint from the women. If they’re guaranteed, why is the women’s Royal Rumble not? That’s the fact. It’s a question due to facts. Either way, whoever is where on the card, it’s WrestleMania. Good weekend, good vibes. Rhea and I will steal the show.”
If Flair does headline tonight’s show with Ripley, she will become the first woman in WWE history to headline multiple WrestleManias.
