In September, WWE officially announced the signing of Jade Cargill, securing her from AEW. This move marked her as one of the select few talents that WWE had acquired from Tony Khan’s company since its inception.
Despite making backstage appearances on Raw, SmackDown and NXT shortly after her signing last fall, Cargill has been gone from WWE television for quite some time. Her prolonged absence raised questions about when WWE would eventually debut her for the first time.
However, that long-awaited moment arrived on Saturday night during the Women’s Royal Rumble match when Cargill joined the fray as the 28th entrant.
A STORM IS COMING! ⚡️@Jade_Cargill is here in the 2024 Women’s #RoyalRumble Match! pic.twitter.com/wBTCqAaVXX
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024
Entering the match, Cargill faced off with Nia Jax, showcasing an impressive display of strength by lifting her up singlehandedly, much to the delight of the crowd. The 31-year-old repeated the feat, lifting Jax once more and eliminating her from the match.
A dream match tease then unfolded as Cargill and Bianca Belair met in the center of the ring, locking eyes and eliciting an even more enthusiastic response from the Tropicana Field crowd. She even contributed to Becky Lynch and the returning Naomi’s respective eliminations.
SHOCKING elimination after SHOCKING elimination! 😲😲😲#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/se1LJIVIOH
— WWE (@WWE) January 28, 2024
Cargill, Liv Morgan and Bayley were the final three women remaining as they dramatically battled along the ring apron in the match’s final moments. After going back and forth, Morgan eliminated Cargill from the match. Bayley then eliminated Morgan, winning the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble.
Although winning the Royal Rumble would have elevated her debut to greater heights, Cargill’s night unfolded as well as WWE could have anticipated. The crowd responded well to her entrance, cheered for her mid-match moments, and remained on the edge of their seats for the end.
Now, questions arise about which brand she joins and whether she will have a WrestleMania match. Stay tuned.
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