The WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal will not be returning for WrestleMania 42, as the company continues to move away from its previous philosophy of featuring as many performers as possible on the card. While the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has remained a fixture of WrestleMania weekend—shifting to the “WrestleMania Edition” of SmackDown since 2021—the women’s equivalent hasn’t been seen since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sean Ross Sapp noted during a Fightful Select Answers Q&A that the reason for the match’s absence is straightforward: WWE management simply “didn’t want to do the match anymore.” Under Triple H’s creative leadership, the company has prioritized streamlined, narrative-focused cards over battle royals designed to give every active roster member a “WrestleMania moment.” This shift aligns with the 2026 season’s strategy of focusing on top-tier programs for the global ESPN and Netflix broadcasts.
History of the Women’s Battle Royal and the Shift in WrestleMania Philosophy
The WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal was a short-lived tradition, held only at WrestleMania 34 in 2018 and WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Naomi won the inaugural match in New Orleans, while Carmella secured the trophy the following year in New Jersey. Both the men’s and women’s battle royals were scrapped for WrestleMania 36 in 2020 due to pandemic-related restrictions. While the Andre the Giant tribute returned as a SmackDown staple, the women’s version was never revived.
As WWE prepares for WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18 and 19, 2026, the company is focusing on marquee championship matches such as Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton and the Women’s World Title clash between Stephanie Vaquer and Liv Morgan. By moving away from the battle royal format, management is able to dedicate more television time to these high-profile feuds. This year’s “Showcase of the Immortals” is also the first to feature a linear broadcast partnership with ESPN, putting additional pressure on officials to present a card centered on the division’s most prominent stars.
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