WWE Alexa Bliss Makes Last-Minute Royal Rumble Return After Two-Year Hiatus

Alexa Bliss made a surprise return to WWE at the 2025 Royal Rumble after a two-year hiatus, with the decision finalized at the very last minute. She received the call around midnight the night before the event, with the final confirmation coming by 5 a.m., and was instructed to board a plane by 10 a.m. to Cincinnati before being driven to the Indianapolis venue, where she was kept hidden from everyone backstage until entering the match at No. 21. Bliss was exhausted, having not slept or eaten throughout the night, and had to quickly prepare, including finding her wrestling gear and undergoing hair and makeup shortly before the match. Her return was kept secret from even fellow wrestlers until the last moment, and she appreciated the surprise reception from the crowd, describing it as one of her most memorable moments in the ring. Additionally, Bliss recently signed a new five-year contract with WWE, resolving earlier contract disputes that had delayed her return plans.