The surprise return of Alexa Bliss at this year’s Royal Rumble was orchestrated in a frantic, overnight scramble, with the final decision being made just hours before she was due on a plane. Appearing on the Nikki and Brie Show, Bliss detailed the chaotic process that saw her go from her home to the ring in under a day.
The process began with a call at midnight the night before the event. Even then, her participation was not set in stone.
“I got the call at like midnight the night before. Yeah, midnight the night before. Oh my gosh. So, I got the call at midnight and it wasn’t even fully decided until like 4:00 a.m. Then I get a call at 5:00, and they’re like, ‘All right, we need you on a plane by 10:00 a.m.’”
To maintain the element of surprise, Bliss was flown into Cincinnati instead of the host city of Indianapolis. From there, she was driven to the venue, kept covered, and snuck into a back room where a hair and makeup team was already waiting. She arrived at the arena at 4 p.m., a mere two hours before the show was scheduled to begin, having had no sleep.
The hours leading up to the flight were just as hectic. Bliss described being at home at 3 a.m., rummaging through old gear next to her baby’s closet while on the phone, trying to find something that would fit. At 4 a.m., she told her husband, Ryan Cabrera, about the potential plan, but he was too tired to fully process the situation, leading her to travel alone.
“I hadn’t eaten, I was deliriously tired. I’m in my house at 3:00 a.m. on the phone trying not to wake up the baby because my gear is next to her closet. I’m looking through old gear like, ‘All right, what still fits me?’ At 4:00 a.m. I told Ryan, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to the Rumble.’ And he’s like, ‘Huh?’ I go, ‘Do you want to come?’ And he’s like, ‘I’m so tired. What?’ And I go, ‘Never mind.’ So I just got on a plane and went.”
The secrecy was absolute. According to Bliss, none of the other talent, including the women in the locker room, knew of her presence until she was in the Gorilla position, poised to make her entrance.
“No one knew I was there. Not even the girls. They didn’t know until I was in Gorilla. No one knew. No one.”
The return on February 1 marked her first appearance in two years, following the birth of her first child and the resolution of a contract dispute that saw her sign a new five-year deal. Since that chaotic night, Bliss has been re-integrated into WWE programming, participating in the Elimination Chamber match and recently qualifying for a major title opportunity. On the July 4 edition of SmackDown, she and Charlotte Flair secured a spot in the four-way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at the upcoming Evolution event on July 13.