It’s taken 11 years, multiple injuries, and a whole lot of grit—but Liv Morgan is finally standing at the very top of WWE’s women’s division. After winning the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, Morgan is on her way to WrestleMania 42, and for the first time in her career, she may headline the grandest stage of them all.
Liv Morgan Wins the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble
After nine attempts, Liv Morgan finally did it. She eliminated Tiffany Stratton in the final moments of this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble to earn her first Rumble victory and a guaranteed championship match at WrestleMania 42.
The win is more than just a career milestone—it’s a symbol of her long, painful, but ultimately inspiring journey. Morgan was so overwhelmed by the moment that she forgot the traditional Rumble winner pose: pointing at the WrestleMania sign.
“I’m still on [cloud nine] and I’m staying there,” she told The Takedown. “I’m very much staying present in the moment.”
Overcoming Injury, Anger, and Setbacks
Liv Morgan hasn’t had it easy. Her road to the Rumble was paved with frustration. Just weeks before SummerSlam 2025, and only minutes from her hometown in New Jersey, she was sidelined with a shoulder injury requiring surgery—her second in just over a year.
Unlike her injury in 2023, this time Liv was angry.
“I was quite literally angry the whole entire time that I was recovering,” she said. “I felt like my career was taken from me.”
That anger turned into motivation. She came back stronger, with a chip on her shoulder, determined to reclaim her spotlight—and she did just that.
Her Return: Helping ‘Daddy’ Dominik and Honouring Cena
Morgan’s return came at Survivor Series: WarGames, where she played a key role in helping Dominik Mysterio regain the Intercontinental Championship from John Cena during his retirement road. As a lifelong Cena fan, it was a full-circle moment for Morgan.
Now, she’s being compared to Cena himself—as the new face of WWE’s Never Give Up mindset. And she’s proud to carry that torch.
“Sometimes your success doesn’t happen on the timeline that you want… but all you can do is just keep pushing.”
Who Will Liv Morgan Face at WrestleMania 42?
As the Royal Rumble winner, Liv Morgan now has a big decision to make: which championship will she challenge for at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas?
Option 1: Jade Cargill – WWE Women’s Champion
Morgan has eliminated Jade before in a Royal Rumble match, and she’s not intimidated.
“This b**** is big! She’s strong… but Jade has never beaten me.”
Morgan will scout Cargill in person on SmackDown this Friday in Charlotte, possibly to set up a long-awaited singles match between them.
Option 2: Stephanie Vaquer – Women’s World Champion
Morgan respects Vaquer but admits she’s never beaten her in any match. That’s something she’d like to change.
“She’s really solid in the ring… I think she’s making a swell champion so far.”
Choosing Vaquer would give Liv a chance to finally prove she can beat one of the fastest-rising stars in WWE today.
No Prime, Just Progress
At 31, Liv Morgan is 12 years into her WWE career—but she doesn’t believe she’s peaked.
“I don’t believe in a prime… This is only the best version of me so far.”
That mindset, more than anything, shows why she’s the right person to take centre stage at WrestleMania 42.
