WWE Royal Rumble fans have gone wild as
Becky Lynch became a surprise entrant – only to go on and win by eliminating
Nia Jax and
Charlotte Flair.
Lynch – who had already competed against Asuka – took the number 28 spot after Lana was unable to compete due to an ankle injury sustained during her husband Rusev's match with Shinsuke Nakamura.
The Man was not scheduled to join the 30-woman bout, but marched down the ramp and was allowed to enter after a brief row with WWE official Fit Finlay.
WWE fans were sent wild as Lynch joined the match and went on to win after elminating bitter rival Nia Jax and old enemy Charlotte Flair.
Jax left Lynch on the shelf last year after "breaking her face" in a bloody brawl on Raw – costing her a long awaited match with Ronda Rousey.
Royal Rumble viewers have piled praise on the twist, and hailed Lynch's win as exactly what they wanted to see.
WWE fans cried justice as Lynch eliminated Jax by pulling her off the ring apron in a surprise elimination.
The Irresitable Force would come back to get revenge on The Man – appearing to injure her knee.
Lynch would heroically fight back – managing to climb back in the ring and finally best the unhurt Flair.
More than 48,000 Royal Rumble fans at the Chase Arena exploded when the daughter of WWE legend Ric Flair was chucked out.
The Man looked visibly moved at the incredible reaction – with her cemented as one of WWE's most popular wrestlers.
One WWE fan said "oh my god she did it" and another added "Becky Lynch wins and now I can turn off the Royal Rumble".
Others said "can't express how happy I am" and "I am completely in love with Becky Lynch, she's the best".
Another wrote: "Becky Lynch is so much fun to watch in the ring. Go get the title from Rousey."
"Becky Lynch is the best thing going on in wrestling right now," added another.
Lynch has enjoyed an incredible rise to becoming one of the top stars in the wrestling world since her reinvention with a tougher, more no-nonsense persona.
WWE fans have compared her to Stone Cold Steve Austin – and had been fully expecting her to headline WrestleMania against Rousey.
Becky had lost her match against Asuka earlier in the night as she attempted to reclaim her WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.
Rousey had cost her the belt after getting involved in a triple threat TLC match last month between Lynch, Asuka and Flair.
Lynch has been a major part of the reinvention of female wrestling over the past few years known as the Women's Revolution.
She is a member of the Four Horsewomen – the wrestlers credited with heralding the change – along with Flair, Bayley and Sasha Banks.
Tonight's main event will see 30-men compete for a chance to headline WrestleMania by throwing their rivals over the top rope – winning the chance to compete for the WWE Championship or WWE Universal Championship.
Royal Rumble fans are expecting plenty of shocks and surprises which WWE normally pulls out for the annual brawl that kicks of the Road to WrestleMania every January.