Are you ready to rumble? The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 is just around the corner, and fans are buzzing with excitement. This annual event is always full of surprises, drama, and of course, plenty of body slams. So, what can we expect from this year's Royal Rumble? Let's dive in and take a look!
Two superstars will punch their ticket to WWE WrestleMania 42 at the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Most Wins: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin remains the only three-time winner (1997, 1998, 2001). Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar and Charlotte Flair each have a chance to tie the record with a victory today in their respective matches.
Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre (c) for the Undisputed WWE Championship:
Drew McIntyre will retain the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn. There is no point in Drew losing his first title defense at The Royal Rumble. Sami Zayn deserves to win the Championship at some point, and a loss here could propel him to a rematch at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Did you Know: Brock Lesnar (2020) and Braun Strowman (Greatest Royal Rumble) share the single-match record with 13 eliminations. For the women, Nia Jax set a new record in 2025 with 9 eliminations. Will anyone break the records in 2026?
AJ Styles vs. Gunther with Styles’ WWE career on the line
AJ Styles and Gunther will have a PHENOMENAL match, but WWE will shock us all and retire AJ Styles at the event in which he made his WWE Debut at in Orlando, Florida. Gunther will get to retire 3 of the best Superstars WWE has ever offered in Goldberg, John Cena and now AJ Styles.
Winner: Gunther
Did you know: Roxanne Perez set the new women’s record in 2025, lasting 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 47 seconds in the Women's Royal Rumble match.
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
This is one of my favorite matches in all of WWE. You never know who could show up, who can turn on their partner or who could be launched to Championship status. Liv Morgan might be the odd-on favorite, but I believe Bianca Belair will make a surprise return at the 30th entrant and win a final 4 way showdown between Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. What surprise returns will we have in this match?
Winner: Bianca Belair
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
What surprise returns will we have in this match? Chris Jericho could be a surprise entrant for one final WWE run, potentially becoming another of Gunther’s retirement victims in 2026. I would love to see Kevin Owens make a return here, but is he healthy enough to finally make his comeback? Speaking of health, we can never be certain about Seth Rollins' actual condition. Maybe he'll make another surprise return with a grand entrance. It would be awesome to see Santino Marella or Stone Cold Steve Austin make a legends. Top contenders for the win include Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Bron Breakker, and Gunther. appearance. Could someone like LA Knight pull off a surprise and win the Rumble just like Jey Uso did last year? Yeah! This year, I’ve put my Kalshi bet on Roman Reigns to storm through the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble like it’s just another family reunion where we Acknowledge the Tribal Chief one more time!
Winner: Roman Reigns
Did you know? Chris Jericho is the only superstar to surpass five hours of total cumulative time across all his Rumble appearances.
- The 1992 Iron Man: Ric Flair entered at #3 and lasted over an hour to win the vacant WWE Championship, delivering a performance still considered the gold standard for the event.
- Shawn Michaels "Skinning the Cat" (1995): Michaels became the first person to win from #1, surviving because only "one foot" touched the floor in the final moments.
- Rhea Ripley (2023): Ripley made history by becoming the first woman to win the Royal Rumble from the #1 entry position.
- Santino Marella’s Speed Record (2009): Lasting just 1.9 seconds, Santino set the record for the fastest elimination in history, famously shouting "I wasn't ready!"
Will 2026 offer a new first for the Royal Rumble?
Everyone have a fantastic time watching the Royal Rumble and visit RollinsSportsWorld.com for your latest WWE Gear!