The Street to WrestleMania 42 begins on Sunday. The WWE Royal Rumble is the beginning line for a journey that culminates with two world title matches on the Showcase of the Immortals. The person and lady who win their respective Rumble matches will select a world champion to face at WrestleMania. Surviving the gauntlet can immediately create a brand new star or give a important occasion expertise one other shot at glory.
This yr’s fields are immensely aggressive with quite a few former champions within the combine.
Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar are among the many heavy favorites within the males’s match. Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan are all massive names on the ladies’s facet. For each former world champion on the cardboard, a number of hungry contenders wish to get away. Hold an in depth eye on Bron Breakker, Jacob Fatu, Jordynne Grace and Giulia to upset the applecart.
Plus, a world title match is about for Saturday when WWE champion Drew McIntyre defends his title for the primary time in opposition to Sami Zayn. Zayn, who has by no means gained a singles world title, gained a deadly 4 solution to earn his alternative in opposition to McIntyre. Nonetheless, Zayn has a sorted historical past with the Scotsman as he’s 0-12 all time in singles competitors in opposition to him. If Zayn is to win his first world title, he’ll need to make some historical past to take action.
Additionally on the cardboard is a retirement match between Gunther and AJ Kinds. Gunther has grow to be the boogeyman of WWE after retiring each Goldberg and John Cena final yr. Now he faces Kinds, who has already mentioned 2026 will probably be his final yr of in-ring competitors.
Under is how one can catch all of the motion on Saturday afternoon. Remember to try our predictions and knowledgeable picks for every match on the cardboard.
The place to look at WWE Royal Rumble 2026
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
Location: Riyadh Season Stadium — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Begin time: 2 p.m. ET
Watch reside: ESPN Limitless (subscription required)
2026 WWE Royal Rumble match card
- Males’s Royal Rumble match — Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Gunther, Jey Uso, Rey Mysterio, Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, Dragon Lee, Penta, Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, Bronson Reed, Austin Concept, Je’Von Evans, Oba Femi, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar and 13 extra
- WWE Championship — Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Sami Zayn
- Ladies’s Royal Rumble match — Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley, Roxanne Perez, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Asuka, Chelsea Inexperienced, Jordynne Grace, Charlotte Aptitude, Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Giulia, Maxxine Dupri, Becky Lynch and 13 extra
- AJ Kinds vs. Gunther*
*If Kinds loses, he retires. If Gunther loses, Kinds takes his Rumble spot.
