HIGHLIGHTS
- Only one superstar has officially declared for the 30-man Royal Rumble match.
- Several surprise entrants could break the internet if they show up in Riyadh.
- The Undisputed WWE Championship match hinges on what happens at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
With every episode of Raw and SmackDown, we learn about a new layer leading to the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble. Who’s in? Who might be arriving? Who could be coming back? It’s all healthy chatter leading up to the first of WWE’s major premium live events.
Who Are the Confirmed Entrants into the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble?
The Royal Rumble field remains remarkably wide open with less than two weeks to go. That means we’ll have quite a few surprises, a ton of people entering as soon as Monday on Raw or a little bit of both.
Men’s Royal Rumble
The only officially confirmed entrant is Cody Rhodes, who declared for the match on the January 16 episode of SmackDown.
Women’s Royal Rumble
No participants have been officially announced yet.
With one entrant confirmed and 59 spots still open, this Rumble is wide open on paper, even if favorites are clear in betting markets. Bron Breakker, Rhea Ripley, Jordynne Grace, Liv Morgan, Iyo Sky, and Lash Legend are some of the names being mentioned as favorites.
Who Are the Most-Likely Surprise Entrants into the 2026 Royal Rumble Matches (Men and Women)?
Prediction pieces and odds-style articles are circling a familiar cluster of returns, cross-promotion surprises, and NXT call-ups as the most realistic shock entrants.
Most Likely Surprise Entrants – Men’s Rumble
Chris Jericho – Multiple outlets treat Jericho as almost a lock for at least a one-night return, especially with the Saudi setting and WWE’s recent openness to cross-promotional appearances. Jericho landing in TNA is a possibility with some WWE crossover.
Braun Strowman – Winner of the first Saudi Greatest Royal Rumble, repeatedly mentioned as a likely nostalgia pop in Riyadh. Maybe it would just be on a one-night basis.
Oba Femi – Recent NXT champion who just vacated his title, pegged as a probable “monster call-up” to make a statement in the Rumble. Femi should be seen as a darkhorse to win, but he should certainly be in the Rumble.
Jacob Fatu – Already entangled with Rhodes on the main roster, several surprise-entrant videos and articles have him as a chaos agent in the match. I think Fatu is a virtual lock to be in the match too–especially with Rhodes already declaring.
Most Likely Surprise Entrants – Women’s Rumble
Bianca Belair – Odds pieces list her as a top favorite despite her injury status, making her both a likely entrant and a possible winner if she’s ready. If Bianca is healthy enough to be there, she’s in and she wins the Rumble.
Jordynne Grace – With WWE officially signing her and dropping her in a feud with Jade Cargill, it seems like an obvious option.
Brie Bella – Nikki Bella is already back, though her return has mostly fallen flat. Still, Brie could return to pull off some twin magic.
Paige (Saraya) – I’ve wondered about her return to WWE for months. While no one is seemingly discussing it as much as they are Jericho, this could be the perfect time.
Besides the Men and Women’s Royal Rumble, What Other Matches Are Confirmed for the Card?
So far, WWE has three core matches listed for Royal Rumble 2026.
Men’s Royal Rumble Match (30-man)
The winner earns a world championship match of his choice at WrestleMania 42.
Women’s Royal Rumble Match (30-woman)
The winner earns a women’s championship match of her choice at WrestleMania 42.
Undisputed WWE Championship Match
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. TBD – The challenger will be the winner of the Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender’s Match (Randy Orton vs. Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams vs. Sami Zayn) at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal on January 24.
The Rumbles are still almost entirely mystery boxes, and even the top championship match hinges on what happens in Montreal a week earlier. A Royal Rumble that sees AJ Lee, Jericho and LA Knight return might break the internet. Saudi money makes it all seem practical. Let’s see what we get.
