WWE Royal Rumble 2026 is finally here, and you know the event is going to be huge. The company’s iconic wrestling event has racked up a strong match card — with room for plenty of surprises — ensuring this Royal Rumble will be one for the record books.
This Premium Live Event is also making history this year as the 39th Royal Rumble takes place, for the first time ever, outside North America in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The professional wrestling battle royale hits the global stage with a formidable amount of buzz. Whoever wins the Men’s and Women’s 30-person Royal Rumble matches will get their shot at the world championship belt of their choosing at Wrestlemania 42. Last year’s Rumble saw Jey Uso walk away the winner, besting John Cena in the process, and he went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship title from Gunther.
This year, it’s anyone’s game, and the rumors are swirling.
Bronn Breaker and the rest of the Vision were announced as entrants during this week’s Monday Night RAW. Will the crew remain a cohesive unit and send Breaker to Wrestlemania? Or will there be infighting on the big day? Will Seth “Freakin” Rollins make an appearance after his extended absence due to injury? Is Chris Jericho coming back to WWE, since his AEW contract ended in 2025? The company is keeping things close to the vest, further fueling speculation.
That said, the match I am most excited for, though, is AJ Styles and Gunther. The Ring General (now known as The Career Killer) has quickly cemented a reputation for ending careers — he put away Goldberg and Cena, and now has his sights on Styles. Will this rematch find the Phenomenal One victorious, or will he be forced to retire earlier than planned?
What should viewers expect this time around? Read on to find out everything you need to know about WWE’s 39th annual Royal Rumble.
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WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match card
Here are the confirmed matches for the WWE Royal Rumble 2026:
- Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship
- AJ Styles vs. Gunther (if Styles loses, he must retire from in-ring competition)
- Men’s Royal Rumble Match
- Women’s Royal Rumble Match
We’ll get more names soon, and I will update the competitors list below accordingly.
Confirmed Men’s Rumble competitors:
- Cody Rhodes
- Roman Reigns
- Gunther
- Jey Uso
- Rey Mysterio
- Jacob Fatu
- Solo Sikoa
- Dragon Lee
- Penta
- Jacob Fatu
- Bron Breakker
- Logan Paul
- Big Bronson Reed
- Austin Theory
- Je’Von Evans
- Oba Femi
- Brock Lesnar
Confirmed Women’s Rumble competitors:
- Rhea Ripley
- IYO SKY
- Liv Morgan
- Roxanne Perez
- Raquel Rodriguez
- Chelsea Green
- Jordynne Grace
- Charlotte Flair
- Alexa Bliss
- Nia Jax
- Lash Legend
- Giulia
- Bayley
- Asuka
- Lyra Valkyria
- Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch
- Maxxine Dupri
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WWE Royal Rumble 2026 date and start time
The 39th Royal Rumble takes place on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. If the start time feels uncharacteristically early, that’s because the Premium Live Event will be happening in Saudi Arabia.
Where will the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
This year’s Royal Rumble will happen at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
How to watch the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 in the US
You can watch this year’s Royal Rumble and all major WWE Premium Live Events on the ESPN app. Preshow coverage is set to begin at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. To access the event, you’ll need to subscribe to ESPN’s Unlimited plan.
To watch the Royal Rumble, you’ll need to subscribe to ESPN’s Unlimited plan through the ESPN app. The tier costs $30 per month or $300 per year. If you’re interested in bundling services to save some money, check out the Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle. It’s normally $36, but deals are semi-regular that knock the price down to $30.
How to watch WWE Royal Rumble 2026 outside of the US
While US Netflix subscribers won’t be able to watch the WWE Royal Rumble, global subscribers can access the event live on the streamer.
Fans in countries like Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom will all be able to tune into the Rumble live — which means some viewers will be watching in the middle of the night.
Netflix has increased its streaming prices again. The ad-based plan is $8 a month, the Standard plan is $18, and the streamer’s Premium plan is $25. If you’re a premium subscriber and want to share your account with someone outside your household, you’ll have to pay an additional member fee of $8.
