Updated WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Match Card Predictions After John Cena's Retirement
John Cena waved goodbye to professional wrestling as an active in-ring competitor in the main event of Saturday Night's Main Event and while the sting of his retirement will resonate for the foreseeable future, the focus of WWE's creative team will turn to the Royal Rumble, live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 31, 2026.
What can fans expect from the blockbuster first premium live event on the road to WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas?
Find out with these too early predictions for the extravaganza.
Last Man Standing Match for the Undisputed WWE Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre
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The rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre dates back to September, at least, when The American Nightmare defeated The Scottish Psychopath under controversial circumstances.
Since then, McIntyre has been a thorn in Rhodes' side, complaining about "unsafe working conditions" amid catching a beatdown from the champ and interrupting the second-generation star's match against NXT's Oba Femi on Saturday Night's Main Event.
A long-running rivalry that has to be nearing its end, what better place to blow it off than at the Royal Rumble, where it keeps Rhodes busy with a top-tier opponent, without taking away from the 30-man namesake match?
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Wyatt Sicks vs. The MFTs
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This still feels like a safe bet for the show based on current creative, but also how little the participants here would hurt the 30-man Rumble match.
Outside of Solo Sikoa, there is no one involved in the rivalry that would be an obvious, must-have entrant in the Rumble, meaning a showdown pitting Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy against Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, with Talla Tonga and Erick Rowan at ringside to enhance the action, would be harmless.
Last year, we saw the SmackDown tag team division represented. Considering the blue brand will be returning to three hours in January, there will be plenty of television time to get the Wyatts vs. MFTs feud hot enough to justify a place on a major PLE card.
That it keeps other singles competitors available for the Rumble match itself, so that the company can tout another star-studded field, only strengthens the argument for its inclusion.
Women's Royal Rumble Match
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The Women's Royal Rumble has traditionally been the first of the two 30-Superstar contests to take place, with the 2018 event being the lone instance of it being the show-closing match.
That is unlikely to change in 2025, but there are a number of potential contenders to emerge victoriously, thus cashing their ticket to WrestleMania.
Rhea Ripley is one of the biggest stars in the industry, Tiffany Stratton has revenge on her mind following a loss to Jade Cargill, Becky Lynch is the greatest of all time and easily believable as a No. 1 contender, and the a potential surprise appearance by AJ Lee could bring about a return to the WrestleMania stage.
Liv Morgan, though, is a major star in WWE and someone who has never competed in a one-on-one championship match on the grand stage. Despite all of her success, she has not had that one WrestleMania moment. What better way to right that wrong than by having her win the Rumble and head to her first singles championship match at the Granddaddy of Them All?
Surprise entrants and NXT talent should not be considered out of the realm of possibility given the contest's history.
Men's Royal Rumble Match
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The Men's Royal Rumble Match dates back to 1988 and is, annually, among the most anticipated contests of the year.
This year figures to be no different, with the booking of the contest tipping WWE Creative's hand for some of the biggest matches at WrestleMania 42, including the main event.
With that said, the most obvious and likely winner this year is the man who has already teased a third showdown with Cody Rhodes in four years, The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.
The OTC was caught staring at the Undisputed WWE Championship, held by The American Nightmare, and likely wants his title back after two years of being without it. The first step toward getting there is with his first Rumble victory since 2015.
