12 WWE Royal Rumble Predictions From Winner to Ironman to Most Eliminations
Every year, the Royal Rumble matches present a unique opportunity for multiple stars to make a lasting impact.
While there can only be one winner in each of the men's and women's contests (most of the time), other names can make their mark by lasting longer than anyone else or picking up the most eliminations.
Bron Breakker and Gunther could easily win the men's Rumble, but it could be Oba Femi or Trick Williams who stands out more with an impressive performance.
As speculation grows that Liv Morgan or Bianca Belair could win women's Rumble, a Iron Woman run from Jordynne Grace or Lyra Valkyria would redefine their main roster perception.
The following are 12 important predictions for the 2026 Royal Rumble matches, figuring out who could make the most of their opportunity.
Biggest Surprise Entrant - Men's: Chris Jericho
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While rumors have swirled for a while about Chris Jericho returning to WWE, the company has kept everything official quiet.
Of all the possible surprises WWE can deliver, nothing will bring a bigger pop than his first appearance in the company since 2018.
The six-time WWE world champion is 55 years old and wore out his welcome down the stretch in All Elite Wrestling with his struggles in the ring.
He is not likely to work at a high level for a long stretch in WWE, but a nostalgia run beginning in the Rumble is certain to make a good impression early.
Jericho will not win the match, but he has the history to last a while and set up a clear direction on the road to WrestleMania.
Biggest Surprise Entrant - Women's: Bianca Belair
2 of 12Few could have predicted Bianca Belair's last match of 2025 would be at WrestleMania 41.
In one of the best matches of 2025, The EST of WWE suffered a left hand injury that has not healed smoothly.
She appeared at Evolution as the special guest referee for Jade Cargill vs. Naomi, but she was back off TV afterward to keep recovering.
Assuming Belair is healthy, she would be the perfect surprise entrant for the Rumble with a real chance to win.
It would be a bit repetitive for The EST to win the Rumble in her return match, like Charlotte Flair last year, but she is the perfect WrestleMania challenger for The Storm.
1st Eliminated - Men's: Kit Wilson
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While Kit Wilson has raised his stock in WWE in recent months, it is probably only enough to have a memorable comedy elimination in the men's Rumble.
At the very least, WWE should give him a microphone to mock whoever is in the ring while playing his popular entrance theme for a while longer.
Few have made more of their recent appearances than Wilson, and this will likely be no different.
If done right, the 31-year-old could build off this appearance on the road to WrestleMania 42 to get a memorable spot on the show (whether in a match or as a nuisance to a guest host).
1st Eliminated - Women's: Natalya
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Natalya's attack on Maxxine Dupri on the January 19 edition of Raw set a tone for her future. She is defining herself as the veteran obstacle for Dupri.
For that reason, the women's Rumble match should allow Dupri some revenge. She can take out Natalya, further aggravating her former mentor.
The Low-Key Legend will get her back on the road to WrestleMania, but Natalya does not need a lengthy run in the Rumble.
She is not a believable world title challenger, at least not in the near future.
Iron Man: Ilja Dragunov
5 of 12No one has made a bigger impact since his return to action in October 2025 than Ilja Dragunov.
The Czar is an incredible in-ring performer who always makes the most of his time. His physical style stands out, but he also has the stamina to last in the Royal Rumble.
It would make good sense for Dragunov to open the Rumble match and last until near the end where Bron Breakker or Gunther costs him a chance at true glory.
The Czar is beginning to push his way into the world title conversation, but he is unlikely to win it in 2026.
This is the year to make clear why she should be in 2027 and beyond. Give him the opportunity, and Dragunov will deliver.
Iron Woman: Lyra Valkyria
6 of 12Lyra Valkyria had an impressive 2025 run, defending the Women's Intercontinental Championship and delivering in a memorable feud with Becky Lynch.
She has started 2026 in the shadow of Bayley, working as a tag team that is not obviously in title contention.
The Royal Rumble could serve as a good reminder of The Valkyrie's talent, following the Iron Woman run of her mentor Bayley.
It is unlikely Valkyria wins it all but an early start to her Rumble run, stretching nearly to the end would serve to highlight her talent.
The other woman most likely to fill this role would be Iyo Sky, but she does not need this rub nearly as much as The Valkyrie.
Most Eliminations - Men's: Oba Femi
7 of 12Oba Femi leaves NXT as a two-time NXT champion, and no one was able to dethrone him before the main roster came calling.
The Ruler is about as impressive a prospect as WWE could ask for. The men's Royal Rumble will likely serve as his chance to make a lasting statement.
He will be a dominant force that few can handle and could pick up some big eliminations over the course of the match.
While it would not be completely shocking if he made it near the end of the Rumble, it feels most important he eliminates a high number of competitors.
While the men's single-match elimination record of 13 seems impossible to match, Femi could genuinely rival it with focused booking.
The best bet would be for him to eliminate eight or so wrestlers before he runs into someone like Bron Breakker that has the power to take him down.
Even in that case, The Ruler will immediately establish himself as one to watch for the long haul in WWE.
Most Eliminations - Women's: Jordynne Grace
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Jordynne Grace is a recent addition to the SmackDown roster who has quickly found her way into the world title scene.
This is partially because Michin and B-Fab were both injured in December, but Grace is already a more legitimate challenge to Jade Cargill than either of those women.
WWE is moving slowly with pitting these two against each other, but this is the time to further solidify what a dominant force she can be.
At least five strong eliminations by Grace would make clear why she could be a problem for Cargill one-on-one.
Nia Jax set the standard for the women last year with nine eliminations. It is unlikely any woman passes that in 2026, but Grace has the best chance.
Final 4 - Men's: Bron Breakker, Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Roman Reigns
9 of 12A strong final four in a Royal Rumble should highlight the most likely men to challenge for a world title in the coming year.
It does not always work out like that, but the breadth of talent in WWE's men's division requires the company to be selective with who stands tall near the end.
Bron Breakker is an obvious answer and the most likely winner of the Rumble. It would be shocking if he did not at least make the final four.
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns are the biggest names in WWE right now. It would be a shock if both did not make the final four.
Gunther will be competing in another match against AJ Styles on the same night, but WWE has rarely excluded competitors from working the Rumble match because of other wrestling commitments on the same night.
Some names that could also make this group are Damian Priest and Sami Zayn, though it is hard to take one of these names out earlier than the final four.
Final 4 - Women's: Bianca Belair, Iyo Sky, Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez
10 of 12If Bianca Belair is returning in the women's Royal Rumble, she is at least making the final four, possibly even winning.
Her toughest competition is likely Liv Morgan, who has yet to win the Royal Rumble match or compete for the world title at WrestleMania.
Iyo Sky has an outside opportunity to solidify her name with her first Rumble win, but she is mainly in this spot as a tease and a great final in-ring stretch.
Roxanne Perez would be the wild card, setting the stage for her and Liv to work together before both teasing turning against each other.
The drama of this final four makes sense given the stories into WrestleMania, though Rhea Ripley could easily make another final four this year over her tag team partner Sky.
Winner - Men's: Gunther
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Most would bet on Bron Breakker to win, and he will likely find some way to get a rematch with CM Punk in the future.
However, no man has more lasting heel heat at the moment than Gunther. Making John Cena tap out in his last match made a statement that has reverberated through WWE.
It would get him even more heat if he retired AJ Styles as well at the Royal Rumble, though losing to Styles only to one-up The Phenomenal One by winning the Rumble would also make sense.
It would work even better if The Ring General eliminated Cody Rhodes last, avenging his eliminations at the hands of The American Nightmare in the 2023 and 2024 Rumbles.
The Ring General made more sense to win before Rhodes dropped the WWE Championship, but he could still challenge either world champion at WrestleMania.
In particular, Gunther vs. CM Punk was a great SummerSlam match that could be even greater with the renewed heat on The Ring General in 2026.
Winner - Women's: Liv Morgan
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Sometimes, the best option is also the most obvious. Liv Morgan has never won a Royal Rumble match, and she may never be a bigger name in the women's division than in 2026.
Stephanie Vaquer needs a strong name to challenge her at WrestleMania 42, and Morgan is equally credible and fresh for this moment.
With the right build keeping The Judgment Day's top heel, these two can sell this as a truly intense rivalry.
It even sets up a shocking twist of Raquel Rodriguez dethroning La Primera and facing her own friend at 'Mania to begin the destruction of The Judgment Day.
Morgan can last eliminate Bianca Belair, who will likely still go on to face Jade Cargill at The Show of Shows while avoiding a Rumble repeat victory when so many women have yet to win the event.
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