5 Burning Questions for the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble Matches

WWE will make its first stop on the road to WrestleMania 42 this weekend at Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

There's something so special about this time of year. This iconic premium live event has become a fan favorite because it feels like anything can happen, and it's the most accessible starting point for new or casual viewers. 

On Saturday, 30 men and 30 women will participate in the most unpredictable set of Royal Rumble matches in recent memory for a chance to headline The Greatest Spectacle in Sport Entertainment. Yes, the field for both matches is wide open due to a lackluster build, but that could make for a better show in the long run. 

Bron Breakker is a sensible pick on the men's side, but Roman Reigns is the current favorite to win since WWE confirmed he would compete during the latest episode of SmackDown. Meanwhile, Bianca Belair and Liv Morgan are leading the pack for the women as this year's top picks.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about surprise entrants, potential returns, and a possible upset. These are five burning questions ahead of WWE Royal Rumble.

Will Powerhouse Hobbs Make His WWE Debut at Royal Rumble?

Ever since his unexpected exit from All Elite Wrestling, Powerhouse Hobbs has emerged as a new signee who could debut in the men's Royal Rumble match. 

The former AEW wrestler sparked headlines on Jan. 14 as his contract was set to expire at midnight. As such, Hobbs made his final appearance with the company during the following pre-taped episode of Collision, where he and The Opps dropped the trios' titles. 

According to Fightful Select, the 35-year-old signed with WWE the following week, and he is reportedly set to debut as Royce Keys. Jim Ross suggested a Rumble appearance would be a no-brainer on his podcast, Grilling JR.

"I don't know if it's a secret or not," Ross said. "He'll be in the Royal Rumble, I think. Why in the hell would you sign a guy this close to that major event and then not utilize him? And that'll be a new face, and he looks great. He called me a day or two ago, thanking me for my help over the years. I said, 'Well, my phone number isn't going to change, big fella.'"

Will Chris Jericho Be A Surprise Entrant In The Men's Royal Rumble Match?

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

Speaking of surprise entrants, Chris Jericho could also be a safe bet now that he has seemingly wrapped up his stint with AEW.

The Canadian star hasn't appeared since his segment from the Apr. 9, 2025 episode of Dynamite following his ROH world title loss to Bandido. Jericho reportedly took some time off to re-establish himself, but he remained inactive for the rest of the year. 

His contract officially expired on Dec. 31, and the 55-year-old is set to return to WWE in time for Royal Rumble. Considering the company's track record of calling on legends for the shows in Saudi Arabia, the event would be the perfect destination for the master of reinvention to reemerge. 

At this point, it would be more of a surprise if Jericho doesn't make an appearance in the men's Royal Rumble match. 

Will Gunther Force AJ Styles To Retire? 

Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images

Gunther was a real killjoy in 2025, and he has his sights set on another legendary career as he threatens to cut AJ Styles' farewell tour short. 

The Ring General retired Goldberg to close the July 12 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, and did the unthinkable, forcing John Cena to tap out in his final match. At Royal Rumble, he has the chance to complete the trifecta with a win over The Phenomenal One.

Styles confirmed that he plans to retire this year, and his latest matches with Shinsuke Nakamura and CM Punk proved we're in the closing stretch of his illustrious career. However, his WrestleMania 34 opponent may have inadvertently revealed that his upcoming match with Gunther will be his last.

Following their encounter at SNME, Nakamura posted-then-deleted an Instagram story in tribute to Styles and stated his long-time rival already decided Royal Rumble is where he wants to retire. There is also some speculation that that's simply how he plans to end his WWE career, and he could make one last run with TNA.

Nonetheless, it's hard to imagine his final match with the company would take place outside of the U.S. Anything is possible, but we believe WWE would go with such an unconventional ending.

What Will The 2026 Women's Royal Rumble Match Look Like?

Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

This year's women's Royal Rumble match has been the elephant in the room since WWE announced the event would occur in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

However, there is no reason to believe this won't be business as usual for the company, which has regularly featured women in the region since 2019. Of course, that means the women will have to adhere to the country's strict regulations, donning full bodysuits that cover their arms and legs.

A source told Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful that the wrestlers are responsible for acquiring modest ring gear that complies with these restrictions. Regardless of how you feel about that, the visual is one aspect of the event that ensures fans will always remember where this show took place.

It will also be interesting to see how much the Divas era will influence this match, following AJ Lee and Nikki Bella's return last year. Many fans have speculated that Paige could join the fray as a surprise entrant because she has been training again.

This highly criticized period of women's wrestling still has its vocal fanbase, and many of its stars deserve the same spotlight given to legends from other eras. It's surreal that that moment could happen in Saudi Arabia, but a celebration of the Divas could make this the most memorable iteration in years.

Will WWE Go Younger Or Continue to Rely On Established Names?

WWE's main event undeniably has an age problem, but the company is in the perfect position to address it with this year's men's Royal Rumble match. 

Honestly, Bron Breakker is the guy this creative regime should've heavily invested in when Seth Rollins injured his shoulder at Crown Jewel. It even seemed like the direction when Breakker turned on the leader of The Vision during the following episode of Raw. 

Instead, WWE prolonged his crowning moment and leaned on CM Punk as the new world heavyweight champion. To be fair, The Second City Saint has filled the role perfectly as a fighting champ on the flagship brand for the past three weeks, but this company can't keep relying on stars who are over 40.

Breakker is a 28-year-old Superstar who can be molded into the next big thing. Oba Femi is entering the fray as the most anticipated NXT call-up in recent memory, and Je'Von Evans can become a highlight reel like Kofi Kingston or Shelton Benjamin were. 

It's time to bet on younger talent, but it shouldn't surprise anyone if Roman Reigns finally secures his second Royal Rumble win this weekend. With Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar also in play, it wouldn't be out of character for WWE to go back to the well and rely on nostalgia again.