Best and Worst Booking Decisions of WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Results

The Riyadh Season Stadium at King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia hosted the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble.

This was a dramatic night of action with a championship, a career, and two spots at WrestleMania 42 on the line.

Each result was a talking point, complete with all the drama included in the men's and women's Rumble matches.

The following are the best and worst booking decisions of the 2026 Royal Rumble card.

Worst: Charlotte Flair is the Iron Woman

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What Happened

Charlotte Flair started at No. 1 in the women's Rumble and lasted 59:49 before she was eliminated by Lash Legend, the 23rd competitor eliminated.

Why It Was the Wrong Booking Call

Each year, the role of Iron Woman has been given to one of the workhorses of the women's division.

Despite already winning two Rumbles—more than any other woman—The Queen also now has an Iron Woman title to her name.

Despite that, it felt like Lash Legend, Sol Ruca and even a scrappy Kiana James performance could have been solidified more by the Iron Woman title.

Flair gains little from the spot when her main story in the Rumble ended with the unintentional elimination of tag team partner Alexa Bliss early in the match.

How to Follow Up

The conflict of Flair and Bliss is likely to intensify from here as both will likely be looking to challenge Jade Cargill at WrestleMania for the WWE Women's Championship.

While The Queen does not need that spotlight, she is one of the few names right now in WWE who could believably challenge The Storm in a competitive 'Mania match.

Best: Liv Morgan Wins the Women's Rumble

What Happened

Liv Morgan won the 2026 women's Royal Rumble, including eliminating her own friend Raquel Rodriguez in the Final Four.

Why It Was The Right Booking Call

Without Bianca Belair returning in the women's Rumble, Morgan was the obvious favorite to win, and she did just that.

However, the obvious result can be the right choice.

Morgan is one of WWE's top women despite lacking the credentials of many of her peers. This is a massive career win for her regardless of what happens at WrestleMania.

How to Follow Up

Morgan can build toward a quality match with Stephanie Vaquer, though the better story would be for Rodriguez to dethrone La Primera on the road to 'Mania.

Morgan and Rodriguez have years of history and plenty of heat to build as stablemates feuding for the Women's World Championship.

Especially with the way this feud could reshape The Judgment Day, this is the best story for the Raw women's division.

Best: Lash Legend's Star-Making Performance

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What Happened

Lash Legend eliminated five competitors in the women's Royal Rumble, including Charlotte Flair, before Rhea Ripley eliminated her.

Why It Was the Right Booking Decision

WWE has committed heavily to building the threat of Legend on the main roster, but this was the biggest stage for her to look dominant so far.

Coming out of this contest, the 28-year-old will be talked about more than anyone in the women's Rumble not named Liv Morgan.

Legend is a woman to watch in 2026 and should at least be considered in midcard/tag team title contention going forward.

How to Follow Up

Legend and Nia Jax could build on this momentum to go after Ripley and Iyo Sky, though the return of The Bella Twins might throw a wrench in that plan.

Brie and Nikki Bella will be the talk of the women's tag team division on the road to WrestleMania due to the nostalgia involved.

Hopefully, Legend will not get lost in the shuffle. There is no reason she should not have a spot on the 'Mania card.

Worst: Gunther Retiring AJ Styles

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What Happened

After a competitive contest, Gunther made AJ Styles pass out to the Sleeper Hold, ending The Phenomenal One's WWE career.

Why It Was the Wrong Booking Decision

While Gunther and Styles are good together, ending The Phenomenal One's career on this makeshift feud in the wake of John Cena's own retirement against The Ring General did not land.

This did not close the show nor did WWE make this feel appropriately dramatic, especially in the wake of Cena's retirement tour.

Gunther has retired three legends in the past year—Goldberg, Cena and Styles—and it feels like he has had nothing out of two of those moments, building most of his heat purely off the Cena match.

Styles deserves more of a spotlight in his final month in WWE, especially showcasing his legacy as one of wrestling's most influential performers.

How to Follow Up

The Ring General will likely continue to dominate in WWE after eliminating another WWE legend. Brock Lesnar would make sense as his next target.

There is the faintest glimmer of hope Styles might wrestle at least one more time since he did not leave his gloves and boots in the ring.

If so, Styles getting one last match at 'Mania and maybe even competing in TNA one more time would be a better cap for his career.

Best: Drew McIntyre Continues to Widen Gap Between Himself and Sami Zayn

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What Happened

Drew McIntyre definitively took down Sami Zayn to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship and win his 12th straight match against The Ultimate Underdog.

Why It Was the Right Booking Decision

Twenty-two days into a long-awaited championship reign for The Scottish Warrior, it was far too early for McIntyre to lose.

However, in Saudi Arabia, Zayn was the obvious crowd favorite and could have won for the crowd-pleasing moment, especially given how much The Ultimate Underdog has needed that world-title moment.

Instead, the feud continues in one-sided fashion while giving more fuel to the fire when Zayn finally manages to defeat The Scottish Warrior in the future.

How to Follow Up

McIntyre has yet to find out his next challenger, but there is no reason for him to not make 'Mania as champion.

Early signs point to a Triple Threat match against both Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu after The Scottish Warrior intentionally eliminated The American Nightmare in the men's Rumble.

That is going to be a tough match for the Scot, but if he retains, McIntyre vs. Zayn again in the future has serious drama behind it.

Best: Bron Breakker 1st Eliminated

What Happened

Bron Breakker was attacked by a mystery man after entering at No. 2 and getting quickly thrown out by Oba Femi.

Why It Was the Right Booking Decision

The Badass walked into this match as the favorite to win the men's Rumble, having ended SmackDown standing over Sami Zayn and Cody Rhodes.

To counter that narrative, Breakker was immediately eliminated by dark-horse entrant Femi after a likely attack from Seth Rollins.

This works for The Badass' growing anger angle, making him likely to cause even more mayhem on Raw after this.

How to Follow Up

Assuming Rollins is healthy for WrestleMania, Breakker vs. The Visionary could be the pivot.

It is still possible the second-generation star could win the men's Elimination Chamber match to challenge CM Punk at 'Mania, but multiple competitors made their own world title case in the Rumble this year.

Best: Highlighting the Men's NXT Call-ups

What Happened

Oba Femi started the men's Rumble and eliminated the first five competitors, tying Roman Reigns for the most eliminations in the match. His dominant run could only be stopped by Brock Lesnar.

Trick Williams stood out as well in the early stretch of the contest, including two eliminations, before Cody Rhodes eliminated him.

Je'Von Evans was the Iron Man, lasting over 40 minutes before he was eliminated with a great RKO from Randy Orton.

Why It Was the Right Booking Decision

All three men stood out despite the limited build they have had so far. Femi especially looked like a near-unstoppable force early.

If anything, The Ruler could have used even stronger booking by the end, and Williams and Evans made the most of their time.

How to Follow Up

These are the stars of the future and can all stand among the top names in WWE after these performances.

All three should have strong spots on the WrestleMania 42 card, and it would not be a surprise for Femi and Williams to find their way into the men's Elimination Chamber match.

Worst: Roman Reigns Wins His 2nd Royal Rumble

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What Happened

Roman Reigns entered at No. 29 and eliminated five men, including Gunther last, to win his second men's Royal Rumble.

Why It Was the Wrong Booking Decision

Reigns has hardly appeared on WWE TV in the past year, and he is the most established name on the entire roster.

While WWE has had big names win the Rumble over the years, The Tribal Chief does not come off as one who needed this spotlight.

This will be his 11th 'Mania main event, and any match he is in would have already been a major spot on the card.

Nothing was accomplished with this victory, especially given Reigns has already fought Drew McIntyre and CM Punk at The Show of Shows.

How to Follow Up

All signs point to McIntyre facing Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania 42, which means Reigns will challenge Punk.

The man with the most WrestleMania main events faces a top name who would be entering just his second main event on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

There is a fairly easy story to tell here between these former Paul Heyman guys, but it hardly helps the perception that WWE is too crowded with old stars at its top.