The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Jan. 31, promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable events in recent memory.
With a star-studded roster at hand, several top stars are looked at as favorites.
One of them is a man that has been positioned as the future of WWE ever since his 2021 debut on the NXT brand.
Bron Breakker, a competitor known for his explosiveness and intensity, has been a vocal point of WWE Monday Night RAW ever since being drafted in 2024.
Now, following his recent loss to WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk on the Jan. 5 edition of the company’s flagship show, the leader of The Vision is looking for redemption.
Although transitioning to another wrestler who is synonymous with the spear, fans have been considering Roman Reigns as someone who could reign supreme in the match.
Ever since losing the WWE Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania XL, Reigns has been on a quest to regain championship gold.
Considering Reigns’ history of winning the match and his track record of having the most WrestleMania main events in history, it is plausible.
However, Reigns isn’t the only former member of The Shield rumored to win the Royal Rumble.
Since relinquishing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Seth Rollins has been in the conversation.
Especially with his arch-nemesis, Punk as champion, Rollins might see the event as the perfect opportunity to secure a rematch for the title.
Yet, speaking of champions seeking to regain their championships, the previously mentioned Cody Rhodes has recently emerged as a possible candidate.
On the Jan. 9 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown, Rhodes lost his WWE Undisputed Championship to Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match.
A week later, Rhodes officially became the first man to declare for the thirty-man match.
Looking to win his third Royal Rumble in four years, Rhodes is a sure-fire contender to win and go on to main event his fourth-straight WrestleMania.
Not to forget, rising talents like Je’Von Evans, Oba Femi, and Trick Williams, or even a potential surprise return, could reshape the field.
Superstars like Chad Gable, Chris Jericho, and LA Knight are all speculated to come back at the event.
Whether it’s Breaker’s rise, Reigns’ redemption, Rollins’ return, or Rhodes’ fourth, fans can expect a Royal Rumble that’ll set the tone for WWE’s road to WrestleMania XLII.
