Five darkhorses for Men’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match
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The Men’s Royal Rumble can have a surprise outcome this year.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Premium Live Event is set to become historic as it will be the first edition of the event to take place outside the United States. The event will happen on January 31 at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With a game-changing move, WWE can up the ante by booking a surprise winner for the Men’s Rumble match. Here are the top five darkhorses who can win the match this year:
5. Oba Femi
Oba Femi has been heavily promoted to arrive at the main roster since he relinquished the NXT Championship at the start of the year.
He could make his debut as a surprise entrant in the Men’s Rumble this year and take it one step further with a dominant yet surprise victory to head to the main event of WrestleMania 42.
Also Read: All superstars confirmed for Men’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match
4. Penta
Penta has been a captivating force of nature since his WWE debut in 2025. The masked luchador is highly popular and has a great in-ring acumen, which could take him all the way to a Rumble match victory this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
3. LA Knight
‘The Megastar’ LA Knight has been regarded as one of the top talents with the potential to become a main event star. The Megastar is yet to grab the brass ring to ascend to the next level.
That could come at the expense of winning the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble and earning a title shot at WrestleMania in Las Vegas this year.
Also Read: Five darkhorses for Women’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match
2. Bron Breaker
The man touted as a future WrestleMania main eventer by Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, could begin his journey this year itself.
Having made a major impact as part of The Vision under Heyman’s guidance, Breakker could smash through the entire field, including top stars, and clinch a surprising yet big win in the Men’s Royal Rumble this year.
1. Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn is already scheduled to battle Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Title at the 2026 Royal Rumble PLE.
A scenario could see Zayn lose that bout and enter the Men’s Rumble later that night. He could fight his way through the field and earn another shot, this time in the main event of WrestleMania, to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a World Champion.
Who won the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match?
Jey Uso eliminated John Cena to bag the win in last year’s men’s Rumble match.
When and where will the Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh Season.
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Nik O Conner is a long-time fan of professional wrestling. After dropping his Engineering regular studies in 2020, he decided to pursue his passion and became a writer. Over the last few years, he has written for multiple webs bringing a lot of skills and creativity to the table.