Top five superstars who are definitely not returning at WWE Royal Rumble 2026
(Courtesy : WWE via Getty)
These WWE superstars are likely to miss the Royal Rumble 2026 PLE.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Premium Live Event is set to take place at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Like every year, it will feature two namesake Rumble matches for the Men’s and Women’s divisions. While many participants have declared themselves for the 30-man over-the-top-rope melee, there are five current WWE superstars who are definitely not returning at the event:
5. Zoey Stark
Zoey Stark suffered a devastating ankle injury during a match against Kairi Sane on RAW in mid-2025. The rising prospect has kept a low profile and not made any appearances since that night. With the severity of the injury, it can be assumed that Stark would not be making her comeback at the Royal Rumble event.
Also Read: WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Preview: Match card, start time & where to watch
4. Sheamus
Sheamus has become one of the top WWE veterans who is still going strong on the main roster. However, he has been absent for a while, and many young talents have taken significant spots on television. This could mean that The Celtic Warrior might be left out of the Royal Rumble PLE and not return for the show.
3. Omos
It has been a while since the fans saw the Nigerian giant Omos on WWE television. While the former WWE RAW Tag Team Champion did appear in WWE’s partner promotion, AAA, there have been no reports of his WWE return. So it is likely that Omos will definitely be kept out of the Royal Rumble show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
2. Dominik Mysterio
Dominik Mysterio had been a major run as the reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion for a while. However, Dirty Dom suffered a shoulder injury at an AAA event in December and has not been seen on their television programming for a long time.
Moreover, it has been reported that his injury might take some time to heal, which could leave him out of the Royal Rumble 2026 PLE.
1. Seth Rollins
Among all the absent WWE superstars, Seth Rollins is the only one who has said that he will not compete at the 2026 Royal Rumble event.
The Visionary sustained a shoulder injury at the 2025 WWE Crown Jewel event and said in a recent interview that it will take time for him to get medical clearance. With Rollins himself ruling out of the event, fans should not expect to see him in Riyadh.
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.
What matches have been announced for the PLE?
• Men’s Royal Rumble match• Women’s Royal Rumble match• Drew McIntyre (c) vs Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE title match• AJ Styles vs Gunther (If Styles loses, he will be forced to retire)
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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.