Five highly anticipated returns that could transpire at WWE Royal Rumble 2026

The 2026 edition will emanate from Riyadh.

The 39th edition of Royal Rumble, also promoted as Royal Rumble: Riyadh, will be the first PLE of 2026, kicking off another year for the promotion on the road to WrestleMania 42.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh Season, and will feature talent from both the Raw and SmackDown brands. Early signs point to the PLE being held at the Kingdom Arena, but nothing official has been announced yet.

It marks the first traditional Royal Rumble ever held outside North America, the 14th WWE event hosted in Saudi Arabia under the company’s decade-long partnership supporting Saudi Vision 2030.

Similar to previous editions of the PLE, fans are also expecting multiple highly anticipated returns on January 31. Here are the top five highly anticipated returns that could transpire in Riyadh next month.

5. Jacob Fatu

‘The Samoan Werewolf’ Jacob Fatu was written off TV in October due to an injury. However, reports later confirmed that he was recovering from a dental injury.

Fatu has since been absent from programming despite rumors of his return, and WWE might be saving it for the Rumble event, where Fatu could return to reveal the attacker, similar to Jade Cargill’s return at this year’s Elimination Chamber PLE.

Also Read: Top five WWE stars who will break out in 2026

4. Penta

Penta was injured during his match with Solo Sikoa on the November 24 episode of WWE RAW. While battling outside the ring, Penta tried a hurricanrana off the barricade but landed awkwardly on his shoulder. The injury was severe enough that he couldn’t continue, resulting in a win for Sikoa.

The luchador has been on the road to recovery, and what better way to make his return than the men’s Rumble match, where the high-flyer can remind fans once again of his in-ring prowess.

3. Tiffany Stratton

Since losing the WWE Women’s title against Jade Cargill at the November edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Tiffany Stratton has been absent from WWE programming, deservedly taking a break. Stratton is one of the biggest names on SmackDown, and her absence is being felt on the show.

WWE needs to have a good storyline in place for her return, or they could book her return during the women’s Rumble match as she looks to reclaim the throne.

2. Bianca Belair

‘The EST of WWE’ Bianca Belair has been significantly absent from WWE programming since WrestleMania 41. Except for a few sporadic appearances, Belair has mostly been absent from WWE programming and has yet to make her in-ring return. 

Per reports, Belair has faced a challenging recovery process. However, there’s optimism within WWE that she’ll return in the early part of 2026, likely during the Rumble match.

1. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho’s highly anticipated return has been one of the most talked-about moments in recent times, with fans reacting to every rumor and report. Per a recent report, Jericho’s band Fozzy has revealed its 2025–2026 tour dates, and one key weekend is conspicuously open.

That window happens to coincide with WWE Royal Rumble 2026, set for Saturday, January 31, in Saudi Arabia. With no Fozzy shows booked during that period, fans have begun connecting dots and revisiting the possibility of Jericho making a surprise appearance at one of WWE’s biggest events.

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