Rumor killer on WWE Royal Rumble 2026 being delayed due to construction issues in Saudi Arabia
(Courtesy : WWE)
The first PLE of 2026 is scheduled for January 31.
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. While the promotion has been holding multiple events every year in the country, they decided to use a different venue than usual this time.
Rather than returning to the familiar Kingdom Arena or King Fahd Sports City Stadium, the promotion opted to hold the Royal Rumble at a brand-new venue being built in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.
However, early January reports suggested the site was far from complete, with photos appearing to show minimal progress just weeks before the event. This led to massive speculations and rumors among fans about the PLE being postponed due to a construction delay.
The venue’s construction is firmly on track
A new report from PWInsider has shut down all the rumors and speculations on social media as the outlet reports that the venue is actually close to completion.
Sources described the site as nearly ready and fully on schedule for the January 31 event, with any internal concerns about delays reportedly ruled out.
The 2026 edition of the Royal Rumble will create history
The 2026 edition will mark 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.
Additionally, it will be the second event in the country to include a Royal Rumble match following the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018, and the first of WWE’s “Big Five” events to be staged there. It will also be the first PLE in the country since the 2025 edition of Night of Champions.
As usual, the winners of the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches will earn the right to choose which championship they want to challenge for at WrestleMania 42.
WWE has also announced a title match for the show, where Drew McIntyre will defend the Undisputed title against the winner of the fatal four-way match at the first Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2026.
When and where will Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
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.
Is the Royal Rumble PLE postponed due to a construction delay?
No, per PWInsider, the venue is close to completion. Sources described the site as nearly ready and fully on schedule for the January 31 event, with any internal concerns about delays reportedly ruled out.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.
Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.