Top 10 WWE stars missing from Royal Rumble 2026 poster
(Courtesy : WWE)
Royal Rumble 2026 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!
WWE’s marketing team rolled out two variants of the 2026 Royal Rumble poster this week, sparking immediate reactions from fans.
Triple H himself unveiled the primary version, which prominently features major headliners such as Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair, and Rhea Ripley. The second, larger variant includes additional names like Gunther, Jey Uso, IYO SKY, and Jade Cargill.
However, despite the Royal Rumble’s massive 30-superstar format in both men’s and women’s matches, several notable names were left off the graphics entirely.
WWE often defaults to the same small group of faces for PLE promotion, but these omissions stand out more than usual. Below are the 10 biggest stars who didn’t make the cut for the 2026 Royal Rumble poster.
Bayley
Bayley being excluded from Royal Rumble promotional material is, unfortunately, nothing new. Despite serving as one of WWE’s most reliable veterans, she rarely receives the poster spotlight afforded to peers like Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch.
Her partnership with Lyra Valkyria has remained a consistent on-screen presence through 2025, and she even won the 2024 Royal Rumble. Leaving her off while featuring names like Maxxine Dupri feels especially puzzling.
Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn’s ongoing storyline, centered on his battle to finally win a World Championship, has only elevated his popularity.
With stars like Punk and Drew McIntyre telling him he’ll “never” capture the title, fans have rallied behind him harder than ever. Given his massive support in Saudi Arabia, omitting him from the 2026 Royal Rumble poster appears to be a major oversight.
AJ Lee
AJ Lee’s triumphant return to WWE has been one of the year’s biggest feel-good stories. She has earned back-to-back victories, including tapping out Becky Lynch at Survivor Series: WarGames.
With her never having competed in a Royal Rumble match before, her expected participation should be a marquee selling point. Yet the poster leaves her out entirely.
Randy Orton
Randy Orton may be working a light schedule, but he remains one of WWE’s most recognizable stars. His absence from the graphic is surprising given his stature.
A surprise Rumble entry is always possible, but without a major injury or storyline hiatus, the omission feels odd for someone of his legacy.
Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair has not competed since breaking her finger at WrestleMania 41, but she has remained one of WWE’s premier names.
Historically, injuries haven’t kept her off posters, she was featured during previous absences. This time, though, talents like Liv Morgan and Dupri were chosen over her.
LA Knight
Despite being one of WWE’s most popular acts, LA Knight has struggled to secure the top-level booking fans expect.
After being brutally written off Raw this week by The Vision, his absence from the poster suggests a temporary removal from TV, but his popularity makes the omission glaring.
Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss returned at the 2025 Royal Rumble after two years away and has been on a strong run ever since.
She is currently aligned with Charlotte Flair, yet the poster includes Flair but not Bliss. For a former multi-time champion, it’s a questionable exclusion.
Jimmy Uso
While Jey Uso is featured prominently in the 2026 Royal Rumble poster, Jimmy is nowhere to be seen. The Usos are back chasing the Tag Team titles, but only one twin made the promotional cut.
Solo Sikoa
The leader of The MFTs, Solo Sikoa, has had a major role throughout 2025, yet he is absent from the Rumble graphic. Given his importance, fans expected him to be front and center.
Logan Paul
Logan Paul’s omission may be the most surprising of all. The Maverick has consistently delivered high-caliber performances and is one of WWE’s biggest mainstream draws. Even while aligned with The Vision, he didn’t make the cut, raising a few eyebrows.
Does being left off the poster mean these stars won’t be in the Rumble?
Not at all. WWE posters often leave out major names despite them competing in the match.
Why does WWE use the same handful of wrestlers on posters?
Marketing favors instantly recognizable stars, even if others are equally important on TV.
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.
Blesson Daniel is a sub-editor who spends his days organizing words and managing social media, crafting bursts of creativity designed to make people smile. He occasionally dives into writing as well — whether it’s crafting articles, brainstorming ideas, or finding the perfect caption. Believing that every piece of writing offers an opportunity to tell a story, Blesson brings creativity and thoughtfulness to every project he takes on. When he’s not glued to his laptop, Blesson is likely planning his next travel adventure or losing himself in music. A passionate explorer of new places, sounds, and ideas, he believes in balancing work, play, and a good playlist in the background. Whether he’s editing, writing, or daydreaming about his next trip, Blesson is always chasing that sweet spot where creativity and curiosity collide to create something memorable.
- The Rock calls John Cena 'The GOAT' ahead of his final WWE match
- Top 10 WWE stars missing from Royal Rumble 2026 poster
- Timothée Chalamet names his favourite wrestling event & more on WWE Champion Cody Rhodes' podcast
- Six NXT stars WWE should have booked at Saturday Night's Main Event December 2025
- Four WWE stars who have remained undefeated in 2025
- Four WWE stars who have remained undefeated in 2025
- All instances John Cena has tapped out in WWE
- Updated brackets for John Cena's final WWE match tournament as final match conclude
- Four better choices than Gunther for John Cena’s final WWE opponent
- Five best matches from John Cena's 2025 WWE retirement tour