WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Preview: Match card, start time & where to watch

Royal Rumble will kick off the Road to WrestleMania 42.

It’s that time of year again, as WWE gears up for the first PLE of 2026. Royal Rumble 2026 will officially kick off the Road to WrestleMania 42. The 39th installment is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, and will be held at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh Season

The temporary arena at KAFD was built in record time and has sparked significant interest among fans, especially after a few leaked spy shots revealed the WrestleMania-style stage for the show.

The 39th edition will mark the first traditional Royal Rumble held outside North America, as well as the 14th WWE event hosted in Saudi Arabia under the company’s decade-long partnership aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

It will also be the country’s second event to feature a Rumble match, following Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018, and the first WWE “Big Five” event staged there.

Multiple big names, including Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Rhea Ripley, Cody Rhodes, AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and Oba Femi, among others, are being advertised for the show.

Let us now take a look at the detailed preview along with the match card, timings, and telecast details for the highly anticipated WWE Royal Rumble 2026.

Match card for WWE Royal Rumble 2026

• Men’s Royal Rumble match
• Women’s Royal Rumble match
• Drew McIntyre (c) vs Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE title match
• AJ Styles vs Gunther – Career Threatening match (If Styles loses, he will be forced to retire)

Men’s Royal Rumble match

One of the two marquee matches for the PLE is the men’s Royal Rumble match. Thirty of WWE’s biggest superstars will enter the ring in one of the most chaotic and thrilling contests of the year.

As usual, the winner of the match will earn the right to choose which championship they want to challenge for at WrestleMania 42. The Men’s Royal Rumble promises high-octane action, surprise returns, and unforgettable moments as each entrant fights to outlast the rest.

Also Read: All superstars confirmed for Men’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match ft. Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns & more

Women’s Royal Rumble match

The Women’s Royal Rumble will also feature a stacked field of top stars and former Champions, battling it out for a chance to headline WrestleMania and battle the Champion of their choosing after winning the match this Saturday.

Fans can expect explosive entrances, fierce rivalries, and jaw-dropping eliminations as each competitor fights to claim her path to glory.

Also Read: All superstars confirmed for Women’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match

Drew McIntyre (c) vs Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE title match

Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre is set to defend his title for the first time against the winner of last week’s Fatal Four-Way on SNME, Sami Zayn. Sami has been unable to defeat McIntyre in their previous meetings, and the Champion is looking to continue this trend.

On the other hand, Zayn is aiming not only to capture his first WWE World Title but also to secure his first victory over the Scottish Warrior.

AJ Styles vs Gunther – Career Threatening match (If Styles loses, he will be forced to retire)

In the most highly anticipated showdown, ‘The Ring General’ Gunther will take on ‘The Phenomenal’ AJ Styles in a rematch with major implications. Gunther has baited Styles into putting his career on the line for this match.

Amid major confusion and speculations, fans are waiting to see if Styles manages to beat Gunther or if he has to bid farewell to the WWE universe this Saturday.

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Timings & Telecast Details

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