WWEThe Royal Rumble is almost here to kick off the Road to Wrestlemania. The January 31 event is already shaping up to be epic, but what makes this year’s Royal Rumble even more remarkable is the fact that it will take place, for the first time, outside of North America and in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The professional wrestling battle royal is coming to the world stage with tremendous buzz. Whoever wins the men’s and women’s 30-man Royal Rumble matches will have their chance to win the world championship belt of their choice at Wrestlemania 42. Last year’s Rumble saw Jey Uso walk away victorious, defeating John Cena in the process, and he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Gunther.
This year, it’s everyone’s game. Although rumors have been swirling regarding Roman Reigns’ involvement and whether Chris Jericho will make his return to WWE since his AEW contract expired in 2025. The match I’m most excited for, however, is AJ Styles and Gunther. After Gunther defeated Cena in his last match in December, Styles aimed to put the Ring General in his place. Will this rematch allow the Phenomenal One to achieve victory, or will he be forced to give up sooner than expected?
What should viewers expect from the Premium Live event this time? Read on to find out everything you need to know about WWE’s 39th annual Royal Rumble.
Learn more: ESPN Unlimited Review: Best for Bundlers and ESPN Lovers
Jimmy and Jey Uso make their entrance on the December 8 episode of Monday Night RAW.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match card
Here are the confirmed matches for WWE Royal Rumble 2026:
- Drew McIntyre vs. TBA for the WWE Championship (challenger will be decided on January 24 during Saturday night’s main event)
- AJ Styles vs. Gunther (if Styles loses, he must retire from in-ring competition)
- Men’s Royal Rumble match
- Women’s Royal Rumble match
So far, 15 of the 60 Royal Rumble competitors have been announced. As of this writing, the final episodes of SmackDown, Saturday Night Main Event, and Monday Night RAW have not yet aired. We’ll have more names coming soon and I’ll update the competitor list below accordingly.
Confirmed Men’s Rumble competitors:
- Cody Rhodes
- Gunther
- Jey Uso
- Rey Mysterio
- Dragon Lee
- Penta
Confirmed Women’s Rumble competitors:
- Rhea Ripley
- AND THE SKY
- Liv Morgan
- Roxanne Perez
- Raquel Rodriguez
- Bayley
- Asuka
- Lyra Valkyrie
- Kairi Sané
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WWE Royal Rumble 2026 start date and time
The 39th Royal Rumble will take place on Saturday, January 31 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. If the start time seems unusually early, that’s because the Premium Live event will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Where will the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
This year’s Royal Rumble will take place in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
How to watch WWE Royal Rumble 2026 in the United States
You can watch this year’s Royal Rumble and all major WWE Premium Live events on the ESPN app. Pre-show coverage is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. To access the event, you will need to subscribe to ESPN’s unlimited plan.
To watch the Royal Rumble, you will need to subscribe to ESPN’s Unlimited plan through the ESPN app. The tier costs $30 per month or $300 per year. If you want to bundle services to save money, check out the Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle. It’s normally $36, but deals are semi-regular and bring the price down to $30.
How to watch WWE Royal Rumble 2026 outside the US
While US Netflix subscribers won’t be able to watch the WWE Royal Rumble, subscribers around the world can access the event live on the streamer.
Fans in countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom will all be able to watch the Rumble live, meaning some viewers will be watching it in the middle of the night.
Netflix has increased its streaming prices again. The ad-based plan costs $8 per month, the Standard plan is $18, and the streamer’s Premium plan is $25. If you are a premium subscriber and want to share your account with someone outside of your household, you will need to pay an additional $8 member fee.
