Normally, by mid-January, much of the Royal Rumble field is already set, with some entrants declaring as early as December. But with the 2026 Royal Rumble just two weeks away, only one superstar has officially declared for WWE’s every-superstar-for-themselves spectacle: Cody Rhodes.
After the Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre revealed a no-rematch clause in the contract for their previous bout, Rhodes must claw his way back into title contention. That path begins with an attempt to make history.
Rhodes is aiming to become just the second wrestler to win the Royal Rumble three times — a feat accomplished only by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
Before that, Rhodes faces Jacob Fatu at Saturday Night’s Main Event in a match where Rhodes is looking to get revenge on Fatu for costing him the title. Whatever the outcome, the two could cross paths again a week later — assuming Fatu also declares for the Rumble.
As WWE remains tight-lipped about the lineup, the promotional image on WWE’s website still features Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Tiffany Stratton, and Becky Lynch. But as the saying goes, “Card subject to change.”
Road to Mania Could End in Splitsville
While the men’s Royal Rumble has just one declared entrant, that’s still more than the women’s match, a stunning state of affairs this deep into Rumble season. Despite this, an interesting development may be on the horizon.
Recent rumors suggest that WrestleMania 42 could feature a showdown between friends and current women’s tag team champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky.
Before the Rumble, Ripley and Sky will defend their titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal against Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez. If a crack is forming, it could widen next weekend in Canada.
That possibility gained traction this week when WWE uploaded a YouTube playlist chronicling the history between Ripley and Sky. Dating back to their first encounter in the 2018 Mae Young Classic, Sky is undefeated against Ripley in singles competition, a fact that has never sat well with Ripley.
An even more ominous sign may be found on WWE’s online store, as a brand-new T-shirt celebrating RHIYO is now on sale. As longtime fans know, nothing signals an impending breakup quite like fresh merch.
Meeting McIntyre
Next weekend at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Trick Williams, and Sami Zayn will collide in a Fatal 4-Way match to determine Drew McIntyre’s challenger at the Royal Rumble.
On SmackDown, McIntyre had an interesting exchange with Zayn, reminding him of his 11–0 record against him. With Saturday Night’s Main Event taking place in Zayn’s hometown of Montreal, Zayn could emerge as a sentimental favorite, setting up an underdog narrative heading into the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.
Still, with only a week to build the match — and McIntyre rumored to be factored into the WWE title picture at WrestleMania — a Zayn victory feels like a long shot. Then again, with the Elimination Chamber looming in February and months remaining until WrestleMania, WWE is likely to keep fans guessing as to what might happen next.
Of the other three competitors, only Trick Williams lacks history with McIntyre. As the lone heel in the match and the newcomer from NXT, he appears the least likely to win. That doesn’t mean he won’t matter.
Upon arriving on the blue brand, Williams put Zayn on notice. If anyone is positioned to spoil Zayn’s homecoming next Saturday, it’s Williams, a move that could set up a money feud in the weeks ahead.
Let’s All Go to the Movies
This year’s Royal Rumble will leave North America for the first time in the event’s history, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
While the move prevents many U.S.-based fans from attending in person, those who want to experience the Royal Rumble in a crowd setting can watch the event live at select movie theaters across the country.
Tickets went on sale Thursday through WWE’s cinema partner, Fandango, which is offering a pair of money-saving deals.
Fans can score two free tickets using the promo code WWEFREETICKET. However, the offer requires an active Fandango FanClub membership, which costs $9.99 per month and can be added at checkout, where the discount applies automatically.
Fandango is also running a BOGO offer: buy one adult ticket and get one free kids ticket of equal or lesser value, up to $11, plus fees. The offer is available while supplies last through Fandango’s website.
For those who prefer to watch from the comfort of home, the Royal Rumble will stream on ESPN’s app in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.
The Royal Rumble takes place Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.
