WWE Royal Rumble: Everything You Need to Know

Wrestlers in a WWE Royal Rumble match, with a packed audience and signs in the background.

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The WWE Royal Rumble is one of professional wrestling's most iconic and anticipated events of the year, marking the official start of the "Road to WrestleMania." This comprehensive guide covers everything from the match format and rules to the upcoming 2026 event details.

Key Takeaways

What it is: A 30-person battle royal where wrestlers enter at timed intervals and eliminate opponents by throwing them over the top rope
The prize: Winners earn a world championship match at WrestleMania, WWE's biggest event
2026 event date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — the first traditional Royal Rumble held outside North America
How to watch (U.S.): ESPN streaming service
How to watch (International): Netflix in most countries

What Is the Royal Rumble?

The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling event produced annually by WWE since 1988. Created by WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, the event centers on the Royal Rumble match itself — a modified battle royal that has become one of wrestling's most beloved match types.

The event is considered one of WWE's "Big Five" premium live events, alongside WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank. It traditionally takes place in late January and serves as the launching point for WrestleMania season.

Since 2018, the event has featured both a Men's Royal Rumble match and a Women's Royal Rumble match, with Asuka winning the inaugural women's match that year.

Royal Rumble Match Rules

Understanding the Royal Rumble format is essential for enjoying the event. Here's how the match works:

Basic Format

Participants: 30 wrestlers compete in each Rumble match (men's and women's)
Starting competitors: Two wrestlers begin the match
Entry intervals: A new participant enters every 90 seconds (sometimes two minutes)
Entry order: Determined by lottery or earned through matches

Elimination Rules

A wrestler is eliminated when they go over the top rope and both feet touch the floor
Exiting through the middle or bottom ropes does not count as an elimination
If only one foot touches the floor, the wrestler remains in the match
No pinfalls or submissions — elimination is the only way to lose

How to Win

The last wrestler remaining in the ring after all 29 opponents have been eliminated wins the Royal Rumble and earns a world championship match at WrestleMania.

Royal Rumble 2026 Event Details

The 2026 Royal Rumble marks a historic milestone for WWE as it ventures outside North America for the first time in the event's traditional format.

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026

Location: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Start Time: 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT / 7:00 PM GMT

Theme Song: "Heavy Is the Crown" by Linkin Park

Event Number: 39th annual Royal Rumble

Why This Event Is Historic

First traditional Royal Rumble held outside North America
First of WWE's "Big Five" events to take place in Saudi Arabia
14th event WWE has held in Saudi Arabia as part of their partnership supporting Saudi Vision 2030
First Royal Rumble to stream on ESPN in the United States

Match Card for 2026

Confirmed Matches

Men's Royal Rumble Match (30 participants)

Winner earns a world championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas
Can choose between Raw's World Heavyweight Championship or SmackDown's Undisputed WWE Championship

Women's Royal Rumble Match (30 participants)

Winner earns a world championship match at WrestleMania 42
Can choose between Raw's Women's World Championship or SmackDown's WWE Women's Championship

Undisputed WWE Championship Match

Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Sami Zayn
Zayn earned this opportunity by winning a fatal four-way at Saturday Night's Main Event

AJ Styles vs. Gunther

If Styles loses, he must retire from in-ring competition

Confirmed Entrants 2026

Men's Royal Rumble Entrants

(As of January 27, 2026 — 14 of 30 announced)

Cody Rhodes (declared first entry after losing title to McIntyre)
Roman Reigns
Jey Uso (2025 Royal Rumble winner)
Gunther
Jacob Fatu
Solo Sikoa
Rey Mysterio
Dragon Lee
Penta
Bron Breakker
Logan Paul
Bronson Reed
Austin Theory
Je'Von Evans
Oba Femi (main roster debut)

Women's Royal Rumble Entrants

(Announced so far)

Charlotte Flair (2020, 2025 winner)
Rhea Ripley (2023 winner)
Becky Lynch (2019 winner)
Bayley (2024 winner)
Asuka (2018 winner)
Liv Morgan
Nia Jax
Roxanne Perez
Iyo Sky
Lyra Valkyria
Raquel Rodriguez
Jordynne Grace
Chelsea Green
Alexa Bliss
Lash Legend
Giulia

Note: Many surprise entrants typically appear during the actual event

How to Watch Royal Rumble 2026

United States

Platform: ESPN streaming service (ESPN app)
Plans: ESPN Select ($11.99/month) or ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month)
Pre-show: Coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET
Main show: 2:00 PM ET
Note: Some Hulu+ Live TV, DIRECTV, Fubo TV, and Spectrum TV customers may have ESPN Unlimited included in their package

International Markets

Platform: Netflix (live stream and replays)
Available in: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and more

Other Markets

Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland: WWE Network
Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
Japan: Abema

Shop Complex x WWE x Fanatics Royal Rumble Collection on Complex Shop

Get ready for the Royal Rumble with exclusive WWE merchandise available on Complex Shop. Beginning Friday, January 30, 2026, fans can browse and purchase official Royal Rumble gear, apparel, and collectibles.

What to Expect

Official Royal Rumble 2026 event merchandise
WWE Superstar apparel and accessories
Limited-edition collectibles
Exclusive Complex Shop drops

How to Shop

Visit Complex Shop to explore the full Royal Rumble collection. Whether you're looking to rep your favorite Superstar or commemorate this historic event in Riyadh, Complex Shop has you covered with curated selections for wrestling fans.

Celebrity and Influencer Appearances

The Royal Rumble has become a magnet for celebrity involvement, blending mainstream entertainment with professional wrestling in memorable ways.

Bad Bunny's Historic Involvement (2021)

Latin music superstar Bad Bunny performed his hit song "Booker T" at the 2021 Royal Rumble alongside the WWE legend the track was named after. The performance culminated with Booker T grabbing the mic to deliver his iconic catchphrase. Later that night, after The Miz destroyed his DJ equipment, Bad Bunny dove from the top rope onto Miz and John Morrison — all with zero fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His involvement continued through WrestleMania, where he competed in a full match, making him one of the most committed celebrity performers in WWE history.

IShowSpeed's Viral Moment (2025)

Popular YouTuber and rapper IShowSpeed (Darren Watkins Jr.) replaced an injured Akira Tozawa in the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble. After helping eliminate Otis and landing a celebratory backflip, Speed was hit with a devastating spear from Bron Breakker and eliminated. The clip became the most-viewed Royal Rumble social post of all time, generating over 300 million views in less than 24 hours.

Logan Paul's Rise

YouTuber-turned-wrestler Logan Paul has become a legitimate WWE Superstar, entering the 2025 Royal Rumble at number 30 and eliminating CM Punk in a shocking moment. Paul previously held the WWE United States Championship and has competed at multiple WrestleManias.

Other Notable Celebrity Entrants

Drew Carey (2001): The comedian famously entered the Rumble, came face-to-face with Kane, and hilariously eliminated himself after trying to bribe the Big Red Machine
Johnny Knoxville (2022): The Jackass star took a splash from the top rope and later had a full match at WrestleMania against Sami Zayn
Kai Cenat (2025): The popular streamer attended the Royal Rumble and had a memorable screaming match with Logan Paul from ringside

Musical Performances and Crossovers

WWE has featured various musical performances at Royal Rumble events, with artists like Charli XCX ("Von Dutch" was the 2025 theme) and Linkin Park ("Heavy Is the Crown" is the 2026 theme) providing official event soundtracks.

Most Iconic Royal Rumble Moments

The Royal Rumble has delivered some of the most unforgettable moments in professional wrestling history. Here are the moments that defined the event across nearly four decades.

Edge's Shocking Return (2020)

After being forced to retire nine years earlier due to a neck injury, Edge made one of the most emotional returns in WWE history. When his iconic "You think you know me" theme hit, the crowd erupted in what many consider the loudest pop in modern wrestling. Edge's tears of joy told the story of a moment fans never thought possible.

Ric Flair Wins the WWE Championship (1992)

Widely regarded as the greatest Royal Rumble performance ever, Ric Flair entered at number three and lasted over an hour to win the vacant WWE Championship. His post-match promo — "With a tear in my eye..." — remains legendary. This match established the blueprint for a dominant Rumble performance.

AJ Styles' WWE Debut (2016)

After years of being the biggest star outside of WWE, AJ Styles finally arrived, entering at number three in the 2016 Royal Rumble. The Orlando crowd went ballistic, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most successful WWE careers of the modern era.

Shawn Michaels' Iron Man Performances (1995-1996)

Shawn Michaels became the first wrestler to win the Royal Rumble from the number one position in 1995, lasting over an hour. The following year, he won again, becoming the first back-to-back winner and cementing his status as "Mr. WrestleMania."

The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels Staredown (2007)

When the final two competitors were revealed to be The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, the staredown that followed was electric. Their battle in the closing minutes planted the seeds for what would become one of the greatest rivalries in WrestleMania history.

Rey Mysterio's Emotional Victory (2006)

Entering at number two and lasting over an hour, Rey Mysterio won the Royal Rumble just weeks after the death of his close friend Eddie Guerrero. His emotional tribute to Eddie made this one of the most heartfelt victories in Rumble history, proving that the smallest competitor could outlast them all.

John Cena and Batista's Simultaneous Elimination (2005)

In an unscripted moment, both future franchise players tumbled over the top rope and hit the floor at the exact same time. Vince McMahon stormed to the ring to restart the match — and infamously tore both of his quadriceps in the process. Batista ultimately won, launching his path to WrestleMania main event status.

Stone Cold Steve Austin's Triple Wins

Steve Austin remains the only three-time Royal Rumble winner (1997, 1998, 2001). His 1997 victory was controversial — he was eliminated by Bret Hart but slid back into the ring unnoticed while officials were distracted, eventually winning the match and igniting one of wrestling's greatest rivalries.

Kane's Dominant 2001 Performance

Kane set the elimination record with 11 competitors thrown over the top rope, a record that stood for over a decade. His path of destruction included comedic moments like Drew Carey's brief appearance and self-elimination, making it one of the most entertaining Rumble performances ever.

Asuka Wins the First Women's Royal Rumble (2018)

In a historic moment for women's wrestling, Asuka won the inaugural Women's Royal Rumble match, eliminating Nikki Bella to secure her spot in WrestleMania history. This match marked a turning point in WWE's commitment to women's wrestling.

Maven Eliminates The Undertaker (2002)

In one of the most shocking eliminations ever, rookie Maven dropkicked The Undertaker over the top rope, stunning fans and commentators alike. Maven paid the price immediately — Undertaker dragged him through the crowd and delivered an unprotected chair shot — but the moment cemented the unpredictable nature of the Royal Rumble.

Kofi Kingston's Acrobatic Saves

While Kofi Kingston has never won a Royal Rumble, he became synonymous with the event through his creative saves — walking on his hands, landing on the announce table, using chairs as stepping stones, and more. His innovations inspired future competitors to attempt similar feats.

Becky Lynch's Last-Minute Entry (2019)

After being attacked and removed from the match, Becky Lynch replaced an injured Lana and entered at number 30. She eliminated Charlotte Flair to win, setting up her historic WrestleMania main event victory and cementing her status as "The Man."

Royal Rumble History and Records

Who had the most Royal Rumble wins?

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin (1997, 1998, 2001)

Notable Records

Winning from #1 entry: Shawn Michaels (1995), Chris Benoit (2004), Edge (2021), Rhea Ripley (2023)
Most common winning entry number: #27
Women's Royal Rumble: Introduced in 2018 with Asuka as the inaugural winner
2025 winners: Jey Uso (men's) and Charlotte Flair (women's)

Event Milestones

1988: First Royal Rumble event (20 participants)
1989: Expanded to 30 participants
1993: WrestleMania title shot prize established
2018: First Women's Royal Rumble match added
2025: First Royal Rumble held in February and in an NFL stadium (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)
2026: First traditional Royal Rumble outside North America

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Royal Rumble 2026 start?

The main show begins at 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT / 7:00 PM GMT on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Pre-show coverage starts at 12:00 PM ET.

How long is a Royal Rumble match?

Royal Rumble matches typically last approximately one hour, though this can vary based on the pacing and storytelling of each match.

Can wrestlers re-enter after being eliminated?

No. Once a wrestler is eliminated (both feet touch the floor after going over the top rope), they cannot return to the match. However, injured wrestlers can return as long as they haven't been eliminated and the match is ongoing.

What happens if two wrestlers are eliminated at the same time?

Officials determine the winner, or in rare cases (like 1994), co-winners may be declared. In 2005, when Batista and John Cena fell out simultaneously, the match was restarted.

Why is Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia?

WWE has a 10-year partnership with the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative. The 2026 Royal Rumble marks the first of WWE's "Big Five" events to be held in the country.

Where can I buy Royal Rumble merchandise?

Official Royal Rumble merchandise will be available on Complex Shop beginning Friday, January 30, 2026. You can also find WWE merchandise on WWE Shop and at the event venue.

Is Royal Rumble on Peacock in 2026?

No. WWE's contract with Peacock for premium live events ended in August 2025. In the U.S., Royal Rumble 2026 streams exclusively on ESPN's streaming service.

How can I watch previous Royal Rumbles?

Previous Royal Rumble events are available to stream on Netflix (international) and are being added to the ESPN streaming library (U.S.).

Last updated: January 29, 2026