WWE‘s Royal Rumble is nearly here to kick off the Road to Wrestlemania. The Jan. 31 event is already gearing up to be epic, but what makes this year’s Royal Rumble even more noteworthy is the fact that it’ll take place, for the first time ever, outside of North America and in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The professional wrestling battle royale hits the global stage with a formidable amount of buzz. Whoever wins the Men’s and Women’s 30-person Royal Rumble matches will get their shot at the world championship belt of their choosing at Wrestlemania 42. Last year’s Rumble saw Jey Uso walk away the winner, besting John Cena in the process, and he went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship title from Gunther.
This year, it’s anyone’s game. Although rumors are swirling regarding Roman Reigns’ involvement and whether Chris Jericho will make his WWE return since his AEW contract expired in 2025. The match I am most excited for, though, is AJ Styles and Gunther. After Gunther defeated Cena during his final match in December, Styles has had his eyes on putting the Ring General in his place. Will this rematch find the Phenomenal One victorious, or will he be forced to retire earlier than planned?
What should viewers expect this time around from the Premium Live Event? Read on to find out everything you need to know about WWE’s 39th annual Royal Rumble.
Read more: ESPN Unlimited Review: Best for Bundlers and ESPN Lovers
Jimmy and Jey Uso make their entrance during the Dec. 8 episode of Monday Night RAW.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 match card
Here are the confirmed matches for the WWE Royal Rumble 2026:
- Drew McIntyre versus TBA for the WWE Championship (the challenger will be decided on Jan. 24 at Saturday Night’s Main Event)
- AJ Styles versus 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 article’s writing, the latest episodes of SmackDown, Saturday Night’s Main Event and Monday Night RAW have yet to air. We’ll get more names soon, and I will update the competitors 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
- IYO SKY
- Liv Morgan
- Roxanne Perez
- Raquel Rodriguez
- Bayley
- Asuka
- Lyra Valkyria
- Kairi Sane
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WWE Royal Rumble 2026 date and start time
The 39th Royal Rumble takes place on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. If the start time feels uncharacteristically early, that’s because the Premium Live Event will be happening in Saudi Arabia.
Where will the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 take place?
This year’s Royal Rumble will happen at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
How to watch the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 in the US
You can watch this year’s Royal Rumble and all major WWE Premium Live Events on the ESPN app. Preshow coverage is set to begin at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. To access the event, you’ll need to subscribe to ESPN’s Unlimited plan.
To watch the Royal Rumble, you’ll need to subscribe to ESPN’s Unlimited plan through the ESPN app. The tier costs $30 per month or $300 per year. If you’re interested in bundling services to save some money, check out the Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle. It’s normally $36, but deals are semi-regular that knock the price down to $30.
How to watch WWE Royal Rumble 2026 outside of the US
While US Netflix subscribers won’t be able to watch the WWE Royal Rumble, global subscribers can access the event live on the streamer.
Fans in countries like Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom will all be able to tune into the Rumble live — which means some viewers will be watching in the middle of the night.
Netflix has increased its streaming prices again. The ad-based plan is $8 a month, the Standard plan is $18, and the streamer’s Premium plan is $25. If you’re a premium subscriber and want to share your account with someone outside your household, you’ll have to pay an additional member fee of $8.
