Date: January 31, 2026
Location: A stadium in KAFD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Show Recap —
COUNTDOWN SHOW
This will be shown again later, but they showed wrestlers arriving, and the pre-show audience cheered every wrestler (including Cody Rhodes and heels like Becky Lynch and Drew McIntyre). There was one exception: Triple H. He received a muddled response that sounded mostly like booing.
Cathy Kelley talked about the pending retirement of AJ Styles. She called him a mentor and got emotional when talking about the end of his career possibly coming tonight instead of later this year, which is interesting.
They showed clips of how quickly the stadium was built, and people cheered.
CM Punk joined the pre-show panel and received a huge ovation. He said he still wanted to win the Rumble match one day. He also wanted to win the United States title, which he’s never done. When discussing the Women’s Rumble, he referred to Becky Lynch as Becky Lunch.
Jackie Redmond interviewed Jey Uso earlier today. He said he would be a back-to-back Rumble winner, and the fans booed.
Adam Pearce joined the panel, but was quickly confronted by Paul Heyman. Heyman was pissed that Pearce made Breakker the number two entrant in the Rumble. Pearce tried to explain that it was a random drawing, but Heyman wasn’t buying it. Heyman said Pearce tried to be clever by making him two instead of one. Pearce wasn’t budging, so Heyman left. (Punk was still there and also gave Heyman a hard time for not understanding how the drawing works.)
There was a video package for AJ Styles vs. Gunther, and they showed off Styles’ career accomplishments (WWE and TNA only).
Punk didn’t like that Michael Cole was talking about Styles like his career was already over. They just came off the retirement of John Cena, and Punk was running out of contemporaries. Big E picked Gunther to win the match. Wade Barrett and Punk picked Styles.
They spoke about the men’s Rumble, and Punk said he saw some wrestlers gearing up backstage who fans didn’t know would be in the match. He picked Je’Von Evans to win.
Kelley interviewed Evans. He was nervous but excited to get in the ring with the likes of Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.
There was a video for Fahd Tuwaiq, WWE’s newest signing. He received a big reaction when interviewed by Kelley. He was proud to be here, and he’s already been training at the performance centre for three and a half months.
Punk joked that Evans wouldn’t survive a long charter flight back in his day based on the cupid shirt he wore and his Shrek backpack.
There was a video package about the damn WrestleMania sign.
Kelley interviewed Charlotte Flair. She wanted to win the Rumble and said it was the first time she was going into the match with a friend (Alexa Bliss). They both wanted to win, of course, but Bliss already won by having her as a friend. Flair said she’s already won it twice, and the odds were in her favour.
Earlier, Big E commented that Oba Femi fans called themselves Oba Feminists. Punk couldn’t believe this, and Big E said he wasn’t the one who came up with it. They brought up Lash Legend, and Punk asked Big E what her nickname would be based on Femi’s. Big E wasn’t sure. Punk said they would be “Lasholes.” Redmond was speechless.
Punk took a dig at Redmond later on by saying he couldn’t wait to see who got thrown out of the Rumble the fastest. He wanted to see who would leave the match faster than Mitch Marner left the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(In the background, fans chanted “Y2J,” sang Seth Rollins’ song, chanted for AJ Lee, and chanted “Olé” for Sami Zayn.)
Sami Zayn sit-down interview
Zayn sat down with Barrett for an interview (taped in Montreal). Zayn enjoyed meeting the fans. It took an abstract idea of “the fans” and put things in perspective when you got to speak to them and hear what you mean to them. Especially in Saudi Arabia, which was a new market for them. He could hear straight from the fans what he meant to them, and it was reassuring.
Barrett asked about fighting Drew McIntyre for the title. Zayn didn’t really believe in destiny, but the timing of this was exceptional. He stepped into his own after The Bloodline. WrestleMania felt within reach, and the last three years have been his journey to win the world title. There was also another journey of trying to finally defeat his white whale in McIntyre. He had to focus on this match and not the other eleven (that he lost).
Zayn has been watching WWE since he was a kid. Growing up, you don’t feel different, but you’re told that you’re different. But now he could be himself. That was enough to change people’s stereotypes and perceptions, and that was a dream of his. That was also his mom’s dream, and it was a big thing. (Zayn got emotional when mentioning his mom.) It would be more significant to do it on this night. The pressure was on.
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Byron Saxton interviewed McIntyre backstage. McIntyre didn’t entertain the idea that Zayn could win, but admitted that this was a whole new Sami. McIntyre turned his attention to Punk, whom he’s heard talking all night. McIntyre said Punk was disrespecting the title. Punk talked about being a fighting champion, but wasn’t defending tonight. McIntyre was. Zayn earned the right to fight him for the title. It would come down to one kick, and it won’t be Zayn’s.
On the panel, Punk responded by saying he was on the latest European tour every night for the past two weeks while McIntyre wasn’t. Some people led by example, others just talked.
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Kelley said there are always surprises in the Rumble, and she’s been keeping an eye on people backstage wearing hoodies and baseball hats.
Panelists gives closing thoughts on AJ Styles
Punk admitted that Cena’s retirement affected him. It made him look at himself and his career, and he began to sense his own mortality. Styles putting his career on the line made Punk feel like he was seeing blood in the water. Styles felt like his window was closing. Cena said he owed it to the fans to hang it up because he was slowing down. (Punk didn’t think Cena was slowing down.) Punk spoke to Styles, who said he wanted to go out on his terms, but tonight was on Gunther’s terms. People were shortchanging Styles. People talked about the greatest of Shawn Michaels, but his generation talked about Styles.
Big E mentioned the atmosphere backstage, with people sharing stories about Styles. So many were reflecting. They didn’t think this was it for Styles. They loved what Styles brought to the business, but also the man that he was.
Royal Rumble is up next. Enjoy the show.
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ROYAL RUMBLE 2026 MAIN SHOW
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax & Lash Legend, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky, Gunther, AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, Triple H, Jey Uso, Jacob Fatu, Je’Von Evans, and Cody Rhodes were shown at the stadium earlier today. As mentioned above, Triple H received a muddled negative response. Jey Uso was booed, too. (This video of wrestlers arriving went on way longer than usual, about a full three minutes.)
Triple H was all over the Royal Rumble intro video.
The stadium seats have lights that make them look completely empty in the night. There does appear to be fans filling the seating, but it’s a bad visual. (Update: I think they realized how bad this looks, so they took the lights off about ten minutes into the opening match, and now you can see the fans in their seats.)
The opening bell rang 13 minutes into the show.
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Charlotte Flair entered 1st, Alex Bliss entered 2nd. So much for that random drawing Adam Pearce mentioned earlier.
Flair and Bliss had a silly exchange that felt like a waste of 90 seconds. They each teased going after each other before backing off and telling the other that they were just kidding. They awaited the final ten seconds or so until Kiana James entered 3rd. She hit some offence before she was overwhelmed by Flair and Bliss.
Nia Jax entered 4th. Jax was booed as she dominated everyone. She turned and gave the fans the ‘suck it’ gesture, which hardly seems appropriate. Ivy Nile entered 5th. She tried some power moves on Jax, which didn’t work, so Jax took her down, too.
Lola Vice entered 6th to a good reaction, and she handed out kicks to everyone. Jax was unimpressed and levelled Vice with a clothesline before mocking her little hip dance. James got Jax on her shoulders and hit a Samoan drop, which got a good response.
Candice LeRae entered 7th. Michael Cole reminded us that LeRae and Jax were a team in the past, and they worked together here. Jordynne Grace entered 8th, and she eliminated LeRae, Vice, and Nile (the first three to be eliminated).
Bliss and Jax wound up on the apron as Bliss and Flair tried eliminating Jax. Jax shoved Flair toward the middle of the ring, so Flair ran back and shoved Jax off the apron for the elimination. However, Bliss fell off, too and was eliminated in the process. Flair acted shocked while Bliss was stunned.
Becky Lynch (whose birthday was yesterday) entered 9th. She went after Flair, and the two got into a brawl. They both rolled out of the ring and continued to brawl ringside (not eliminated because they went under the bottom rope).
Sol Ruca entered 10th and immediately hit a springboard somersault double clothesline on two women before going after Lynch. She continued to shine until Roxanne Perez entered 11th. Maxxine Dupri entered 12th. Dupri went right after Lynch. It was like a Raw match where they gave Dupri moments to shine, but the crowd didn’t care.
With Dupri standing tall, Nattie entered 13th, and she has new music. She went right after Dupri. Dupri put Nattie in an ankle lock, but Nattie rolled out of it. Lynch gave Dupri a Man-Handle Slam and tossed her out for the elimination.
Lynch tried to surprise Nattie, but Nattie easily blocked her elimination attempt. Nattie put Lynch on her shoulders and easily dumped Lynch for the surprise elimination. (So Nattie will be facing Lynch for the IC title sometime soon.)
Liv Morgan entered 14th and hit James with an Oblivion before giving Sol Ruca the three amigos. She worked together with Perez before Lash Legend entered 15th. Lash went at it with Grace on the apron until Lash eliminated her. Zelina entered 16th.
Raquel Rodriguez entered 17th. The three Judgment Day women worked together and eliminated James, who put up a fight against Perez and Morgan before being booted out by Rodriguez.
Chelsea Green entered 18th, accompanied by Alba Fyre. Green tried to form an alliance with Judgment Day, but they declined. Green smacked Morgan in the face, so Perez and Rodriguez went after her. Fyre wound up in the ring while trying to help Green, so Rodriguez clotheslined her out.
Giula entered 19th. Green was almost eliminated, but got her feet on Fyre (who crawled around on the outside) to avoid elimination. Iyo Sky entered 20th and woke up the crowd by running wild and doing her pose.
With Sky and Giulia standing tall, Asuka entered 21st. The three women faced off, but Giulia and Asuka teamed up on Sky. Sky ducked a kick by Asuka, and Asuka kicked Giulia in the face.
Rhea Ripley entered 22nd. Her entrance included fireworks, and Wade Barrett said you need to be a pretty big star to get pyro in the Rumble. Giulia eliminated Vega with a knee strike on the apron, moments before Ripley tossed out Green. Ripley then eliminated Perez by giving her a Razor’s Edge over the ropes and onto the recently eliminated.
Bayley entered 23rd and went after Sol Ruca first. Cole said Ruca embarrassed Bayley by beating her at SNME. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne entered 24th, and she focused her offence on Ruca.
Nattie went after Morgan, so Rodriguez made the save. Nattie wound up on the apron, and Morgan gave her an Oblivion and knocked her out for the elimination (that was a clever spot).
Nikki Bella entered 25th. Nikki flashed for a moment, giving Rodriguez a tornado DDT, but Morgan cut her off with a Codebreaker. Lyra Valkyria entered 26th, and she ran wild as I squinted at my screen, trying to distinguish between the four different women wearing all-black bodysuits.
Giulia and Bayley went at it, so Valkyria flew in and eliminated Giulia, saving her pal in the process. Kelani Jordan entered 27th. She immediately hit Jayne with a Phoenix Splash before hitting Rodriguez and Morgan with a double DDT.
Kairi Sane entered 28th. She worked together with Asuka to try to eliminate Ripley, but Ripley managed to stay in. Sane almost eliminated Asuka by accident, but stopped short of knocking her out. Sky went after them, and Asuka wound up on the apron. Sky avoided a Sane forearm, and Sane did, in fact, eliminate Asuka by accident. Asuka had a crazed look on her face as Sane looked on in horror. Sane was frozen, so Sky knocked her out. Asuka grabbed her by the hair, and they left.
Brie Bella entered to her Brie Mode song, and the place went nuts. Brie hit Yes Kicks, and the fans chanted “Yes.” Cole said we knew who she was playing homage to. Brie hugged Nikki, but they were tackled by Rodriguez and Morgan.
Tiffany Stratton entered 30th, and she wiped out five women in the ring with a senton bomb. Stratton and Flair went at it, but they were tackled by Rodriguez and Morgan. The remaining women brawled, and the crowd was really into it from here.
Brie and Nikki Bella simultaneously eliminated Bayley and Valkyria, and the crowd chanted “Yes” again. Jayne eliminated Jordan and told her to go back to NXT. Jayne wasn’t paying attention, so Ruca gave her a Sol Snatcher and dumped her out for the elimination.
Lash tried eliminating Nikki, so Brie flew in for the save, but Lash dumped them both out of the ring for the double elimination. The fans were not happy. Flair went after Lash next, but Lash booted her off the apron for the elimination. (Flair was in the ring for 59:49.)
Sky and Lash battled on the apron next. Sky got Lash in a leg lock, but Lash smashed Sky with her other leg, and Sky fell out for the elimination. That’s five eliminations for Lash.
Ripley was pissed and faced off with Lash. Morgan, Ruca, and Stratton each tried to get involved, but Ripley and Lash knocked them all down easily so they could go at it. Lash got the better of the exchange and booted Ripley. Ripley got back to her feet, but Rodriguez booted her right back down.
Rodriguez went at it with Lash next, but Lash got the better of her, too. However, after Lash fended off Rodriguez again, Ripley clotheslined Lash out of the ring. That got a big reaction.
Rodriguez gave Ripley a Tejana Bomb over the top rope and onto the apron (which sounded brutal), and Ripley was eliminated. That got a huge reaction, and the fans continued to go nuts when Morgan eliminated her friend Rodriguez next.
The final three were Morgan, Stratton, and Ruca. They all traded moves until Stratton gave Morgan a PME. Ruca avoided the move and hit the other two with a double Sol Snatcher. Ruca tried eliminating them simultaneously (which would’ve made her the winner), but they all avoided elimination by dangling from the top rope.
The final three ended up on the apron. Ruca tried her finisher on Stratton, but Stratton swatted her down and knocked her out for the elimination.
Morgan immediately hit Stratton with an Obvivion, knocking her off the apron for the elimination. Liv Morgan wins.
Match result: Liv Morgan won the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble (1:06:50)
The bulk of this match was pretty ordinary, but it really picked up when Brie Bella entered 28th (about 50 minutes into the match). The crowd got into it, and the excitement ramped up as the eliminations started coming one after another. Lash Legend came across well, by design, and Sol Ruca was elevated by being in there at the end.
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AJ Styles vs. Gunther – If Styles loses, he must retire
Styles lost.
Styles entered to a massive reaction. He hit a few chops, but Gunther quickly got him down in a headlock. The crowd booed when Gunther got on offence, but they went nuts when Styles fired back with a dropkick. However, Gunther booted Styles out of the ring and gave him a back suplex onto the announce desk before driving him into the post. Gunther continued his assault as the fans chanted, “F—k you, Gunther.”
Styles has a bloody gash on his left arm, perhaps from when he landed on the announce table. Gunther hit a back drop and applied a Boston Crab, but Styles kicked his way out of it and hit a Pelé Kick. Styles followed with a Ushigoroshi for two. Gunther avoided a Styles Clash and nailed a clothesline for two.
Styles caught Gunther in a Calf Crusher, but Gunther was right by the rope and grabbed it for a quick rope break. Styles held on for a full four seconds. Gunther responded with a front dropkick and powerbomb for two.
Gunther charged at Styles, but Styles kicked his leg out of his leg and applied the Calf Crusher. Gunther was close to the ropes, so Styles rolled to the middle of the ring and reapplied it. Gunther managed to wrap his arm around Styles and applied a sleeper. Styles countered that, but Gunther reapplied the sleeper until Styles dumped him from the ring. Styles followed with a Phenomenal forearm to the outside.
Styles slid Gunther back in the ring and went to the top, but Gunther chopped him and met him on the ropes. They countered each other and found themselves back in the middle of the ring, where Styles hit Gunther with his own type of powerbomb for a nearfall.
Styles followed with a springboard 450 and Styles Clash for a nearfall. Styles tried a Phenomenal Forearm, but Gunther ducked it. Gunther almost collided with the referee as he avoided a sleeper, and used the distraction to low blow Styles. As he did in their Raw match, Gunther followed with a powerbomb—this time for a nearfall.
Gunther chopped Styles repeatedly in the corner and booted him to the ground. Gunther kept booting Styles in the corner until the referee backed him off. The referee told Styles he could stop the match if he wanted. Gunther barged back in with repeated chops until the ref backed him off again to check AJ.
Gunther kept clobbering Styles and dropped him with a clothesline. Styles got to his feet and responded to a Gunther chop with a series of forearms, and the fans cheered. Styles booted Gunther in the corner and went for a Phenomenal forearm, but Gunther caught him and applied a sleeper.
Styles started to fade like John Cena, but fought to his feet. Gunther fended him off and cinched in the sleeper again. Styles got close to a rope break, but Gunther pulled his arm away.
Gunther maintained control of the sleeper as Styles reached weakly for the rope, but it was too far away. Styles’ arm fell. The ref checked his arm, but he was out, and the ref called it off. Gunther wins.
— Styles awoke to realize the match was over and that he lost. The crowd was filled with disappointment. Styles got to his feet, and the fans gave him a massive ovation.
Styles removed his gloves and was about to leave them on the mat as the crowd chanted, “No!” Styles put his gloves back on as the fans popped. An emotional Styles posed in the middle of the ring. He was about to leave, but climbed the ropes one more time to pose for the fans as his music played.
Styles walked up the ramp, gave a kiss goodbye, and left.
Match result: Gunther defeated AJ Styles (24:05)
The match was great, and I wasn’t overly surprised that Styles lost, given the hints. (Among them was Styles saying on Raw that he wanted to wrestle people from locker rooms around the world during his final year.) It’s too bad it happened here, but this is the situation we’re in.
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WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Sami Zayn
McIntyre was in control until Zayn dumped him from the ring and followed with a flip dive. Zayn sold it like he hurt his lower back on the dive, and McIntyre was actually up first. McIntyre saw that Zayn was hurt, so he drove Zayn back-first into the side of the ring. Back in the ring, McIntyre followed with a backbreaker, an Irish whip into the corner and another backbreaker for two.
McIntyre set up for a superplex, but Zayn countered into a sunset flip powerbomb for two. Zayn was in too much pain to hit a Blue Thunder Bomb, so McIntyre hit a neckbreaker. McIntyre went for a Claymore, but Zayn cut him off with a boot and hit the Blue Thunder Bomb for two.
Zayn ducked another Claymore and applied a crucifix pin for two. Zayn went to the top, but McIntyre met him there and hit an avalanche White Noise for two. The crowd fell silent as McIntyre hit three consecutive Future Shock DDTs, but Zayn just barely rolled his shoulder up at two.
McIntyre hit consecutive running clotheslines in the corner. Zayn tried to catch him off guard by running up behind him with a Helluva Kick, but McIntyre saw it coming. McIntyre ducked it and hit a Claymore Kick, but Zayn got his foot on the bottom rope.
McIntyre argued with the referee until Zayn suddenly nailed him with a Helluva Kick for a nearfall. McIntyre rolled to the outside, so Zayn went after him, but McIntyre powerbombed him right through the announce table (which broke much easier than their usual tables do these days).
Officials checked on Zayn, but McIntyre rolled him into the ring to continue the attack (as he should). McIntyre punched Zayn and told him to stay down and “do it for your son!” McIntyre smacked Zayn, but Zayn gave him an exploder into the corner. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick, but McIntyre nailed a Claymore Kick.
McIntyre didn’t go for a cover, and as Zayn slowly got to his knees, McIntyre hit another Claymore Kick for the pinfall win.
Match result: Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn to retain the WWE Championship (15:58)
This was a pretty good match, but I’m not sure it did Zayn any favours. He fought through a back injury, but it never felt like he should have won or should be the champion.
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They played a clip from the pre-show of Paul Heyman confronting Adam Pearce about making Bron Breakker the number two entrant tonight. Heyman thinks it’s rigged, but Pearce told him it was a random draw.
Gunther is among those advertised for the Rumble post-show. Styles is not.
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
Oba Femi entered 1st. Bron Breakker entered 2nd, accompanied by Heyman.
However, during Breakker’s entrance. He was attacked by a masked man. The masked man hit Breakker with a superkick and curb stomp before chucking him into the ring. The bell rang for the match to start, and Femi immediately clotheslined Breakker out for the elimination ten seconds into the match.
Breakker was pissed when he came to and tossed the steel steps aside before leaving ringside.
Solo Sikoa entered 3rd. Femi got the better of their exchange, but Sikoa drove him shoulder-first into the post as Rey Mysterio entered 4th. Rey got a big pop. This is his 16th Rumble match. Sikoa blocked a 619 and set up for a Samoan drop, but Femi booted them both down.
Rusev entered 5th. Rusev hit a couple of dropkicks on Femi but couldn’t eliminate him. Rey gave Rusev a 619, and Femi quickly eliminated Rusev by shoving him over the top rope. (So Rusev was barely in there 30 seconds.) Femi easily eliminated Sikoa next.
Rey hit Femi with a 619 to the gut and to the face, but Femi no-sold it and knocked Rey out of the ring for the elimination. Femi is presently alone.
Matt Cardona entered 6th. Cardona got some offence, but Femi hit him with Fall From Grace and quickly eliminated him before anyone else came out. Femi is alone again. He has five eliminations already.
Damian Priest entered 7th. Priest knocked him down with a clothesline and tried another one, but Femi blocked it.
Je’Von Evans entered 8th. Evans went for the OG Cutter on Femi, but Femi blocked it. Femi almost eliminated him, but Evans held on. Evans hit a springboard clothesline on Priest while leaping right over Femi. Evans knocked Femi down with a leaping enziguri.
Mr. Iguana entered 9th, and he gave Evans a tornado DDT with the iguana puppet in his mouth. Priest ripped the iguana toy out of his mouth and hit a chokeslam.
Trick Williams entered 10th to a big reaction. He quickly and easily eliminated Mr. Iguana. Williams knocked down Priest, and the crowd chanted, “NXT” as Williams, Evans and Femi stood tall. Williams tried to toss Evans out, but he held on once again.
Cody Rhodes entered 11th. The crowd sang his song. Rhodes hit Williams with an uppercut, gave Evans a powerslam, and hit Priest with a Cody Cutter. He traded right hands with Femi as El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) entered 12th. El Grande placed a metal plate in his mask in full view of everyone and handed out headbutts.
The “original” El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) entered 13th. They did the Spider-Man meme, of course, until Gable knocked down Kaiser. Gable tried to remove Kaiser’s mask, but Kaiser hit a Finlay Roll. Gable followed with a German suplex. Kaiser went for Gable’s mask, but Gable used a leg scissors to eliminate him.
Williams knocked Gable off the apron next for the elimination. Rhodes followed by eliminating Williams.
Royce Keys (Powerhouse Hobbs) entered 14th. His graphic initially read “Powerhouse Hobbs” over a brick wall, but the wall collapsed and “Royce Keys” displayed on the screen. He got a decent reaction and some very light “AEW” chants. Keys eliminated Priest and killed Evans with a spinebuster. Rhodes faced off with Keys, but Keys blocked an uppercut and drove Rhodes into the corner.
Austin Theory entered 15th and, appropriately enough, had the least interesting entry spot so far. He chop-blocked Rhodes and punched him in the face before turning his attention to Evans. Bronson Reed entered 16th and planted Evans with a Tsunami.
Ilja Dragunov entered 17th, La Parka entered 18th, and Dragon Lee entered 19th. They all took their turns to shine for a moment before it was time for the next guy to come out.
Logan Paul entered 20th, but after some brief offence, Keys planted him with a world’s strongest slam. Reed faced off with Keys, but Keys was attacked from behind by Logan and Theory. The three Vision men teamed up, and Reed clotheslined Keys out of the ring for the elimination. The crowd is quiet.
Reed held La Parka on his shoulders, and Theory used a rolling dropkick to eliminate La Parka. The Vision teamed up to eliminate Dragon Lee next.
LA Knight entered 21st to a strong reaction, and he eliminated Theory. Knight gave Reed a BFT and eliminated him next. The crowd chanted, “Yes.”
Brock Lesnar entered 22nd, accompanied by Heyman. Lesnar got the reaction you’d expect. Lesnar handed out German suplexes to Rhodes, Knight, and Evans. Lesnar clotheslined Dragunov and gave Evans an F5.
Lesnar faced off with Femi, but nothing happened because the timer counted down to the next entrant, The Miz at 23. Miz saw Lesnar and Femi and thought better of entering the ring.
Dragunov chopped Lesnar repeatedly in the corner, so Lesnar screamed in his face and dumped him out of the ring for the elimination. Lesnar handed out a few more suplexes before facing off with Femi, but again, their interaction was cut short by the next entrant, Rey Fénix at 24.
Fénix was immediately tossed aside by Lesnar. Lesnar gave Femi a German suplex and planted Fénix with an F5. Lesnar chucked Rey Fénix out for the quick elimination. (So Fénix did absolutely nothing and was tossed like a loser.)
Femi went after Logan, so Lesnar dumped Femi out of the ring from behind for the elimination. Lesnar gave Logan an F5 as he awaited the next entrant, Jey Uso at 25.
As Jey took his time entering through the crowd, Rhodes and Knight teamed up to clothesline Lesnar out of the ring for the elimination—as Jey’s music still played.
It took Jey so long to enter the ring that it was time for the next entrant: Roman Reigns at 26. Reigns got a full fireworks display that went around the stadium. Reigns smiled and told Jey to run his music back. They played the music, but Reigns dropped Jey with a right hand.
Reigns handed out Superman punches and eliminated The Miz. As Reigns stood tall, Jacob Fatu entered 27th. Before Fatu could enter, Rhodes tried a suicide dive. Fatu blocked it and tossed him into the barricade before chucking him back in the ring. Reigns and Fatu faced off, but Rhodes went after Fatu. Moments later, Jey and Reigns gave Logan a 1D.
Penta entered 28th, and he gave Fatu a backstabber. Knight hit Penta with a powerslam, Reigns with a BFT, and Rhodes with a reverse DDT. However, Rhodes eliminated Knight moments later.
Randy Orton entered 29th as the crowd sang his song. Orton dished out powerslams and hit Logan and Penta with RKOs.
Gunther entered 30th. He was taken down moments later by a running knee by Evans. Evans went for a super OG cutter on Orton, but Orton dropped him with an RKO. Orton eliminated Evans. Gunther eliminated Penta.
Rhodes and Orton faced off, but they turned their attention to Gunther. Orton held up Gunther for a Cody Cutter, but Gunther bailed, and Rhodes hit Orton with the move by mistake. Fatu tried dumping Rhodes, but Rhodes held on to the top rope. However, McIntyre flew in and gave Rhodes a Claymore Kick on the apron. Rhodes fell out and was eliminated.
Fatu was watching this all transpire, so Reigns dumped him out from behind. Jey tried to do the same to Reigns, but Reigns fought him off. Reigns went for a spear, but Jey speared Reigns instead. Jey tried to eliminate Reigns, but Reigns countered and chucked out Jey instead.
The final four were Reigns, Orton, Logan, and Gunther. Logan tried a Buckshot Lariat, but Reigns dropped him with a Superman punch and eliminated him. Orton gave Reigns an RKO, but Gunther ran up from behind and eliminated Orton.
The final two were Reigns and Gunther. After a brief exchange, Gunther placed Reigns in the dreaded sleeper. Reigns slipped out and tried a Superman punch, but Gunther ducked it and applied the sleeper again. Reigns ran toward the corner and drove Gunther face-first into the top turnbuckle.
Reigns followed with a spear before tossing out Gunther for the elimination. Reigns is the winner. The fans were happy.
Reigns posed, and a massive fireworks display went off as the show ended at 1:59 am local time in Riyadh.
Match result: Roman Reigns won the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble (58:20)
This match was ok. Oba Femi came across great early on, and he might have himself a date with Brock Lesnar before long, but this was not a compelling Rumble match otherwise.
