WWE Royal Rumble 2026: Farewell to AJ Styles Preview
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 occurs today, January 31, at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The countdown show commences at 12 PM ET, followed by the main event at 2 PM ET. Fans are particularly focused on AJ Styles, who may be wrestling his farewell match against GUNTHER.
AJ Styles’ Potential Retirement Match
AJ Styles’ career in WWE might be coming to a close in 2026, and the anticipation is palpable as he faces GUNTHER. Recently, GUNTHER garnered attention by forcing John Cena to submit in Cena’s own retirement match. Rather than showing humility, GUNTHER boasted about his achievement, which Styles found disrespectful.
After confronting GUNTHER on the January 12 episode of Raw, Styles almost secured victory with his signature move, the Calf Crusher. However, GUNTHER exploited the situation to escape and win with a powerbomb. Following this, Styles demanded a rematch at Royal Rumble, but GUNTHER agreed only if Styles puts his career on the line. After consulting his wife, Styles accepted, setting the stakes high for their match in Saudi Arabia.
As Styles prepares for a potential retirement, fans wonder if he can secure a victory over GUNTHER, known for taking down legends like Goldberg and Cena.
Title Matches at Royal Rumble 2026
Two title matches are also scheduled. The first features Drew McIntyre defending the WWE Championship against Sami Zayn. This will be McIntyre’s first title defense since winning the championship from Cody Rhodes. Zayn earned his title shot by winning a Fatal 4-way match in Montreal.
- Sami Zayn has never won the WWE Championship.
- He has never defeated Drew McIntyre in a prior matchup.
- He remains undefeated in matches held in Saudi Arabia.
These factors make this match particularly intriguing. Fans are left questioning whether Zayn will finally triumph or if McIntyre will retain his title.
Royal Rumble Matches Overview
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
The annual Men’s Royal Rumble match will feature 30 participants battling for a title shot at WrestleMania 42. Among the confirmed wrestlers are:
- Cody Rhodes
- Jey Uso
- Roman Reigns
- Brock Lesnar
- Logan Paul
- GUNTHER
- Damian Priest
- Others
With nine spots still available, surprise entrants are anticipated. Potential winners include Rhodes, GUNTHER, and Reigns, adding suspense to the match.
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
The Women’s Royal Rumble also boasts a competitive lineup. Confirmed participants include:
- Rhea Ripley
- Charlotte Flair
- Becky Lynch
- Nia Jax
- Others
The stakes for this match are equally high, with various women aiming for a championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
Conclusion
The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 promises to be a memorable event. Fans are eager to witness AJ Styles’ potential farewell performance, alongside thrilling title bouts and the excitement of the Royal Rumble matches. Will Styles find victory against GUNTHER, or will this mark the end of his illustrious career?
Catch all the action of Royal Rumble 2026 from Riyadh, exclusively on the ESPN App in the U.S. and Netflix internationally.
