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The annual WWE Royal Rumble event is poised to ignite the "Road to WrestleMania 42" this Saturday, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosting the highly anticipated spectacle in Riyadh. Two pivotal 30-person Royal Rumble matches – one for men and one for women – will determine which superstars earn coveted world championship opportunities at the pinnacle of WWE’s annual calendar, WrestleMania 42. Beyond the signature battle royals, a compelling card features an Undisputed WWE Championship defense and a career-defining retirement match, promising a night of significant developments that will shape the landscape of professional wrestling for months to come.
The Men’s Royal Rumble Match: A Quest for History and WrestleMania Glory
The men’s Royal Rumble match, a contest steeped in tradition and unpredictable outcomes, stands as a critical juncture for several top-tier competitors. Historically, only one man, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, has managed to win the grueling 30-superstar contest three times. This year, Cody Rhodes enters the fray with the explicit aim of equaling Austin’s legendary record, a feat that would further cement his legacy and potentially propel him towards a main event clash at WrestleMania 42. Rhodes’ narrative of "finishing the story" has resonated deeply with the WWE audience, making his pursuit of a third Rumble victory a central theme of the event.
The 2025 Royal Rumble provided a template for unexpected victors, with Jey Uso emerging as the last man standing in a dramatic conclusion that saw him eliminate John Cena. Cena’s participation, marking his "final Royal Rumble amid his retirement tour," added a poignant layer to Uso’s triumph. Uso subsequently capitalized on this momentum, defeating Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship in April, illustrating the direct and significant impact of a Rumble win on a superstar’s trajectory. This precedent of a surprise victor introduces an element of doubt into any pre-match favoritism.
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However, the consensus among CBS Sports pro wrestling experts Brent Brookhouse and Shakiel Mahjouri points towards a more predictable outcome for the 2026 men’s match. Breakker, a rising star, is widely anticipated to secure the victory. Both analysts highlight Breakker’s clear positioning within WWE’s creative plans, particularly for a future World Heavyweight Championship challenge against CM Punk at WrestleMania. Brookhouse notes, "While WWE pulled a brilliant move last year by having Jey Uso win the Rumble to the surprise of everyone, it feels as though there is a good chance that this year’s edition gets the ‘expected winner’ treatment." He further elaborates on Breakker’s strong backing from "The Vision," a reference to a powerful, guiding force within WWE storylines, which has reportedly agreed to aid Breakker in his pursuit. While acknowledging that Oba Femi might deliver a standout performance within the match, the strategic logic aligns with Breakker’s victory to establish a major WrestleMania encounter. Mahjouri concurs, reinforcing the notion that Breakker’s win, though not shocking, "makes plenty of sense to set up a big match for WrestleMania."
The Women’s Royal Rumble Match: A Return to Prominence
The women’s Royal Rumble match carries similar high stakes, with the winner earning a shot at a women’s world title at WrestleMania 42. The 2025 edition saw the dramatic return and victory of Charlotte Flair, who, after more than a year away due to a significant knee injury, defied expectations to punch her ticket to WrestleMania. Flair’s triumph underscored the potential for returning veterans and unforeseen challengers to seize the spotlight at the Royal Rumble.
This year, the expert picks for the women’s match center on Bianca Belair. Mahjouri and Brookhouse both identify Belair as the probable winner, predicated on a highly anticipated return from injury. Belair’s last major appearance was in a critically acclaimed women’s world title match at WrestleMania 41, alongside Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, where she suffered a finger injury that subsequently sidelined her for over eight months. In July, Belair provided an update to CBS Sports, stating she was at "the tail end of this healing process," but her in-ring return has yet to materialize. Her re-entry into the women’s world title scene on the road to last year’s WrestleMania after an absence creates a compelling parallel for her potential surprise appearance and victory this year. Mahjouri expresses a hopeful sentiment, stating, "I cross my fingers that she does the same this year as a surprise entrant." A victory for Belair would not only mark a triumphant return but also immediately position her as a top contender for a world championship at WrestleMania 42, reflecting her established status as a multi-time champion and main event performer.
Undisputed WWE Championship: McIntyre vs. Zayn
Beyond the Rumble matches, the Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line as Drew McIntyre defends his title for the first time against Sami Zayn. This encounter presents a significant opportunity for Zayn, who has yet to capture a singles world title in WWE. Zayn earned his title shot by winning a fatal four-way match, setting the stage for a deeply personal and historical contest.
The statistical backdrop of this rivalry is stark: Zayn holds an 0-12 all-time singles record against McIntyre, highlighting the formidable challenge he faces. To claim his inaugural world title, Zayn must not only overcome a dominant champion but also rewrite a significant chapter of his career history.
Expert opinions are divided on the outcome. Brent Brookhouse projects a surprising title change, favoring Sami Zayn. Brookhouse posits, "Sometimes, you have to just look at a match and think, ‘Hey, why not?’ It’s fairly clear that Zayn will eventually have a run with a world title, and this is an easy opportunity to put the title on him for a month or two before taking it off of him ahead of WrestleMania." This perspective suggests a strategic move to provide Zayn with a championship reign, even if brief, potentially balancing out the anticipated "expected winner" scenario in the Royal Rumble matches.
Conversely, Shakiel Mahjouri predicts Drew McIntyre will retain his championship. Mahjouri emphasizes McIntyre’s recent history of title reigns that have either been short-lived or ended prematurely, often on the same night they began. "McIntyre must win his first title defense, especially amid his feuds with Rhodes and Fatu," Mahjouri asserts, referencing ongoing storyline conflicts that underscore McIntyre’s need for a sustained championship run to solidify his current character arc. While acknowledging that McIntyre’s hold on the title may not extend to or beyond WrestleMania, a successful defense at the Royal Rumble is deemed crucial for his immediate trajectory.
Retirement Match: AJ Styles vs. Gunther
The card also features a high-stakes retirement match between two generational talents, AJ Styles and Gunther. This bout carries immense emotional weight, as Styles has publicly declared 2026 to be his final year of in-ring competition, making this match a potential career-ender.
Gunther enters this contest with a fearsome reputation as the "boogeyman of WWE" and a "legend killer." His recent track record includes retiring both Goldberg and John Cena in the preceding year, establishing a pattern of dominant victories over veteran superstars. This narrative amplifies the peril for Styles.
The expert picks for this match reflect the internal conflict between fan sentiment and established character dynamics. Shakiel Mahjouri, while admitting a personal desire for Styles to win as his "all-time favorite professional wrestler," ultimately picks Gunther. Mahjouri’s rationale aligns with Gunther’s established persona: "Do I want Gunther to win? No… The story is right there. Sometimes the obvious decision is the right one, but I’m not confident WWE will see it through… not enough to pick against the modern-day legend killer." Mahjouri even entertains the dramatic possibility of Styles winning and then "stealing Gunther’s Rumble spot and win the 30-man match," a nod to Styles’ 10-year anniversary since his WWE debut at the event. However, the prevailing narrative of Gunther’s dominance is too strong to ignore.
Brent Brookhouse, however, offers a dissenting view, predicting a victory for AJ Styles. Brookhouse argues against an overly convoluted storyline: "Styles isn’t going to lose a retirement match. Sure, they could do a rerun of the referee missing Gunther tapping out only for Gunther to win and then reverse the decision on Raw, but that feels unnecessarily complicated." Instead, Brookhouse favors a straightforward victory for Styles, allowing "Styles should just get the win and continue along his final year as an active wrestler," thereby preserving the integrity of his farewell tour.
As the Royal Rumble 2026 approaches, the blend of historical quests, potential comebacks, championship defenses, and career-threatening matches sets the stage for a pivotal event in Riyadh. The outcomes will not only determine the immediate future of the WWE Championship and the paths to WrestleMania 42 but also contribute to the ongoing narratives of some of professional wrestling’s most compelling figures. For detailed viewing information, fans are encouraged to consult official WWE and sports broadcasting schedules for Saturday’s event.
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