Photo Leak Sparks Panic Over WWE Royal Rumble —Is It Even Built Yet?

As WWE prepares for a historic Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, concerns about the host venue’s readiness have been officially addressed. The 2026 edition of the event is set to take place on Saturday, January 31, marking the first time the Royal Rumble has been held outside of North America since its inception in 1988. However, rather than utilizing established venues like the Kingdom Arena or King Fahd Sports City Stadium, WWE opted for a brand-new facility currently under construction in the King Abdullah Financial District of Riyadh.

Anxiety among the fanbase spiked in early January when photos circulating online appeared to show the construction site in disarray, with little structural progress visible just weeks before the show. These images fueled speculation that the arena would not be ready in time, potentially forcing a last-minute venue change or logistical nightmare. Despite these fears, a new report from PWInsider has calmed the waters, stating that the venue is “very close to complete” and dismissing the rumors of significant delays. Sources indicate that the construction is on schedule and that the facility will be fully operational for the massive event.

The Royal Rumble is one of the most complex productions in WWE’s calendar, requiring specific staging to accommodate the 30 entrants in both the men’s and women’s matches. Ensuring the new venue can handle the pyrotechnics, entrance ramps, and crowd capacity is paramount. The event is scheduled to air at a special start time of 2 pm ET (7 pm GMT) to accommodate the time difference, kicking off the official Road to WrestleMania 42.

H/T to PwInsider for the transcription. Thanks for checking out this article.