WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Preview: Full Match Card, Betting Odds, and Start Time

The road to WrestleMania 42 officially kicks into high gear this Saturday, January 31, 2026, as WWE presents the Royal Rumble live from the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a massive stage construction nearing completion to accommodate approximately 65,000 fans, the event promises to be a spectacle. Footage circulating on social media shows thousands of architects and stagehands finalizing an “impressive” set for the historic show.

Match Card And High Stakes

The card is headlined by two namesake Rumble matches and two high-stakes singles bouts. In a career-threatening showdown, AJ Styles will face Gunther with the stipulation that if Styles loses, he must retire from in-ring competition. Elsewhere, fresh off his tournament win in Montreal, Sami Zayn will challenge Drew McIntyre for the WWE Undisputed Championship. However, all eyes remain on the Rumble matches themselves, where Roman Reigns (+175) and Liv Morgan (-120) have emerged as the betting favorites to punch their tickets to the main event of WrestleMania according to BetOnline.

Surprise Entrants Rumored

As always, the Royal Rumble is defined by its surprises. Reports indicate that several major names could make shock appearances in Riyadh. Chris Jericho is a top rumor, with his Fozzy tour schedule notably leaving Mondays open—potentially for a Raw appearance post-Rumble. Other potential surprise entrants include Bianca Belair, Royce Keys (formerly Will Hobbs), LA Knight, Brock Lesnar, Jeff Hardy, and even Paige. With Gunther also on the short list of favorites to win the Rumble should he lose to Styles earlier in the night, the possibilities for chaos are endless.

WWE Royal Rumble Details:
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Start Time: 11:00 am PST / 2:00 pm EST
Stream: ESPN Unlimited

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