Riyadh: The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 concluded in Riyadh on Saturday evening in a historic event held for the first time outside North America, launching the Road to WrestleMania 42 and drawing a massive crowd along with extensive global media coverage as one of WWE's four major premium live events of 2026.
According to Saudi Press Agency, General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman Turki Alalshikh extended his thanks to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their generous support that contributed to the successful hosting of WWE SmackDown and WWE Royal Rumble events. He emphasized that the initiative reflects the Kingdom's stature and global leadership in hosting the world's largest sports and entertainment events.
The spectacle featured four headline matches, including the traditional men's and women's Royal Rumble matches with 30 superstars competing in each, as well as two marquee bouts for the World Championship, one of which carried a career-threatening stipulation.
In the Women's Royal Rumble match, Liv Morgan emerged victorious, securing a World Championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. She delivered a strong performance, eliminating three competitors before clinching the win over former champion Tiffany Stratton and NXT standout Sol Ruca, who made up the final trio in the ring.
In a career-threatening clash, GUNTHER reaffirmed his dominance with a decisive victory over AJ Styles, ending the match with a chokehold that rendered Styles unconscious. The result brought the curtain down on Style's decade-long career at the Royal Rumble since his first appearance in 2016. He received an emotional standing ovation and farewell chants from the crowd.
In the Undisputed WWE World Championship match, Drew McIntyre retained his title after a hard-fought battle lasting nearly 16 minutes against Sami Zayn, marked by intense exchanges. He secured the victory with a decisive double-footed flying kick.
The Men's Royal Rumble match was full of surprises from the opening moments, with Oba Femi entering at number one, followed by Bron Breakker in his first Royal Rumble appearance. Breakker was then ambushed by an unidentified individual, allowing Femi to eliminate him quickly.
The excitement continued with the entry of several top names before Randy Orton entered second-to-last in his 15th Royal Rumble appearance. The match ended with the final entry of GUNTHER, who appeared with a visibly injured leg.
In the closing moments, Roman Reigns, who entered at number 26, captured the Men's Royal Rumble victory for 2026, securing his ticket to the Road to WrestleMania 42, set to take place this April.
Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh concluded as a historic night of decisive outcomes, marking a powerful start to WWE's 2026 season and kicking off the global countdown to the most anticipated event in sports entertainment.