Two superstars will change their fortunes at the WWE Royal Rumble. On Saturday, one man and one woman will secure world title matches at WrestleMania 42.
Every year, the Royal Rumble jump-starts the Road to WrestleMania. Superstars throw each other over the top rope with hopes of winning the Rumble. This year, Cody Rhodes seeks to become only the second superstar to win three Rumbles, a feat achieved only by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. That’s a tall task with a stacked field featuring Roman Reigns, Jacob Fatu and Bron Breakker.

Nine former world champions are set for the women’s Rumble, including Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan. Rounding out the card is Drew McIntyre’s first undisputed WWE title defense against Sami Zayn, plus the potential finale of “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles. It’s a high-stakes retirement match pitting Styles’ career against Gunther’s Rumble spot.

2026 WWE Royal Rumble predictions

Men’s Royal Rumble match: 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’s a good chance that this year’s edition gets the “expected winner” treatment. Breakker is very clearly positioned to challenge CM Punk for the world heavyweight championship at WrestleMania. While Oba Femi might be the man who has the standout Rumble performance, Breakker has the backing of The Vision, who has agreed to help Breakker get the win. Pick: Breakker wins – Brent Brookhouse (also Shakiel Mahjouri)

Women’s Royal Rumble match: Where is Belair? She contributed to the best match of WrestleMania 41 weekend, a women’s world title match with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky. During the match, she suffered a finger injury that sidelined her for over eight months. In July, Belair told CBS Sports that she was at “the tail end of this healing process,” but we still haven’t seen her wrestle. She re-entered the women’s world title scene on the road to WrestleMania last year. I cross my fingers that she does the same this year as a surprise entrant. Pick: Belair wins – Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)

Undisputed WWE Championship – Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Sami Zayn: 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 presents an opportunity to put the title on him for a short reign ahead of WrestleMania. While it probably makes more sense to keep the title on McIntyre, a surprising title change could be very interesting. Pick: Zayn wins – Brookhouse

McIntyre and Zayn both deserve solid world title reigns, but the defending champ deserves it slightly more. McIntyre must win his first title defense, especially amid his feuds with Rhodes and Fatu. Pick: McIntyre wins – Mahjouri

AJ Styles vs. Gunther: Do I want Gunther to win? No. I want Styles, my all-time favorite professional wrestler, to deny a loss that would see him retire. Pick: Styles wins – Brookhouse