WWE kicks off the Road to WrestleMania 42 this weekend with the 2026 Royal Rumble. Taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the first time ever, the annual event will allow for two superstars — one on the men’s side and one on the women’s — to secure a championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas this April.
This year marks the 33rd installment of the titular match for the men and ninth for the women. Both matches operate the same way, with two superstars starting off each the contest, and 28 more entering at timed intervals. There is no limit as to how many combatants can be in the ring at any given time and elimination only occurs when you are tossed over the top rope and both feet touch the floor outside the ring.
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While Saturday will be the first time the Royal Rumble event itself is taking place in Saudi Arabia, WWE has held a similar showcase there in the past. In Jeddah in 2018, WWE held the Greatest Royal Rumble show, which featured a 50-man exhibition match that was won by Braun Strowman.
The Royal Rumble is regarded as one of WWE’s “Big Four” Premium Live Events and is a fan favorite due to the unpredictability that comes with the match. While several participants will “declare” their entry ahead of time, surprise appearances from legends and newcomers alike are the lifeblood of the Royal Rumble. Some of the biggest moments in recent Royal Rumble history include Edge’s return in 2020, AJ Styles’ WWE debut in 2016 and the return of both Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss last year.
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Here is a list of who is confirmed this year for the men’s and women’s 2026 Royal Rumble matches.
(Previous winners in bold.)
Men (16 spots remain)
Women (15 spots remain)
You’ll be able to follow all of the action from the Royal Rumble this Saturday with Uncrowned’s live coverage of the event as part of the second annual Uncrowned Day.

