Stephen Amell, a lifelong wrestling enthusiast and actor known for his role in Heels, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the 2026 Royal Rumble. During a recent iHeartRadio interview, Amell criticized the event’s outcome, particularly Roman Reigns’ victory, calling the overall show a disappointing experience in comparison to previous years.
Amell Critiques the Quality of the 2026 Royal Rumble
Despite his passion for wrestling and his active participation in major events like the 2015 SummerSlam and All In, Amell was clear about his negative impression of this year’s Royal Rumble. He compared it to Night 2 of last year’s WrestleMania, which he praised highly, describing that event as an exceptional night of wrestling from start to finish.
I thought the Rumble was bad. Listen, not every show can be great. I thought that like Night 2 of WrestleMania last year, and I was there, I thought that was an A++ night of wrestling. I thought top to bottom, tip to tail, it was great. I thought that this Rumble was…I just didn’t think it was great,
Amell said. – Stephen Amell, Actor and Wrestling Fan
Concerns Over Venue Presentation in Riyadh
Amell also highlighted issues with the lighting and overall atmosphere of the venue in Riyadh, which garnered widespread critique online. He mentioned that the way the arena was lit made it appear somewhat empty, which diminished the event’s energy compared to the vibrant settings he had witnessed at previous Royal Rumbles in cities like San Antonio, Tampa, and Indianapolis.
And I just thought that the atmosphere, it seemed weird, like the arena was kind of empty. Or was it? It was just optically, the way that it looks and presents is important. And I thought that it looked and presented poorly, relative to previous Rumbles,
Amell said.
I’ve been to, I think, the last three prior to this in San Antonio, Tampa, and Indianapolis. Those shows were awesome. The atmosphere was great, and this one just wasn’t.
– Stephen Amell, Actor and Wrestling Fan
Impact of Amell’s Criticism on Wrestling Fandom
Stephen Amell’s remarks bring attention to how production choices, such as venue presentation, significantly affect the viewing experience of wrestling fans. Given his background both as a performer and enthusiastic observer, his opinions hold weight among wrestling communities. While Roman Reigns’ win remains a key storyline, the negative reception of the Royal Rumble’s execution may influence future event planning, especially with the global wrestling audience’s heightened expectations.
As the wrestling world looks ahead to upcoming events like AEW Dynamite and other major shows, feedback from prominent fans like Amell could encourage promoters to prioritize atmosphere and presentation quality alongside storyline developments to maintain audience engagement.
