The 2026 Royal Rumble is scheduled to take place this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amidst mixed feelings due to limited promotion on WWE television and controversy over the location. Despite these issues, fans remain eager because the Royal Rumble match consistently delivers excitement with 30 superstars competing to be the last one standing, earning a main event spot at WrestleMania. Among the men’s Royal Rumble favorites, Cody Rhodes is notably absent from top contention, signaling WWE is unlikely to have him win again.
Leading Contenders for the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble Matches
On the women’s side, Liv Morgan currently holds the highest odds to claim victory, followed by Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and Tiffany Stratton, among others with strong chances according to BetOnline.ag. The men’s competition appears more concentrated, with Roman Reigns as the clear favorite. Gunther, Sami Zayn, and Bron Breakker also rank highly, presenting solid options for WWE to push at this event. Notably, two-time Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes does not feature near the top of betting predictions, which could indicate WWE’s intent to avoid repeating past outcomes.
Potential Main Event Matchups for WrestleMania 42
The path toward WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas lacks established dream matches due to the retirement of John Cena, declining star power of Brock Lesnar, and the improbable clash between Roman Reigns and The Rock. In this context, WWE faces a challenge in creating a compelling main event. Should Reigns win the Royal Rumble, a title match against CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship would be the most logical step, though it remains uncertain if WWE will elevate the World Heavyweight Title to headline status.
The WWE Championship offers a different route, with Drew McIntyre currently holding the belt and scheduled to defend it against Sami Zayn at the Royal Rumble. While a victorious Sami Zayn in Saudi Arabia could resonate with the local Muslim audience, it may be premature to take the title from McIntyre. The company seems to be positioning a triple threat for WrestleMania involving McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, and Jacob Fatu. This scenario suggests either Jacob Fatu might emerge as a surprise Royal Rumble winner or that WWE might revert to relying on a familiar face in Cody Rhodes.
Why Cody Rhodes Winning the Royal Rumble Again Is Unlikely
Cody Rhodes has a distinguished history since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38, where fans embraced him as the returning star. He has headlined WrestleMania three consecutive years, winning the Royal Rumble twice to secure his main event spots. For WrestleMania 39 and 40, Rhodes earned his place by winning the Royal Rumble, facing Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship each time. He went into WrestleMania 41 as the reigning champion when he faced John Cena.
Despite the tradition of marquee wrestlers repeatedly headlining major events—as seen with Hulk Hogan and Roman Reigns—Cody Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble for a third time risks diminishing his momentum. The prospect of a McIntyre, Rhodes, and Fatu triple threat lacks the spectacle that fans might expect, but introducing Jacob Fatu as a fresh champion through the Royal Rumble win could energize the storyline. On the contrary, an additional Royal Rumble victory for Rhodes would likely damage his character’s appeal.
The Risks of Repeating Past Booking with Cody Rhodes
WWE’s handling of Cody Rhodes’ previous championship runs has left much to be desired, criticized for uninspired storylines and limited character development beyond references to his father, the late Dusty Rhodes. Continuing to rely on Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble as a pathway to WrestleMania would perpetuate this pattern and potentially exhaust fan interest. With WWE facing declining ratings, the company needs to innovate rather than recycle established narratives.
“Rhodes won’t have to turn heel, like many hope, because fans will get sick of the American Nightmare and start booing him, just like they did in AEW.” ?Commentator on Cody Rhodes and fan reactions
Fans’ growing frustration could lead to Rhodes being rejected despite remaining a top face, as audiences tire of repetitive booking. WWE’s Royal Rumble 2026 presents an opportunity to refresh the main event scene by elevating new contenders like Jacob Fatu or capitalizing on the existing momentum of stars such as Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, and Gunther, rather than relying on Cody Rhodes to carry the narrative once again.
