Roman Reigns is confirmed to participate in the men’s Royal Rumble match at WWE PLE on January 31st. This announcement was made through a video package aired during Friday’s WWE SmackDown, officially confirming Reigns’ entry into the event set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Reigns, who hasn’t appeared on WWE television since his War Games match at Survivor Series in November, seemed to hint at a potential future showdown with Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, Triple H has chosen to cancel the originally planned WrestleMania 42 main event featuring Reigns versus Rhodes, citing concerns that their rivalry might cause fan fatigue. This leaves Reigns’ WrestleMania plans uncertain, though he remains the favorite to win the Royal Rumble.
Reigns previously secured a Royal Rumble victory that led him to the WrestleMania 31 main event; however, fans were critical of WWE’s decision at the time and expressed their displeasure vocally. Should Reigns win the Rumble this year, it’s expected that fans will be more supportive, but notable contenders like RAW’s Bron Breaker (unconfirmed) and SmackDown’s Cody Rhodes (confirmed) also remain in the mix.
Given Reigns’ part-time schedule since WrestleMania 40, WWE treated his Royal Rumble announcement as a special occasion through a video rather than a live appearance. This approach prompted some fans to comment humorously on his absence, with one jokingly suggesting he might have simply emailed the corporate office to declare his participation, and others lamenting that he didn’t even bother to shoot a personal message. Months ago, Reigns expressed his desire to hold a world title again when caught between Undisputed WWE Champion Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, emphasizing that having a title would elevate his status.
Fan Take: This news reinvigorates excitement for WWE’s Royal Rumble by confirming a top-tier star’s involvement, potentially setting the stage for a high-stakes storyline in the coming months. Reigns’ participation also raises anticipation about how WWE will balance his part-time presence with delivering compelling matches that keep fans engaged.
