Friday’s WWE SmackDown event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, served as the official kickoff for the Royal Rumble, unveiling the latest roster for both the men’s and women’s matches bearing the iconic name.
On the men’s side, Cody Rhodes made a striking announcement on SmackDown, declaring his bid to secure his third Royal Rumble victory in just four years. Following him, notable competitors such as 2025 winner Jey Uso, Gunther, 2006 winner Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Penta were confirmed on the subsequent WWE Raw show. However, Mysterio suffered an injury on Monday, leaving his Royal Rumble participation uncertain.
It was also revealed that Roman Reigns, the 2015 winner and self-proclaimed “Original Tribal Chief,” will return to the Rumble match during upcoming SmackDown and Saturday Night Main Event episodes, alongside his cousins Solo Cicero and Jacob Fatu. Additionally, The Vision’s members Bron Breaker, Logan Paul, Bronson Reed, and Austin Theory, plus Jevon Evans and Oba Femi, were added to Monday’s Raw Royal Rumble lineup.
Two-time Royal Rumble champions Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton confirmed their entry into the match through various media appearances throughout the week.
Finally, Damian Priest, Trick Williams, The Miz, Ilya Dragunov, and Matt Cardona joined the roster on Friday’s SmackDown, finalizing the men’s list for Saturday’s event.
For the women’s Royal Rumble, no new participants were announced during the Riyadh show. Competitors including Iyo Skye, Rhea Ripley, Roxanne Perez, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Bayley, Lyla Valkyrie, Asuka, Chelsea Green, Jordyn Grace, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Rush Legend, Julia, Maxine Dupri, and Becky Lynch were revealed on previous episodes of Raw and last Friday’s SmackDown.
At this point, 22 of the 30 male wrestlers and 17 female wrestlers have been officially named for the Royal Rumble.
Fan Take: This update is huge for WWE fans as it not only confirms some of the biggest names returning but also showcases a blend of veterans and emerging stars, promising an electrifying Royal Rumble. With so many established legends and fresh talent in the mix, this could mark a pivotal moment that shapes WWE’s future storylines and rivalries.
