By Jay’Mi Vazquez
Managing Editor
The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble, held on Jan. 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, left me with conflicted feelings that only grew stronger with time.
On paper, the event accomplished its primary goal by setting the course for WrestleMania 42.
Roman Reigns won the Men’s Royal Rumble, Liv Morgan won the Women’s Royal Rumble and both earned championship opportunities on WWE’s biggest stage.
That alone should make this a successful show.
Yet as a longtime fan, I walked away feeling unsatisfied, like the night played things too safe when it could have taken meaningful risks.
Liv Morgan’s victory was the clear emotional high point of the show for me.
I genuinely felt happy watching her win because it felt earned through years of steady work and connection with the audience. Her popularity does not feel manufactured, and her rise to a WrestleMania title match felt natural rather than forced.
For once, Chief content officer Paul Levesque’s WWE production trusted the crowd’s investment, and I think that decision paid off in a big way.
Her win gave the event its heart and reminded me why the Royal Rumble can still feel special.
AJ Styles putting his career on the line against Gunther was another moment that stuck with me.
The match carried real emotional weight, and I could feel the gravity of what might be the end of Styles’ WWE career.
That said, I was disappointed that Gunther was positioned as the figure behind that moment.
I personally find his in-ring work repetitive and uninspired, and presenting him as a so-called “career killer” felt hollow. For a moment that was significant, I wanted a more compelling presence on the other side.
The Royal Rumble match itself had surprises, but not enough to truly elevate the experience.
Seeing Royce Keys, formerly known as Powerhouse Hobbs debut and the Bella Twins return gave the crowd some energy, yet I never felt that sense of shock or excitement that defines a truly great Rumble.
I kept waiting for something that would completely change the tone of the match, and it never quite arrived. There were rumors that Chris Jericho was going to return, and that would have turned this event into a completely different experience.
My biggest frustration came with Roman Reigns winning the Men’s Royal Rumble. I respect Reigns and understand his value to the company, but I was bored by the choice.
I wanted to see WWE take a chance on someone new, someone who could use that victory to define their future.
Instead, the booking felt overly cautious and corporate, as if maintaining the status quo mattered more than sparking excitement.
My personal pick to win the rumble was Bron Breakker.
After a production mishap, it was revealed he was going to be entering number one; arguably the hardest spot to enter a rumble and succeed.
Breakker entered the rumble number two and was quickly eliminated by Oba Femi after being attacked by a random masked man. In the end, Royal Rumble 2026 did its job, but it did not inspire me.
I enjoyed moments of genuine emotion and strong performances, yet the overall show felt predictable. For an event meant to symbolize new beginnings, it leaned too heavily on familiarity.
I will remember this Royal Rumble, but mostly as a reminder that WWE still struggles to fully commit to the future its fans are eager to see.
