Roman Reigns earns a WrestleMania 42 main event spot by triumphing in the 2026 Royal Rumble match held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Original Tribal Chief clinched his second Rumble victory by eliminating Gunther last, capping an action-packed 30-man showdown.
Early Chaos and Dominant Starts
Oba Femi, the former NXT Champion, kicked off the match as the number one entrant, while Bron Breakker of The Vision entered second. Breakker’s run ended abruptly before it began—a hooded assailant ambushed him outside the ring with a powerful stomp, enabling Femi to toss him out moments after the bell.
Femi asserted control early, eliminating competitors like Rusev, Rey Mysterio, and Solo Sikoa. The first surprise came at number nine with Mr. Iguana from Mexico’s AAA promotion, but newly signed SmackDown star Trick Williams dispatched him quickly.
Key Entrances and Alliances Form
Cody Rhodes, a two-time Rumble winner, arrived at number 11. Numbers 12 and 13 brought two versions of El Grande Americano—the second billed as ‘The Original,’ likely a disguised return by Chad Gable. They exited while attempting to unmask each other.
Powerhouse Hobbs debuted for WWE at number 14 as Royce Keys. Austin Theory and Bron Reed from The Vision followed, leveraging their group advantage. Logan Paul joined them at number 20, and Paul Heyman’s crew swiftly eliminated Keys before clearing out several others.
Surprise Returns Shift Momentum
Their edge faded when LA Knight returned to WWE at number 21, turning the tide against Heyman’s faction. Brock Lesnar entered at 22 with his advocate Paul Heyman, dismantling opponents and clashing with Femi. A distraction from Logan Paul allowed Lesnar to eliminate the Nigerian powerhouse.
Lesnar’s dominance was short-lived as Rhodes and Knight teamed up to oust him. Reigns entered at 26, followed by Jacob Fatu at 27. The temporary alliance between Knight and Rhodes dissolved when Rhodes eliminated Knight. Randy Orton arrived at 29, heightening the tension.
Final Four and Climactic Finish
Rumors of Chris Jericho’s WWE return dissipated as Gunther claimed the 30th spot. Drew McIntyre’s interference led to Rhodes’ elimination, narrowing the field to Reigns, Gunther, Orton, and Logan Paul.
Reigns first eliminated Logan Paul, then Orton fell to Gunther’s power. The showdown boiled down to Reigns and Gunther battling for the WrestleMania 42 headline opportunity in Las Vegas this April. After a grueling exchange, Reigns overpowered the Austrian powerhouse to claim victory.
