WWE Royal Rumble 2026: 5 Nightmares That Could Come True
Flat Royal Rumble winners and a beloved babyface being booed as WWE Champion?! EEK!
2026 is arguably going to be the most interesting year of Cody Rhodes' career. That's saying something considering his industry-shaking jump from AEW back to WWE in 2022, but think about it: Cody has done an outstanding job of sustaining babyface status for close to 4 years now. Cracks are beginning to show in that formula and boos are starting to surface though.
They have been for a while.
This is something WWE bosses should keep in mind when they're over in Saudi Arabia for Royal Rumble. Previously, the atmosphere at these Saudi stadium shows could be politely called...less-than. Dignitaries and money men flooded the ringside area, which didn't do much for booming responses or scorching heat. Times have changed. Now, actual wrestling fans occupy those seats, and they're as vocal with their thoughts as most other audiences.
You know the deal by now - there's no room for positivity in these pages. This is a calamity-filled tour of the worst that could happen on WWE's latest PLE. There's a lot to dig into even on a 4 match card. One titular Rumble could be flat out painful to sit through, another could end with unwanted echos of 2015, a cherished career could feasibly come to a close, legends might go back on their word, and a hardworking heel may watch his dreams go up in smoke all over again.
Hopefully, none of this happens, because it'd be nightmare inducing stuff. No-one wants the Rumble to suck, but people don't always get what they want. Read this through cracks in your fingers!
5. The Women’s Rumble Is Flat Out Boring
The women's Rumble could be pretty tame if recent rumours about Liv Morgan winning the whole thing come true. That's not meant to put Liv on blast. She's a big star and deserving of more top tier moments in WWE for sure, but the setup for her win could prove problematic if it's framed around the Women's Tag-Team Titles.
Morgan and her Judgment Day pal Roxanne Perez have been gunning for Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY lately. Come the Rumble match, that could well be Triple H's focus, and it doesn't sound great when the likes of Bianca Belair's comeback story or Tiffany Stratton returning are being dangled right in front of fan faces.
Nothing is nailed on with either Belair or Stratton, but they certainly sound like more exciting winners than Liv right now - especially Bianca. It's gonna be pretty dull if Morgan, Perez and Raquel Rodriguez patrol the ring to fend off other tags like Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax and Lash Legend or the reigning champs RHIYO.
Put it this way: Liv eliminating Ripley, who hasn't been cast as a standalone threat for a while now, doesn't seem too thrilling on paper. WWE will have to come up with something else for the match or it'll be a second lame duck Royal Rumble finish for the division in quick succession.
Charlotte's triumph last time out failed to satisfy. Morgan would be better, but admittedly not by much if her tag stuff dominates the conversation come 31 January in Riyadh.