WWE Royal Rumble 2026: Predicting All 30 Entrants

6. Randy Orton (#25)

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Roman Reigns Chris Jericho Santino Marella
WWE.com

Randy Orton is a lock to challenge Cody Rhodes for the WWE Title at some point, but perhaps not by winning his third Rumble. Previous victories in 2009 and 2017 probs won't be bolstered by one in 2026, but it isn't impossible either. Look at this: Yours truly is talking himself into seeing Randy three-peat!

His return on a recent episode of SmackDown and subsequent challenge to Cody will amount to something this year, at least. The beautiful thing about Orton vs. Rhodes is that it doesn't necessarily need to be for the belt anyway. They've got Legacy issues, so to speak.

This year, Randy will enter late on and be in the final 4 come crunch time. He can also hark back to a surprise opponent at WrestleMania 41 if WWE feel like saying his name.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.