Not to brag, but my left buttcheek could\u2019ve written a better rumble than this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s been ten days, and I still haven\u2019t fully processed what happened at the WWE Royal Rumble 2026. Scrolling through reactions, one word keeps popping up: off. Something about this year\u2019s event just didn\u2019t land the way it should have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let\u2019s rewind: from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to the follow-up episodes of RAW (February 2, 2026) and Smackdown (February 6, 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For anyone who\u2019s new to the wrestling universe: WWE\u2019s Royal Rumble is an annual premium live event dating back to 1988. The women\u2019s Royal Rumble match was added in 2018. In this 30-person over-the-top-rope battle, the winner earns a title shot of their choice at WrestleMania, the Superbowl of wrestling. This year\u2019s event marked the first Royal Rumble held outside of North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the night started strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The evening kicked off with the ninth-ever women\u2019s Royal Rumble match, with \u201cThe Queen\u201d Charlotte Flair entering the ring first, followed by her tag team partner Alexa Bliss, setting the stage for what would end up being the highlight of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from the beautiful, sparkly outfits, this match laid out multiple storyline threads with real potential. A possible Charlexa fallout? Tension between the Kabuki Warriors? A continuing storyline between Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri? Perhaps even a refreshed role for rebranded Nattie? More spotlight for (inter-)national treasure Chelsea Green?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was a well-curated match. The Yes-Movement was resurrected when Brie Bella made a surprising return to WWE after nearly a decade away. Tiffany Stratton coming in at number 30, plus the new NXT faces, gave the match a really refreshing boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, Liv Morgan was crowned the winner after eliminating Sol Ruca and Tiffany Stratton, but the real success of the match was the foundation it built for future storytelling – something the rest of the evening failed to maintain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What followed was Gunther sending AJ Styles into retirement and Drew McIntyre successfully defending the WWE Undisputed Championship against Sami Zayn. Outside the ring, concern began circulating online as photos revealed unsold sections of the stadium<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then came the main event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From my perspective, the issues didn\u2019t start inside the ring but weeks earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me make it official. (…) I am officially declaring myself the first entrant in the 2026 Royal Rumble.\u201d When Cody Rhodes confirmed himself entrant number 1 on SmackDown (January 16, 2026), it sparked what felt like a never-ending wave of official entrant confirmations. By the time the event started, WWE had revealed 18 (!!) out of 30 participants. Instead of building anticipation and using the element of surprise, it diluted it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, the confusion really kicked in when Cody wasn\u2019t actually entrant number one. Instead, newbie Oba Femi entered first. The reaction that should\u2019ve elevated his moment felt muted. The impact simply didn\u2019t land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then things escalated quickly when Bron Breakker, entrant number 2, was attacked by a masked man before even entering the ring. He was then eliminated by Oba Femi after just 9 seconds in the ring. This was shocking, sure, but it didn\u2019t really land either. With everything WWE has been building around Breakker and The Vision in the last couple of months, the moment just didn\u2019t connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My weird perception of the first couple of minutes didn\u2019t just end there. Oba Femi\u2019s dominant elimination streak (Solo Sikoa, Rey Mysterio, returner Rusev, and Matt Cardona) was clearly meant to demonstrate power and dominance – he absolutely has the potential to be exactly that – but the execution felt a bit lazy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moments of hope returned through Damien Priest, Je\u2019Von Evans, the unexpected entrance of Mr. Iguana, and Mr. Lemon Pepper Steppers Trick Williams. By the time Cody finally entered at number eleven, the match finally stabilized … only to be interrupted again through the bizarre identity-crisis comedy involving El Grande Americano and \u201cThe Original\u201d El Grande Americano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As more entrants, like newbie Royce Keys and members of The Vision, joined the ring, the structure of this match felt messy rather than layered. To be quite honest: when La Parka entered, I genuinely started wondering if my happiness about Tiffany Stratton\u2019s return somehow created an alternate dimension. I just couldn\u2019t believe what was happening. From there, things kept going downhill. Even the long-awaited return of LA Knight couldn\u2019t save it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that point, the match felt so chaotic that, in all honesty, the only thing that could\u2019ve saved it for me was Kit Wilson\u2019s theme hitting and him walking out. And I stand by that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Impactful scenes, such as Brock Lesnar eliminating Oba Femi, lacked recognition. Brock Lesnar\u2019s own elimination happened while the whole stadium was still yeeting. Dude really lost some aura here (but at least his pants didn’t rip).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, it was Logan Paul, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and Gunther in the ring. Roman Reigns ultimately secured the victory and the WrestleMania main event slot. An expected decision, which isn\u2019t necessarily the most compelling one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the disappointment surrounding the men\u2019s match, the night wasn\u2019t fully without positives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jordynne Grace and Lash Legend stood out immediately. Lash Legend may have lost her left lash extension mid-match, but she displayed long-term main-event potential. Lola Vice also marked a beautiful milestone moment when she entered the rumble as the first Cuban woman ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then there was Sol Ruca. Liv Morgan may have won the women\u2019s Royal Rumble, but Sol Ruca owned that match. Her energy, athleticism and standout presence make me hopeful to see her on the main roster soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the men\u2019s side, Je\u2019Von Evans and Logan Paul stood out as bright spots, stepping up when the match basically fell apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biggest misstep was, for sure, the sheer amount of pre-confirmed superstars. With eighteen confirmations beforehand (including Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar), the element of surprise was basically gone. Unfortunately, anticipation turned into expectation rather than excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Equally noticeable: the lack of story evolution. Key situations between Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu were missing. The Royal Rumble thrives when it advances storylines while delivering spectacle. This year\u2019s event didn\u2019t achieve that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A surprise, a shocking moment – it was dearly missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking back at RAW GM Adam Pearce stating, \u201cThe Rumble is full,\u201d towards Finn Balor, the booking logic now raises even more questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So was it the booking? The pacing? The atmosphere? Or simply the execution? Likely a combination of all three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two days later, Monday Night RAW delivered a shift that was needed and very appreciated. It was more promos and less wrestling, featuring only three matches, but still packed with story progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bron Breakker opened this episode, lashing out and looking desperate: a direction that works perfectly for his current character arc. Him losing it like that actually worked for me. It made his character feel more real after what happened at the rumble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Je\u2019Von Evans was scheduled for a rematch against El Grande Americano after their last match ended due to injury, and of course, \u201cThe Original\u201d El Grande Americano made an appearance, deepening El Grande Americano\u2019s identity chaos: a storyline that will surely be pursued in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bella Twins are officially back in the tag team division, while Gunther once again reinforced dominance, this time against Dragon Lee, the former tag team partner of AJ Styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily, Oba Femi\u2019s debut on RAW corrected some of the damage done at the rumble, when he took out the War Raiders Ivar and Erik fully on his own in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The long-awaited return of \u201cDirty\u201d Dominik Mysterio set the stage for Liv Morgan\u2019s appearance, as she has yet to make her decision on who to face at WrestleMania. Stephanie Vaquer then defended her WWE Women\u2019s World Championship against Liv Morgan\u2019s fellow Judgement Day member Raquelle Rodriguez, so where does this leave Morgan going forward? Will this influence her decision for WrestleMania?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My highlight of the night was easily the segment between CM Punk and Roman Reigns. Punk cooked him on the mic. Roman confirming the match for WrestleMania wasn\u2019t surprising at all: Pepsi Phil got Zeebro Zebraxton exactly where he wants him. The real question is how this feud gets built. If Roman keeps being a part-timer, the hype around this match can only be carried by one – and that is CM Punk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond promos and match outcomes, this question continues to spark speculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve seen a wild variety of theories: from Grayson Waller and Finn Balor to Logan or Jake Paul, Austin Theory, or even a returning Dean Ambrose (aka Jon Moxley), or Buddy Murphy. I wouldn\u2019t even rule out Adam Pearce\u2019s involvement, attempting to finally put Bron Breakker in his place. Actually, scrapdaddyap looked way calmer and more confident this time around than in the RAW episode before the rumble. But it\u2019s not really about the who but the why. Because what really is the long-term goal here? It must surely lead to something for Bron Breakker, but feuding with someone for only 2 or 3 months won\u2019t make him a superstar. If this storyline is meant to push Breakker forward, it needs scale and consequence. The groundwork is done; what\u2019s remaining is the execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My favourite theory for now: it was Austin Theory. He has been infiltrating The Vision ever since War Games for Seth Rollins. He stomped Bron Breakker to just ruin his day. Together with Buddy Murphy, the Monday Night Messiah will rise again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I guess I\u2019ll write more about this in my blog post with my Road to WrestleMania prediction … stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Friday Night SmackDown felt cohesive and well-paced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chaos immediately erupted when Drew McIntyre was attacked by Cody Rhodes. Drew\u2019s second attempt to cut his promo was then interfered by Jacob Fatu, who apparently still has an issue with the Scottish warrior. Nick Aldis later turned that chaos into storyline fuel, announcing that both Cody and Jacob, together with Sami Zayn, would face each other in a triple-threat Elimination Chamber qualifier. And don\u2019t worry: in Drew\u2019s third attempt, he then managed to speak in the ring peacefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The women\u2019s tag team division continues to be WWE\u2019s most reliable pillar. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky defended their WWE Women\u2019s Tag Team Championship title against Giulia and Kiana James. To me, Kiana James stood out in particular. After already impressing in the Royal Rumble, she delivered another strong performance here. While Rhiyo successfully put a stop to Giulia\u2019s attempt to become a triple champion, Kiana James left a very positive impression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carmelo Hayes and The Miz kept displaying their dislike for each other and faced off in a non-title match that ended with a clean win for Hayes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This led to the women\u2019s Elimination Chamber qualifier of the night, where Lash Legend faced Chelsea Green and returning Tiffany Stratton. Chelsea, with her beautifully recycled outfit from last week’s Royal Rumble, presented herself stronger than usual. Is it finally her time to shine? After a dirty interference from Nia Jax, who accompanied Lash Legend (who thankfully found herself a new left lash extension), Tiffany Stratton took the chance and won this first qualifier via pinfall against Chelsea Green. A perfectly correct outcome!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kit Wilson – the tonic to the toxic, the antidote in motion – then once again delivered a standout promo before being swiftly dismantled by SmackDown debutant Oba Femi. Toxic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defining highlight of this episode? Liv Morgan\u2019s promo segment. Confident, provocative, sharply delivered, and absolutely ragebaiting Jade Cargill – this girl really is an icon. Some tension between Liv and her companion, Raquelle Rodiguez, as well as Jordynne Grace entering the ring and confronting Jade Cargill, led to a very entertaining tag team match. In the end, Jordynne Grace earned herself a title shot next week. \u201cThe elephant in the room\u201d has yet to be addressed by Liv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Closing the night, Randy Orton secured himself a spot in the Elimination Chamber match by winning the momentum-driven main event against Aleister Black and Solo Sikoa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, SmackDown achieved what the Rumble struggled with: cohesion, progression, and clear forward momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the Royal Rumble, RAW and SmackDown made a great effort to correct the things that went wrong in the premium live event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As WrestleMania season approaches, WWE now has the opportunity to take all that and turn it into fire storylines. Ultimately, that\u2019s what keeps fans invested: not just surprises and one-time shockers, but stories that work beyond a single night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What did you think of this year\u2019s Royal Rumble and its aftermath?
Let\u2019s talk about it \ud83d\ude42<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Not to brag, but my left buttcheek could\u2019ve written a better rumble than this.
\nIt\u2019s been ten days, and I still haven\u2019t fully processed what happened at the WWE Royal Rumble 2026. Scrolling through reactions, one word keeps popping up: off. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[47,25,48,52,49,51,50],"class_list":["post-721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports","tag-aj-styles","tag-becky-lynch","tag-sports-entertainment","tag-wrestling-commentary","tag-wwe","tag-wwe-review","tag-wwe-royal-rumble-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=721"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1057,"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/721\/revisions\/1057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ginisideofthings.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}