At WWE Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Roman Reigns claimed victory in the men’s 30-man Royal Rumble match, outlasting a stacked field of contenders to secure a title opportunity at WrestleMania 42 later this April in Las Vegas. Reigns’s performance was a reminder of his status as one of the company’s most enduring forces, controlling crucial stretches of the match before eliminating his final rival to punch his ticket to The Show of Shows.
How the Royal Rumble unfolded
The Royal Rumble match began with the usual chaos of timed entrances and rapid eliminations. Early excitement came from powerhouse Oba Femi, who made a strong impact with several quick eliminations shortly after entering. Among the crowd of 30 participants were major names including Cody Rhodes, Brock Lesnar, Logan Paul, Randy Orton, and Gunther, each bringing intensity and memorable moments throughout the nearly hour-long battle.
Bron Breakker’s appearance was cut short when a masked attacker struck before he could officially enter, shifting the early momentum and enabling Femi’s rise. As the match progressed, alliances and rivalries surfaced: Rhodes and LA Knight teamed briefly to eliminate Lesnar, injecting unpredictability into the field. Each elimination drew reactions from the Riyadh crowd as fan favorites and veterans collided in strategic brawls near the ring’s apron.
Roman Reigns notably came in at Number 26 and clocked Jey, gave a Superman Punch to Evans and Paul, and eliminated The Miz as well. In total, he scored five eliminations in the thrilling match.
Reigns asserts dominance in the final stretch
In the closing moments, the final four men were Reigns, Gunther, Logan Paul and Randy Orton. Logan Paul was the first to fall after miscalculating a leap back into the ring, followed by Orton, leaving Reigns and Gunther in a marquee showdown. Gunther locked in a sleeper hold that appeared to sap Reigns’s strength, but “The Tribal Chief” powered out and countered with a signature spear, hurling Gunther over the top rope to win the match. This marked Reigns’s second Royal Rumble victory, positioning him to headline WrestleMania 42 with a championship choice.
Reigns’s path through the match saw him avoid early elimination while capitalising on others’ rivalries and mistakes, preserving his energy for the decisive stretch. Big names like Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar were involved in frenzied sequences that shaped the match’s narrative, but neither could survive to challenge Reigns in the final moments.
What this win means for Roman Reigns
By triumphing at the Royal Rumble, Reigns secured a major championship opportunity at WrestleMania 42, where he will have the option to challenge either the Undisputed WWE Champion or the World Heavyweight Champion. That flexibility opens several creative possibilities in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, with potential rivalries against either titleholder likely to be fleshed out on WWE’s weekly programs.
Reigns’s status as a cornerstone of WWE storylines remains unassailable. His second Rumble win underscores the company’s continued faith in his ability to carry marquee matches and anchor The Show of Shows, a spectacle that will feature multiple high-profile bouts across its two-night April 18–19 card at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
Road to Wrestlemania 42
WrestleMania 42 promises to be one of WWE’s most ambitious events, blending veteran icons with rising stars in a stacked lineup for the Las Vegas stage. Reigns’s choice of opponent will shape the main event picture, as he will either challenger Undisputed WWE champion Drew McIntyre or World Heavyweight champion CM Punk.
Meanwhile other feuds from the Royal Rumble card, including championship defences and career milestones for talents like Liv Morgan and others, are likely to take centre stage in the coming weeks. The build to WrestleMania will mix dramatic confrontations, unresolved rivalries and fresh challenges as WWE’s biggest season gains momentum.