Overview
- Reigns declared for the men's Royal Rumble via a SmackDown video package ahead of the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- The appearance will be his first since competing in Survivor Series WarGames, continuing a reduced schedule since losing the title to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40.
- On The Pat McAfee Show, he said WWE "hasn't advanced" or "evolved" over the past two years and told younger talent to "Get over, kids."
- He praised WWE executive Nick Khan as a "genius" but urged the company to keep pace creatively, noting the platform boost from being on Netflix.
- Reigns said he pulled back to be a husband and father to five children and insisted he remains physically ready to perform at age 40.