Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Royal Rumble 2026 Begins in Riyadh, Launching WWE’s ESPNNetflix Era

The event is the first Royal Rumble held outside North America, starting the Road to WrestleMania.

Overview

  • The card features 30‑participant men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches with WrestleMania 42 title opportunities at stake.
  • Drew McIntyre defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn, who is still seeking his first world title.
  • AJ Styles faces Gunther in a career‑threatening match, with retirement stipulated if Styles loses.
  • Coverage begins at noon ET with the main show at 2 p.m. ET, streaming on ESPN’s Unlimited plan in the U.S. and on Netflix in international markets.
  • Live reports from the venue note social‑media criticism of visible empty seats and complaints about ticket selling and secondary‑market pricing in Riyadh.