Raw Recap - Full Royal Rumble 2026 preview: Raw Recap, Jan. 30, 2026
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What are the highlights of the 2026 Royal Rumble preview?
I honestly can't believe that we are here. It is Royal Rumble time, and that's why we are here on the podcast, myself, Sam Roberts, and Megan Morant, to preview the 2026 Royal Rumble. We are days away from finding out who will the first two superstars be that get WWE Championship matches at WrestleMania. Does it feel like it's Royal Rumble, not season, weekend?
Not entirely, but it certainly will on Saturday. And I mean, gosh, there's I feel like this year specifically, Sam, there are so many cases to be made or who could win the Rumble and what that sets in motion as we make our way to WrestleMania.
Yes, I think one of my favorite things about this year and the Royal Rumble and this season and everything that's happening already is that like the title picture is so up in the air, even without the Rumble. The idea that Drew McIntyre beat Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship before the Royal Rumble.
Expect the unexpected.
The idea that already this year, CM Punk's defended the World Heavyweight Championship three different times. He defended against Braun Breaker. He defended against Finn Balor. And he defended against AJ Styles. And if he keeps defending it at that level, there's no way you can sit there and guarantee that Punk will even be the World Heavyweight Champion going into WrestleMania. Mm-hmm. I mean, and so then you start looking at all the people that are in both the, and you look at on the women's side, right? Jade Cargill has been dominating everybody on SmackDown, but over on Raw, Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer have been at each other's throats for weeks. So you look at the feels in both of these rumble matches, and then you look at the reality of the title picture, and you realize that like, this is one of the rare rumbles that
As much as every Rumble, sure, anything could happen. Where you're looking at this going, anything could happen.
Yeah, I could see so many different scenarios playing out. And also, who's to say that the titles don't switch again before WrestleMania?
Exactly right. And how the context of the winner of the Royal Rumble might relate to a champion that we don't even know will be the champion by the time we get to WrestleMania. It's always fun, right? Because there are some years... I talk wrestling with people. I don't know if you know that.
You do?
I do. I do. From time to time.
Do you enjoy that?
I like to talk about wrestling. I do. I do. I do. Microphones, personal life, phones, texting, whatever it is. We talk about wrestling. And there are some years where it's like, who do you think is going to win the Royal Rumble?
Who are the potential winners of the Men's Royal Rumble?
This guy. Who do you think? Yeah, it's this guy. Yeah, it's that guy. Yeah, it's this guy. It's always, it's like we know.
In some years, it's like a unanimous, every wrestling fan sees that it's whatever guy's turn to win the Rumble.
Or other years, it's like two superstars. It's either this one or it's that one.
I could see both.
And I think this year, in both the men's and the women's Royal Rumbles, every time I have this conversation with somebody, you're finding different theories, different ideas, different, well, this person could win because then they would do that, which would lead to this. It's really, really fun.
I mean, it's crazy, too. You bring up Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer, and they've been at each other's throats, but there's so many different women that in an instant could immediately be in that world title picture. Liv Morgan is one of those. Rhea Ripley, EO Sky, Tiffany Stratton. I mean, the list goes on and on and on of a woman that just needs a moment to be back in that world title picture.
And it's always fun, you know, at the Royal Rumble. There are, because so much focus is on the two Royal Rumble matches. Cause there may be the funnest matches of the entire year. I think it's the best time to start being a wrestling fan. I think it's the best sort of snapshot of what the WWE looks like in that specific era. Like I just, I just love them so much.
It's crazy because before I got hired with WWE, I had a call with Michael Cole and he said, okay, I want you to start watching wrestling this weekend.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are the highlights of the 2026 Royal Rumble preview?
0:01–2:42
2
Who are the potential winners of the Men's Royal Rumble?
2:42–4:45
3
What makes Drew McIntyre's title defense significant?
4:45–7:01
4
How does Sami Zayn's storyline impact the Royal Rumble?
7:01–9:30
5
What are the implications of AJ Styles facing Gunther?
9:30–11:34
6
Who are the top contenders in the Women's Royal Rumble?
11:34–13:29
7
What surprises can we expect in the Royal Rumble matches?
13:29–15:13
8
How do the outcomes of the Royal Rumble affect WrestleMania?
15:13–56:44