We are about 24 hours removed from the 2026 Royal Rumble. Returns, debuts, masked men and sadly retirements all graced our screens. Brie mode was activated when she returned to the WWE, entering number 29. Is she here for a short time or a long time? They certainly have me thinking we will see the Bellas tagging at some point in the future. Tiffany Stratton returned one spot later. We haven’t seen her since dropping the WWE Women’s Championship to Jade Cargill.

Drew McIntyre is an absolute maniac right now. He takes things to a whole other level when he’s trying to break down an opponent mentally. Combine he’s relentless psychological tactics with his psychiatry he is a mountain to overcome. When he wasn’t putting Sami Zayn through announce tables, he was verbally abusing him, multiple times yelling at him to think of his son and family. Eventually this was all too much for the underdog, Sami Zayn. Drew McIntyre once again proved he is at the top of his game.

‘The Ring General’ Gunther as mowed his way through legends over the last 7 months. First, beating Goldberg in his retirement match, then taking care of John Cena in December in his final match. After Gunther disrespected John Cena for weeks afterwards, AJ Styles had seen enough. He wasn’t going to allow Gunther to continue to play the bully. After Gunther seemingly tapped to AJ Styles on Raw, unfortunately the referee was not in position to the tap, AJ Styles was goaded into putting his career on the line at the Royal Rumble. Despite several pushes by AJ to get the upper hand Gunther proved to be who he says he is. AJ Styles WWE career comes full circle. Debuting at the 2016 Royal Rumble to retiring from WWE at Royal Rumble 2026. A hell of a run. I will always say that the AJ Styles/Undertaker Boneyard match at Wrestlemania 36 was his best match in WWE.

30 woman Royal Rumble:

*Liv Morgan outlasts 29 women to secure her championship match at Wrestlemania 42. Along the way she eliminated her Judgment Day partner, Raquel Rodgriguez. Should be fun to see how that plays out.

*Really fun final sequence between Liv Morgan, Sol Ruca and Tiffany Stratton. These 3 will be battling it out for years to come. I bet it isn’t too much longer before Sol Ruca finds herself on the main roster.

*Charlotte accidentally eliminates Alexa Bliss, Kairi Sane accidentally eliminates Asuka. Being a tag team wasn’t a big help for many in this match.

*Brie Bella returns at #29. Nikki and Brie picked up where you’d expect them too, using ‘twin magic’ to eliminate the tag team of Lyra Valkryia and Bayley. Something tells me these 4 will be sharing a ring in Las Vegas come April.

*Lash Legend eliminates 5 women including The Bellas and Jordynne Grace. She lasted nearly 40 minutes and might have had the strongest match.

30 man Royal Rumble:

*Bron Breaker is attacked by a masked figure similar to the one who previously helped The Vision. Taking a kick and stomp reminiscent of Seth Rollins. In an shocker, his official time in the Royal Rumble was just 10 seconds.

*Triple A had a couple of spots in the match with Mr. Iguana and La Parka making their debuts in the match. Neither would score an elimination.

*Not only did we see El Grande Americano enter the match, but THE ORIGINAL El Grande Americano would step in one spot behind him. This is absolutely amazing and I cannot wait to see how this plays out on Raw. I have been a huge fan of the El Grande Americano stuff from the start.

*Drew McIntyre, again, a maniac on a different level. After retaining his gold he then went on to ensure Cody Rhodes couldn’t win his record tying third Royal Rumble by claymoreing him and scoring an elimination despite not being in the match. Fatu would join these two and battle out of the arena. This trio looks headed for a battle soon.

*Fun spots included Damian Priest double chokeslamming Mr. Iguana and La Yesca. Je’von Evans attempted an OG cutter, but was caught by Randy Orton and an RKO in mid air. Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar had a bit of a face off, but I want more. Would love to see them 1 on 1. Powerhouse Hobbs makes his WWE debut under the ring name, Royce Keys.

*In a rare encounter. Gunter and Roman Reigns were the final two in the match. This would be a fun feud now that Gunther appears to be the career killer. Roman Reigns won his 2nd Royal Rumble which sets up an interesting choice for Wrestlemania, Drew McIntyre or CM Punk. I have to say I’m rooting for Roman Vs Punk.

Overall a really good show. The lights installed in the stands made it hard to tell if people were actually there or not. Based on what I’ve watched from people there, the crowd was there the lighting was bad. I was shocked to find out how late in the night it was in Riyadh. Oba Femi looked like a beast in to start the match. In a few years I could see him having a dominate Rumble ala Brock Lesnar in 2020.

Chris Jericho was not on the show like many of us may have thought. Assuming the rumors of Jericho’s return to WWE are true, I wonder if the better place and show for his return would be Chicago at Elimination Chamber. He would get a much better reaction there than in Riyadh.

Well here we now, on the Road to Wrestlemania, strap in this looks like it’s going to be fun.