標籤: Rumble

AJ Styles has shed light on his decision to end his WWE career at the Royal Rumble rather than wait for WrestleMania 42.

After losing a career-ending match to Gunther, “The Phenomenal One” officially retired from the ring on January 31, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While many expected the legend to retire on the grandest stage, a new farewell vlog uploaded to WWE’s YouTube channel shows Styles explaining the emotional and logical reasoning behind his choice.

In a vlog captured moments before facing Gunther, Styles admitted that while retiring from WrestleMania is most performers’ dream, it doesn’t match his personal journey following a serious injury.

Injury scare prompts AJ Styles to retire from Royal Rumble

Styles was sidelined through October 2024 with a foot injury, which many believed would prematurely end his career. After struggling to return to health, he felt that returning for a short two-month stint leading up to WrestleMania would be bad for his legacy.

Styles said, “Everyone wants to retire at WrestleMania, the biggest show of the year. That’s exactly what I was going to do, but I just came back from an injury that made me have to retire. That’s what most retirees do. Once I recovered and was comfortable enough to run and do what I need to do to be AJ Styles, it didn’t feel right to come back for two months just to retire.”

For Styles, the Royal Rumble held a personal significance as the venue of his 2016 WWE debut. He saw the Riyadh event as an opportunity to wrap up his WWE tenure. His goal for the night was to express his hope by walking off the field under his own power after giving a final salute to the fans on his own terms.

“It didn’t feel right, and I thought, what a way to leave a pay-per-view right where you started. Hopefully, at the end of this match, I’ll be back on my feet, and I’ll throw the P1 on my gloves once again and walk away,” he continued.

The match with Gunther ended with Styles being eliminated with a sleeper hold, officially ending his full-time career. His comments should also put to rest recent speculation that he could be moving to AEW with his WWE contract expiring soon.

第 39 屆年度皇家大賽將於今晚重返沙特阿拉伯。

利雅得的阿卜杜拉國王金融區將舉辦備受期待的 Rumble 大賽，這是北美以外地區首次舉辦。

3

男子和女子比賽均將舉行，每場比賽都有 30 名摔跤手角逐世界冠軍。

另一項首次是，每場比賽的獲勝者都可以選擇在 WrestleMania 42 上挑戰哪個世界冠軍。

男子比賽的勝利者可以挑戰 Raw 的世界重量級冠軍或 SmackDown 無可爭議的 WWE 冠軍。

這些頭銜目前分別由 CM Punk 和 Drew McIntyre 持有。

與此同時，Stephanie Vaquer 的 Raw 女子世界冠軍賽和 Jade Cargill 舉辦的 SmackDown WWE 女子冠軍賽是最終女子選手的選擇。

世界冠軍賽將於 4 月在拉斯維加斯的 WrestleMania 42 舉行。

去年的皇家大賽上，夏洛特·弗萊爾 (Charlotte Flair) 和傑伊·烏索 (Jey Uso) 獲勝。

2026 年皇家大賽：日期以及如何關注

今年的皇家大賽活動將於 1 月 31 日星期六舉行。

The 2026 Royal Rumble odds are drawing plenty of attention from UK bettors as WWE’s first “Big Five” Premium Live Event outside North America draws closer at the end of January.

WWE has had an ongoing relationship with Saudi Arabia for many years now, but this is the first time that an event as big as the Royal Rumble will be taking place outside of the US and Canada.

Men’s Royal Rumble top contenders

Women’s Royal Rumble top contenders

With it being in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it means that we can look at some ‘other’ names who might have an outside chance to grab a WrestleMania main event, especially if they’re a fan favourite over in the Middle East. Interest is really high in who might emerge victorious and earn a coveted WrestleMania world title shot this April.

As is the case for most years, punters are focusing on a mix of proven stars and underdog value, with several bookmakers posting competitive odds across outright winner markets for both the men’s and women’s matches.

In this guide, we’ll be breaking those markets down clearly so you can bet with confidence ahead of the 30-woman and 30-man matches.

Men’s Royal Rumble odds: The top contenders

To set the scene before we can take look at the key contenders, punters in the UK have a range of Royal Rumble odds currently available that reflect both established stars and longer‑priced options with some genuine upside:

The Favourite

Roman Reigns remains the clear favourite in the men’s Royal Rumble odds across major UK bookies, with the Original Tribal Chief favoured to outlast 29 opponents and emerge the winner. 

Reigns has been a central figure in WWE’s storylines for years, and his place as favourite reflects both his standing and the likelihood that WWE will use his victory to build toward a big-time WrestleMania main event against the likes of CM Punk or Drew McIntyre. His odds suggest strong confidence from bookmakers that he will outlast the field.

🤼 Bet on Roman Reigns to win at 10/11 with Paddy Power 🤼

The “Local” Hero (Sami Zayn)

Sami Zayn offers a compelling alternative in the Royal Rumble odds. While he is currently not the top favourite, Zayn’s odds show he is very much in the conversation.

Zayn has become somewhat of a “local” hero to fans in Saudi, with Sami originally not being allowed into the country due to his Syrian descent. The Kingdom had strained relations with Syria prior to 2023, and this meant that the former NXT Champion would not travel with the company to events like Crown Jewel and the Greatest Royal Rumble.

Zayn was welcomed like a hero when he was finally able to appear in May 2023, and a feel-good win here for him would make a ton of sense as WWE builds towards WrestleMania in April.

🤼 Bet on Sami Zayn to make an upset at 7/1 with Sky Bet 🤼

Longshots & value

Bron Breakker and Gunther represent two of the better value options on current UK boards.

Breakker’s shorter price reflects his recent push and high position on the card after Seth Rollins was injured earlier in the year. Breakker is someone who could realistically stretch deep into the match and even win. 

Meanwhile, Gunther’s position as a longer shot provides clear value for punters who think a dominant in‑ring performer might surprise and capitalise on his huge win over John Cena back in December.

These prices mean smaller stakes could still land strong returns if either man breaks through as WWE starts building towards their big WrestleMania main events.

🤼 Bet on Bron Breakker for the value bet at 7/4 with Paddy Power 🤼

Wildcard

A true wildcard like Oba Femi gives you a more speculative angle in Royal Rumble betting.

Femi comes from WWE’s NXT developmental ranks and is priced attractively because a win would be a narrative shock, but considering how highly the company thinks of him and the momentum he could have going straight into a WrestleMania main event, you can’t completely rule it out.

🤼 Bet on Oba Femi to beat the odds at 12/1 with Betfred 🤼

British/Irish interest

You have to go way, way down in the odds to find someone with British/Irish affiliation when it comes to the 2026 Rumble. Drew McIntyre is showing mediocre odds, but as he is already the WWE Champion it is pretty unlikely that he will even appear in the 30-man battle royale.

If Drew does lose the Championship before the event, then his odds may get better, but beyond that, you’ve got British TNA star Leon Slater, and IShowSpeed at shorter odds than Drew, so that shows you how wildly unlikely that is!

🤼 Stay true to Drew at 50/1 with Betfred 🤼

Women’s Royal Rumble odds: The top contenders

Before we take a look at the individual picks, the women’s Royal Rumble odds show a slightly more competitive field than the men’s, with favourites and exciting outsiders that could deliver potentially decent returns.

According to UK betting boards, two names head the markets with shorter odds, while several others still offer intriguing value.

The Favourite

Bianca Belair is firmly installed as the odds-on favourite to win the women’s Royal Rumble in Riyadh.

Bookmakers have her significantly ahead of the rest of the field, reflecting the market confidence that she will secure the Rumble victory and go on to a marquee WrestleMania title match, most likely against Jade Cargill, as that is where the feud has been heading in the past year or so.

Belair’s established star status and previous big‑match experience make her a logical pick for those prioritising the shortest prices in the outright market.

🤼 Bet on Bianca Belair at 10/11 with Sky Bet 🤼

The Queen (Charlotte Flair)

Charlotte Flair is one of the most decorated women in Rumble history. Despite Flair coming in well behind a lot of the favourites, you can never really rule her out when it comes to these big WWE gimmick matches.

Despite Bianca Belair vs Jade Cargill being the likely ‘Mania main event, the opportunity to see Flair vs Cargill or Flair vs Stephanie Vaquer is still pretty decent.

Flair is considered by many as a ‘legacy’ pick for Triple H (Chief Creative Officer of WWE), so the chances of him going back to a favoured pick shouldn’t be disregarded completely.

🤼 Take a chance on Flair at 20/1 with Sky Bet 🤼

Longshots & Value

Rhea Ripley and Roxanne Perez are two of the more credible value selections. Ripley’s proven stardom and experience at the top means she could easily go deep into the elimination chaos, and her odds capture that balance of relevance and potential return.

Perez, still rising through the ranks, is priced attractively thanks to her build over the last year with Judgment Day. However, it’s probably more likely that we’ll see Perez vs someone like Liv Morgan at WrestleMania in April, so Ripley is the better pick here.

🤼 Bet on Rhea Ripley at 15/2 or Roxanne Perez at 12/1 with Paddy Power 🤼

Wildcard

Tiffany Stratton sits in true wildcard territory. Her odds are generous compared with the core favourites, and they reflect the fact that she has been out of action since early November and there’s no clear path for her to ‘Mania right now.

This type of pick works well for speculative stakes when you want exposure to a narrative surprise rather than the expected outcome of Belair, because she is expected to be making her long awaited comeback in Riyadh.

🤼 Back the Stratton wildcard at 4/1 with Paddy Power 🤼

British/Irish interest

Lyra Valkyria is a strong British/Irish interest pick when it comes to the women’s Rumble. Her inclusion in the outright winner markets offers UK punters a (somewhat) national angle at reasonable odds.

However, she’s not expected to win the match and will probably be facing Bayley at the event in some sort of gimmick match.

🤼 Bet on Valkyria at 22/1 with Sky Bet 🤼

Other top bookmakers in the UK also offer odds for the Riyadh Royal Rumble, for winner and alternate markets.

UK WWE betting markets

Now that we’ve covered the key Royal Rumble odds for both men and women, it’s worth exploring some of the most popular UK WWE betting markets you can use to build your bets and manage risk around the event.

UK bookies offer a range of options beyond simply picking a winner, and understanding these markets helps you choose smarter wagers.

Outright winner

This is the most straightforward market, as you’ll be backing who you think will win the Royal Rumble match outright. Odds for this market are offered for each entrant in both the men’s and women’s matches on most UK books like Paddy Power, Sky Bet, Betfair and Betfred.

It is often the most liquid market with the tightest odds on favourites such as Bianca Belair in the women’s match and Roman Reigns in the men’s for 2026.

Most eliminations

This market allows you to bet on who will score the most eliminations during the Royal Rumble. It rewards wrestlers who stay in the match for a long time and dominate the action.

Odds for most eliminations often differ significantly from outright winner markets and can offer better value on physically dominant performers like Bron Breakker or Brock Lesnar.

Final Four placement

Betting on final four placement means backing a wrestler to be one of the last four remaining in the Royal Rumble. This market is a good alternative if you like a competitor’s chances to go deep but do not expect them to actually win the match.

Royal Rumble historical trends

• The most common winners come from the later entry numbers. Historically, about 56% of winners have come from entries #21-#30 in men’s Royal Rumbles.
• Certain individual entry numbers have stood out. #27 has produced four winners, making it one of the most successful spots historically. Other numbers like #30, #24 and ironically #1 have also produced multiple winners over the years.
• The average winning entry number across all Royal Rumbles is around #19, suggesting typical winners emerge from the second half of the match rather than the early positions.
• Only a few wrestlers have won from the very first position, underlining how statistically rare it is to endure the entire match. Even so, stars like Shawn Michaels have managed it.
• Stone Cold Steve Austin holds the record for most Royal Rumble wins with three victories (1997, 1998, 2001), an important trend for fans watching to see if anyone could potentially beat the record at some point.
• From a British perspective, The British Bulldog nearly won the 1995 Royal Rumble when he was one of the final two competitors before being eliminated by Shawn Michaels. That near‑win remains one of the most memorable performances by a British star in Rumble history, just behind Drew McIntyre, who won the match in 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic forced lockdowns across the globe.

Royal Rumble 2026 final verdict & betting tip

When you’re weighing up your bets for Royal Rumble 2026, there are genuinely sensible options for both cautious punters and those chasing stronger returns. For a safe bet, the markets clearly favour Bianca Belair to win the Women’s Royal Rumble.

Her odds‑on status in UK books reflects strong confidence from bookmakers that she could emerge victorious and earn a WrestleMania title shot against, more than likely, Jade Cargill. 

On the men’s side, Roman Reigns remains a leading favourite, often priced short in outright winner markets, supported by his historic main‑event role and the potential narrative of him facing CM Punk in the main event of WrestleMania this year.

For those looking for smart value, consider contenders like Bron Breakker or Sami Zayn in the men’s market, whose prices are longer but realistic given their recent momentum and current positioning on the card. A deeper run from either could be rewarded well if you back them as an acca.

Similarly, in the women’s match Rhea Ripley offers enhanced value at bigger odds if you think WWE may spotlight a different championship contender, but she is expected to be in a Women’s Tag Title match at ‘Mania, so you’re best looking at the men’s match for the potential outside winner!

🏆 Place your bets now for Belair and Breakker to win at 17/4 with Sky Bet 🏆

📺 How to watch Royal Rumble 2026

• Date/Time: Saturday, January 31, 2026; 7:00 PM GMT (Main Show) / 6:00 PM GMT (Kick-off)
• Location: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• TV/Streaming: Netflix, TNT Sports Box Office

第 39 屆年度皇家大賽將於本週末重返沙特阿拉伯。

利雅得阿卜杜拉國王金融區將舉辦這一備受期待的活動。

3

這是皇家大賽首次在北美以外的地區舉行。

當晚將舉行男子和女子比賽，每場比賽都有 30 名摔跤手角逐世界冠軍。

另一項首次是，每場比賽的獲勝者都可以選擇在 WrestleMania 42 上挑戰哪個世界冠軍。

男子比賽的勝利者可以挑戰 Raw 的世界重量級冠軍或 SmackDown 無可爭議的 WWE 冠軍。

這些頭銜目前分別由 CM Punk 和 Drew McIntyre 持有。

與此同時，Stephanie Vaquer 的 Raw 女子世界冠軍賽和 Jade Cargill 舉辦的 SmackDown WWE 女子冠軍賽是最終女子選手的選擇。

世界冠軍賽將於 4 月在拉斯維加斯的 WrestleMania 42 舉行。

去年的皇家大賽上，夏洛特·弗萊爾 (Charlotte Flair) 和傑伊·烏索 (Jey Uso) 獲勝。