By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Royal Rumble
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at King Abdullah Financial District
Streamed live January 31, 2026, on ESPN Unlimited (and Netflix internationally)
Michael Cole checked in on commentary and narrated backstage and arrival shots… Paul Levesque narrated a Royal Rumble video package… Cole and Wade Barrett checked in from their ringside broadcast table. They introduced the Arabic broadcast team… Ring announcer Mark Nash ran through the rules of the Royal Rumble match and then introduced the first two entrants…
1. Women’s Royal Rumble match for a world championship match at WrestleMania 42. The advertised entrants were Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley, Roxanne Perez, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Asuka, Chelsea Green, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Lash Legend, Nia Jax, Jordynne Grace, Giulia, Maxxine Dupri, and Becky Lynch, leaving 13 open spots.
The No. 1 entrant was Charlotte Flair. The No. 2 entrant was Alexa Bliss. The graphic at the bottom of the screen listed the number of active wrestlers, the number of eliminated entrants, and the number of the next entrant. The female wrestlers wore gear that covered their arms and legs. Bliss teased Sister Abigail. Flair returned the favor by taking her down and teasing a Figure Eight. They stood up and hugged. Bliss hopped on Flair’s back, and then they looked at the stage. “Come on,” Flair yelled.
The No. 3 entrant was Kiana James. Flair and Bliss roughed up James.
The No. 4 entrant was Nia Jax. The broadcast team noted that she had issues with the other three entrants.
Powell’s POV: The seats off the main floor have lights. There’s one section that has the WWE logo. I know they’re the new thing in arenas and stadiums, but these suck because the hard camera shot makes it look like the seats off the main floor are empty.
The No. 5 entrant was Ivy Nile. She performed German suplexes and put James down with a DDT.
The No. 6 entrant was Lola Vice. She entered the ring and threw kicks at all of her opponents. “She can shake it like a Polaroid picture,” Cole said. The wrestlers all ganged up on Jax.
The No. 7 entrant was Candice LeRae. She smiled when she came face-to-face with Jax. They both took shots at Nile and then hugged.
The No. 8 entrant was Jordynne Grace. “It’s not over until you win,” a male voice said before her entrance music played. Grace ran to the ring and worked over a few wrestlers. Grace shoved Vice and LeRae over the top rope to eliminate both wrestlers. Grace followed up by eliminating Nile. Jax and Bliss ended up on the apron. Flair threw a running big boot to eliminate Jax. Flair tried to save Bliss, but she also fell to the floor.
The No. 9 entrant was Becky Lynch. She fought with Flair and nearly eliminated her. They went to ringside under the bottom rope.
The No. 10 entrant was Sol Ruca. Zaria will not be happy. Ruca hit a springboard 360 clothesline on two opponents to enter the ring. She followed up by putting Lynch down with a facebuster and then superkicked her.
The No. 11 entrant was Roxanne Perez. She performed double knees on the back of Ruca. Perez slapped Lynch, who returned the favor. They had a slap fest before Lynch put her down with an exploder suplex.
The No. 12 entrant was Maxxine Dupri. She went right after Lynch.
The No. 13 entrant was Nattie. Cole said it’s not Natalya, it’s Nattie. Dupri was waiting for her. Dupri caught Nattie in an ankle lock, but she escaped. Lynch put Dupri down with a Manhandle Slam. She picked up Dupri and eliminated her. Lynch put her arm around Nattie, but then tried and failed to eliminate her. Nattie smiled and then tossed Lynch over the ropes to eliminate her.
The No. 14 entrant was Liv Morgan. Cole said she finished second twice and third last year. Perez and Bliss high-fived and then hugged.
The No. 15 entrant was Lash Legend. She performed a double chokeslam on Bliss and Perez. Ruca went for a springboard move, but Legend put her down with a big boot. Legend pointed at the WrestleMania 42 sign that was in the usual WrestleMania sign location. Legend ended up on the apron and had Grace on her shoulders. Legend tossed Grace to the floor to eliminate her.
The No. 16 entrant was Zelina. Legend got the better of her, but she was unable eliminate her.
The No. 17 entrant was Raquel Rodriguez. Bliss and Perez teamed up on Legend and then James. All three wrestlers ended up on the apron. Rodriguez hit James with a big boot to knock her off the apron for the elimination. Bliss and Perez returned to the ring and hugged Rodriguez.
The No. 18 entrant was Chelsea Gree. Alba Fyre came out with Green and stood at ringside. Green offered a handshake to Bliss, who huddled with Perez and Rodriguez before slapping Green’s hand away. Green fired back with a big slap to Morgan’s face. Fyre entered the ring to help Green, but Rodriguez tossed her over the top rope.
The No. 19 entrant was Giulia. She tossed Green over the top rope, but Fyre got down on all fours and had Green stand on her back to avoid elimination.
The No. 20 entrant was Iyo Sky. Cole called her the best wrestler on the planet today.
Oh come on Flair 1 and Bliss 2?!
So far this venue looks like it’s from the pandemic era or AEW attempting to run an arena!
This is brutal so far. 15 entrants in and everything just looks clunky and slow.
Kiana James has stood out as one of the better parts of things while Maxine Dupri looked like skinny Nia Jax