The 39th edition of WWE Royal Rumble will take place on Jan. 31 at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
While WWE is now frequently hosting events in Saudi, the Jan. 31 showpiece event will be the first time that the first traditional Royal Rumble will be taking place outside of North America. Royal Rumble will be WWE’s 14th marquee event that will be hosted in the West Asian country.
There is always a buzz around Royal Rumble as the winner of the Royal Rumble match features in either the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match or the WWE Championship match of that year’s WrestleMania.
The Royal Rumble has been synonymous with high-profile returns, as some of WWE’s biggest names make their way back to the ring. These shock comebacks remain a hallmark of the Royal Rumble, consistently sending the crowd and fellow wrestlers into a frenzy.
Royal Rumble: Riyadh is going to be no different as there are speculations that some top wrestlers could be marking their return to WWE. As we buildup to the mega event here is a look at some of the names who are expected to make a comeback this year.
1. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho has completed a successful stint at All Elite Wrestling. The American-Canadian wrestler is 55 and very likely in the fag end of his professional career. So there will be no better way for Jericho to bid farewell to professional wrestling than making a comeback in WWE. Jericho could kick-start a farewell tour in 2026 and for him, there could be no better place than Saudi to get the ball rolling. After all, Saudi was the place where he last appeared in WWE.
2. Jeff Hardy
The Hardy Boyz are the reigning TNA World Tag Team Champions, but speculations are rife that the younger sibling can be set for a blockbuster return to WWE at the Royal Rumble. Jeff Hardy’s trademark high-flying, death-defying moves in Saudi Arabia would be enough to spark an uproar inside the arena.
3. LA Knight
Multiple reports suggest that LA Knight’s grandstand return at Royal Rumble is on the cards. Several WWE fans have noted that the promotional materials of Royal Rumble displayed in and around the arena have carried a bold “Yeah!” with them.
WWE fans know very well that “Yeah!” is LA Knight’s catchphrase. LA Knight is one of WWE’s most popular babyfaces, and reports suggest he could be set to return to avenge the attack by The Vision last month.
4. Bianca Belair
On the women’s side, Bianca Belair is expected to mark her return. The 36-year-old has been out of action for almost a year as she fractured her finger at WrestleMania 41. The upcoming Royal Rumble is the perfect stage for The EST to mark her return.
5. Paige
Paige quit All Elite Wrestling in early 2025 and hasn’t made any prominent public appearance since then. Paige is a two-time Divas champion and inaugural NXT women’s champion. Considering that she was forced to retire from the ring in the days leading up to the first-ever women’s Rumble in 2018, the upcoming Royal Rumble is the perfect stage for her to make her grand comeback to WWE.
