The Road to WrestleMania 42 officially kicked off in emphatic fashion at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where WWE Royal Rumble 2026 delivered a night of seismic shifts and career-defining moments. From Roman Reigns reclaiming his throne to Liv Morgan completing a miracle run, the premium live event blended veteran authority with emotional breakthroughs to redraw the WWE title picture heading into Las Vegas.
The Big winners: Who won at WWE Royal Rumble 2026?
The event was headlined by four high-stakes matches that determined the championship trajectory for the coming year.
Liv Morgan- Women’s Royal Rumble Match winner
Roman Reigns- Men’s Royal Rumble Match winner
Gunther- Defeated AJ Styles (Career vs. career Match)
Drew McIntyre- Defeated Sami Zayn (Retained Undisputed WWE Championship)
Match Highlights: A Night of Tears and triumphs
The Women’s Rumble: Liv Morgan’s miracle
In a match featuring heavy hitters like Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan proved her resilience. Entering mid-way through the pack, she survived the high-flying innovations of Sol Ruca and a powerhouse showing by Lash Legend. In the final moments, Morgan outmaneuvered Tiffany Stratton on the ring apron, sending “The Center of the Universe” to the floor to punch her ticket to WrestleMania.
The Men’s Rumble: The Tribal Chief returns to the throne
For those asking who won at WWE Royal Rumble 2026 for the men, the answer is the “Original Tribal Chief.” Roman Reigns put on a clinical performance, navigating a field that included a shocking return by Brock Lesnar. The match came down to a stiff showdown between Reigns and Gunther. After a grueling exchange of strikes, Reigns delivered a massive Spear to eliminate the Ring General and secure his main event spot in Las Vegas.
The End of an Era: Gunther vs AJ Styles
The most emotional match of the night saw Gunther end the legendary career of AJ Styles. In a technical “Career vs. Career” battle, Styles gave everything he had left in the tank. However, Gunther’s brute force prevailed, locking in a submission that forced Styles to pass out. Following the bell, the crowd showered Styles with “Thank you, AJ” chants as he left his gloves in the ring.
Title Defence: McIntyre silences the underdog
Drew McIntyre successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn in a physical war. Despite Zayn connecting with a Helluva Kick that nearly secured the upset, McIntyre’s “claymore country” instincts kicked in. Two consecutive Claymore Kicks were enough to keep the title around the waist of the Scottish Warrior.
The Fallout: The Road to WrestleMania 42
With the question of who won at WWE Royal Rumble 2026 settled, all eyes turn to Las Vegas. Roman Reigns now has a direct path to challenge Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed Championship, while Liv Morgan holds the power to choose her champion.