WWE has reportedly finalized the start time for the 2026 Royal Rumble, and it will be an early wake-up call for some fans in the United States. According to WrestleVotes on Fightful Select, the company has decided on a 2 PM ET start time for the Premium Live Event, which takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The decision comes after some internal debate regarding the best time to air the historic show. Given the time difference, a 2 PM ET start means the event will begin at 10 PM local time in Riyadh. This aligns with the start times of previous Saudi Arabia events like Crown Jewel and Super ShowDown, which typically air in the afternoon for North American viewers.
The 2026 Royal Rumble is set to be a landmark event for WWE as it marks the first time the show has been held outside of North America. The event will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the King Abdullah Financial District as part of Riyadh Season.
This show officially kicks off the Road to WrestleMania 42. The winners of the Men’s and Women’s Royal Rumble matches will earn a championship opportunity of their choosing at the “Show of Shows.” For the first time, winners will have the option to challenge for either the Raw or SmackDown world titles.
Tickets for the event, as well as the preceding episode of SmackDown on January 30, are already on sale.
This is just a snippet of the story. For complete details, please visit Fightful Select at Patreon.com/Fightful.
