A new report has come out regarding the match card structure for the 2026 Royal Rumble. According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is currently planning for the show to feature only four matches.
Meltzer reported that the card will consist of the two Royal Rumble matches and two championship matches. This format would make it one of the shortest cards in Royal Rumble history in terms of the number of matches, though the Rumble matches themselves typically last over an hour each.
Writing in the Observer, Meltzer stated, “The current plan for Royal Rumble is a four-match show with two title matches and the two Rumble matches. The two matches are not finalized even though it’s just under two months away. WrestleVotes first reported this and we confirmed that as the current plan.”
This move aligns with the strategy often seen under the creative leadership of Triple H, who has generally favored smaller cards for PLEs to allow matches more time. However, a four-match card is still lower than the usual five or six matches seen at recent major events. The report noted that while the structure is set, the specific title matches have not been locked in yet.
The 2026 Royal Rumble is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks the first time a traditional Royal Rumble event will be held outside of North America. While the title matches are not confirmed, WrestleVotes has reported that Bron Breakker is currently the internal favorite to win the Men’s Royal Rumble match, though plans can always change. Breakker is currently set to face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship on the January 5 episode of Raw.
