As the WWE Royal Rumble prepares to kick off today from the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a new report suggest that the card has expanded with additional action. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite, two matches are currently listed internally within WWE as pre-show matches for the event.
The first listed bout features a six-man tag team contest seeing The New Day teaming with Grayson Waller to take on the trio of Shinsuke Nakamura and The Motor City Machine Guns. The second match listed is a tag team encounter between The Wyatt Sicks and The MFTs. While these matches appear on internal lists, Johnson noted that the broadcast status of these bouts remains unclear.
“There’s no word on if they will air for the Countdown Show, or just be for the live audience,” Johnson reported regarding the two potential warm-up matches.
The Road To WrestleMania 42 Begins
The core of the event remains the two Royal Rumble matches, which officially begin the “Road to WrestleMania 42.” The Men’s Royal Rumble match, which guarantees the winner a world championship match at WrestleMania, has a field of confirmed competitors. The list of entrants includes Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Jey Uso, Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Penta, Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Je’Von Evans, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory, Oba Femi, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, Damian Priest, Trick Williams, The Miz, and Ilja Dragunov. This leaves nine spots to be filled by surprise entrants or unannounced roster members.
Women’s Rumble And Championship Stakes
The Women’s Royal Rumble match also features a star-studded lineup vying for a title opportunity at WrestleMania 42. Confirmed participants include 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. There are currently 13 spots remaining to be filled in this contest.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre is set to defend his title against Sami Zayn. In a match carrying immense personal stakes, Gunther will face AJ Styles with a career-altering stipulation attached: Styles must retire if he loses the match.
