With the WWE Royal Rumble known for surprise returns, it could be that this year’s inaugural edition of the battle royal event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia could be bigger than ever before.
Since there is a big group of top talent still to pull from with ties to WWE, it could make total sense to see a number of former WWE World Champions end up joining the massive match on January 31.
Here are six former WWE World Champions that could make a return at the Royal Rumble 2026.
6. Roman Reigns
While the return of Roman Reigns to WWE is always hotly anticipated, it would seem to make sense that he would be back in WWE ahead of WrestleMania 42.
Likely to make a return at the Royal Rumble 2026 is Roman Reigns who hasn’t been seen in WWE action since Survivor Series WarGames.
With previous reports noting that Reigns was originally planned to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, perhaps Royal Rumble will make it clear who he may actually face.
Able to return in the Royal Rumble match and potentially immediately capture the victory and thereby a main event spot at WrestleMania 42, it will be fascinating to see what shakes out.
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5. Brock Lesnar
Another current WWE star that seems likely to pop-up at the Royal Rumble 2026 is Brock Lesnar.
After having disappeared again after being on the winning Survivor Series WarGames team in November, it would seem that Lesnar could be a solid pick to enter Riyadh’s first Royal Rumble event.
Equally as threatening if he enters at number one as at number thirty, it could certainly be Brock Lesnar’s year to make history in WWE.
Already having won the Rumble twice (in 2003 and again in 2022), if Lesnar were to pick up a third victory, it would align him with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the only men in history to achieve the feat.
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4. Chris Jericho
Since Chris Jericho has seemingly departed AEW (albeit without confirmation of departure from either side), fans continue to pay close attention for clues as to where he might pop up next.
With some thinking he would appear on the first WWE Raw of 2026, he didn’t. With speculation perhaps he was set forthe debut edition of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC Network, Jericho still didn’t appear.
Potentially looking to make a surprise return by way of the Royal Rumble 2026, it would be a very exciting moment in the over-the-top-rope battle royal to see the returning hero.
Presumably returning to WWE as a babyface star, it will be interesting to see if he were to join the Rumble, where potential alliances could emerge.
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3. The Big Show (Paul Wight)
One potential surprise arrival of a former WWE World Champion would be if the Big Show (Paul Wight) entered the match.
While his most recent comments on his AEW contract status back in May 2025 were that he was very much still with AEW, there isn’t a firm end date to his deal publicly known so this one could be a long shot.
Another former WWE World Champion that could be a long shot for an appearance in the Royal Rumble 2026 is Sheamus.
After being removed from the Last Time Is Now tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent due to a shoulder injury, Sheamus later revealed he underwent surgery in late 2025.
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2. JBL
A potential blast from the past that could viably make a major appearance in Riyadh for the Royal Rumble 2026 is former WWE World Champion, JBL.
An interesting tease has already come from John Bradshaw Layfield in 2026 that made fans take note as it seems that he could be actively training for something soon.
After sharing with fans that he’s pain-free and able to train after having stem-cell surgery, JBL even posted a video of himself taking his first bump in over a decade.
Teasing that there could be something big coming in 2026, it would completely make sense to see a special appearance from JBL at the Royal Rumble 2026.
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1. Rob Van Dam
A potential WWE Champion from the past that could make a delightful nostalgic appearance in Riyadh for the event is Rob Van Dam.
Receiving a warm reception whenever he does make surprise appearances in WWE, perhaps RVD could wind up literally in the Royal Rumble 2026 match.
However, if that wasn’t possible there are certainly plenty of young talent that could benefit from having Rob Van Dam appear on-screen alongside them.
With history lending a hand to Je’Von Evans, it could be that the former NXT star’s first Royal Rumble on the main roster could bring along a pal from the past.
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