The field for the Men’s and Women’s WWE Royal Rumble matches have been nearly filled with many stars being announced for both bouts.
Looking at the SmackDown roster, there are a number of names who could potentially pick up the win to punch their ticket for WrestleMania 42.
Several SmackDown talents will be pursuing their chance to headline “The Show of Shows” from Las Vegas, Nevada this April.
Here are eight WWE SmackDown stars to potentially win Royal Rumble 2026.
8. Cody Rhodes
On the January 9 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Drew McIntyre defeated Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell Match to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.
The following week, McIntyre announced that he added a clause to the contract for the match that made sure Rhodes did not get an automatic rematch.
Because of this clause, Rhodes had only one choice and declared for the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
“The American Nightmare” could make history by joining Stone Cold Steve Austin to become only the second man to ever win three Royal Rumbles this year.
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7. Jordynne Grace
Since getting called up from WWE NXT to the main roster, Jordynne Grace has made her home on Friday Night SmackDown.
Upon arriving on the blue brand, Grace confronted WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill and has been calling her out for her lack of title defenses since becoming champion.
Looking to earn her opportunity at the gold, “The Juggernaut” declared herself for the Women’s Royal Rumble Match and feels like someone who has to be looked at as a threat to win.
To set up this showdown with Cargill, Grace could outlast the 29 other competitors to win her first Royal Rumble and go on to face the WWE Women’s Champion at WrestleMania 42.
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6. Trick Williams
Ever since getting called up to the main roster, Trick Williams has been one of the breakout stars on Friday Night SmackDown.
Connecting with the audience and receiving huge crowd reactions, Williams’ popularity has soared and seen him become a main event level talent.
After coming up short in the #1 Contender’s four-way match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Williams could get another shot to earn his first opportunity at the Undisputed WWE Championship by winning the Men’s Royal Rumble.
Outlasting 29 other stars, Trick Williams could truly break out in a major way by winning the Rumble and shocking the world by going on to headline WrestleMania 42 this April.
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5. Randy Orton
Randy Orton still remains one of the biggest stars in all of WWE today despite being in the company for the past 23 years.
Like Trick Williams, Orton failed to win the #1 Contender’s four-way match at the January 24 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Coming off this loss, Orton should be another individual who has to be viewed as a favorite to win the Men’s Royal Rumble Match on January 31.
Making history and joining elite company with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Orton could become the second man to ever win three Royal Rumbles and nearly a decade after his last victory.
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4. Tiffany Stratton
At the November 1 edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Jade Cargill defeated Tiffany Stratton to become the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Since this loss, Stratton has been absent from WWE programming, recovering from an undisclosed injury.
Heading into WWE Royal Rumble 2026, rumors have circulated that Stratton could be returning in the titular bout at the January 31 PLE.
Stratton returning and winning the Rumble would be another massive accolade to add to the growing resume for her young career.
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3. Bianca Belair
Another odds-on favorite to win the Women’s Royal Rumble Match is Bianca Belair.
Following WrestleMania 41, “The E.S.T. of WWE” has been sidelined with a broken knuckles injury that has forced her to be out of action for the past nine months.
Belair is one of the biggest and most impressive female stars to ever step foot in a WWE ring and has won a Royal Rumble back in 2021.
Joining Charlotte Flair as a two-winner of the match, Belair feels like someone who could return to punch her ticket for WrestleMania 42 with a win in the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble Match.
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2. Jacob Fatu
On the January 9 episode of SmackDown, Jacob Fatu made his return to WWE after being sidelined following a backstage attack in October 2025.
Fatu’s return led to Drew McIntyre defeating Cody Rhodes to win the Undisputed WWE Championship. Since then, Fatu and Rhodes have been at odds with one another.
Following the arena-wide brawl at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, it feels highly likely that Rhodes and Fatu will get their hands on one another again at WWE Royal Rumble 2026.
Fatu winning this year’s Rumble would clearly be the biggest win of his career where he could go on to headline WrestleMania 42 and potentially win the Undisputed WWE Championship for the first time.
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1. Roman Reigns
After being out of action since WWE Survivor Series 2025, Roman Reigns announced his entry in the Royal Rumble on the January 23 edition of Friday Night SmackDown via video package.
Reigns has remained out of the title picture since losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 in 2024.
Following such a lengthy absence from the title scene, it would make sense if Reigns won the Royal Rumble to once again headline another WrestleMania this April.
Overcoming 29 other competitors, Reigns could erase the memory of his first Royal Rumble Match back in 2015 by winning this year and advancing to face a world champion in the main event of WrestleMania 42.
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