We previewed the WWE Royal Rumble “PLE” from Saudi Arabia. Now, we recap the event with an exclusive conversation about it and more. For lifetime WWE fan Zach Marsh, the Royal Rumble isn’t just another pay-per-view — it’s a yearly measuring stick. It’s where storytelling meets chaos, where the first hints of WrestleMania take shape. After the 2026 Rumble in Saudi Arabia, Marsh walked away with plenty to say. Some moments reminded him of why he’s watched his whole life. Others, he hopes, WWE quickly learns from.
“I was disappointed Bianca didn’t return,” Marsh began. “I said before the match that if Bianca didn’t come back, Liv would win — and I like that outcome. Liv’s earned her moment. I love the Judgment Day women too, and I think Raquel wins Monday so Liv can challenge her.”
That combination, he says, could define the women’s main event scene heading into WrestleMania. If WWE leans into that energy, fans could be in for their strongest women’s storyline in years.
The Women’s Division Is Steering the Ship
For Marsh, the night’s brightest moments came from the women. Despite a few missteps, he calls this division “the pulse of WWE right now.”
“Roxanne’s easily the biggest female star out of all the new NXT call-ups,” he said. “Maybe only Blake and Kendal, still in NXT, can reach that next level. The rest of the group’s good, but Roxanne looks ready to carry the company.”
The women’s match had its flaws, and Saudi Arabia’s crowd wasn’t exactly kind to every competitor. But Marsh says it’s the direction — not the stumbles — that matters.
“I liked how they started the match,” he added. “Then it went a bit off the rails. The Rhea and Becky eliminations were total nonsense. But the finish worked. Way better than last year’s ending.”
For his scorecard, Marsh gave the women’s Rumble 4 out of 5 stars, adding that “the overall women’s road to WrestleMania” sits at 4.5 out of 5 — and climbing.
He hopes WWE keeps the momentum rolling into spring:
“My dream match right now? Liv vs. Raquel for the title. And Bianca returns to face Jade after another Chamber win — that’s box office.”
AJ vs. Gunther Steals the Men’s Show
While the Rumble matches themselves are the brand’s signature, sometimes the night’s best wrestling comes from singles bouts. For Marsh, that was AJ Styles vs. Gunther.
“That match hit all the right notes,” he said. “I get why John tapped to Gunther earlier in the night, but AJ going out fighting was perfect. He’s a global Hall of Famer — WWE, TNA, anywhere he’s ever worked.”
Gunther, he says, is “exactly the heel WWE needs.” Brutal. Relentless. The type of villain who makes other stars look better. Marsh’s grade? 4 out of 5 again — proving you don’t need surprises to tell a great story.
“Not sure who Gunther fights at Mania,” he said. “But his road there’s going to be fun to watch.”
Drew, Sami, and the Crowd’s Divide
It’s rare for any Royal Rumble card to land every match perfectly, and the Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn bout fell into the “middle of the road” zone.
“Wasn’t bad, wasn’t great,” Marsh said. “I figured Drew would win, and he did. I just thought Sami might come back later and win the Rumble. Still, I like Drew as champion. Feels earned.”
He scored the match a 2.5 out of 5 — creditable given the card’s pacing but dwarfed by the night’s standout performances.
The Men’s Rumble: Safe, Predictable, and Too Familiar
Every Rumble has its surprises. This one, Marsh says, just didn’t have enough.
“I didn’t love it,” he said bluntly. “Thought Finn and Sami would sneak in somehow. Once it got down to the final six, it was way too safe. Predictable that Roman would win.”
Roman Reigns might be the face of modern wrestling, but Marsh believes WWE leaned too far on the familiar.
“Roman’s one of the best of this generation,” he admitted. “But let’s be honest — they played it safe. You could tell that’s the finish Saudi wanted, not necessarily the fans.”
There were still sparks of fun. Powerhouse Hobbs impressed, and watching Brock Lesnar tossed from the ring got one of Marsh’s biggest reactions.
“Gross that he was even there,” Marsh said, laughing, “but seeing him get thrown out mid-‘yeet’ chant? That ruled.”
The moment underlined a key frustration for fans — aging stars still command the spotlight.
“The last three women were born in ’94, ’99, and ’99,” Marsh pointed out. “The last three men were ’80, ’85, and ’87. That’s a problem.”
That imbalance, he believes, keeps WWE from feeling as fresh as it could. For Marsh, it’s time the main event picture passed the torch.
The Details Fans Caught
Even with some missed opportunities, Marsh loved the smaller storylines that deep fans track.
He spotted Bron Breaker’s entrance attack and suspects that Adam Pearce was behind it. He also appreciated the AAA cameos — but would have booked them differently.
“Cool seeing La Parka again, especially being a WCW guy,” he said. “I still think those spots should’ve gone to other people.”
The 2026 card, in his eyes, wasn’t a disaster — just inconsistent. His final score: 3.25 out of 5, slightly below 2025’s show, but anchored by a better women’s Rumble and a world-class showing from Gunther and AJ.
Exit: Looking Down the Road to WrestleMania
As WWE’s biggest stage approaches, Marsh’s voice echoes what many fans are thinking. There’s magic on the women’s side, a few veterans still stealing the spotlight, and the need for new faces to break through.
“It wasn’t the best Rumble ever,” Marsh said. “But if they build off what worked — especially with the women — WrestleMania could be electric.”
For a company built on moments, that’s all fans like Zach Marsh want: memorable stories that remind them why they tune in every year when that countdown clock hits zero.
