5 Dream Feuds That Could Start At WWE Royal Rumble 2026
The WWE Royal Rumble has always been the perfect stage to ignite major rivalries, and the 2026 edition could be no different.
With surprise returns, long-awaited dream matches, and unresolved storylines, WWE has several opportunities to kick off marquee feuds on one of its biggest nights of the year. Here are some dream feuds that could begin at this year’s Royal Rumble.
#1 Bianca Belair vs. Jade Cargill
Bianca Belair has been out of action since suffering a finger injury at WrestleMania 41, but she is rumored to make her return at the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Last year, Belair was involved in a storyline with Jade Cargill and Naomi that evolved from friendship into rivalry. While Jade Cargill and Naomi were able to conclude their story, the issue between Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill was never truly resolved.
If Belair returns at the WWE Royal Rumble, she could cross paths with Jade Cargill in multiple ways. Jade could enter the Women’s Royal Rumble match herself and eliminate Belair, or she could interfere from the outside and cost Bianca a victory by eliminating her despite not being an official participant. Either scenario would immediately ignite a dream feud that could build toward a major showdown at WrestleMania 42.
#2 Brock Lesnar vs. Gunther
Gunther has already been announced for the Men’s Royal Rumble match, while Brock Lesnar is heavily rumored to make his return in the same match. Brock Lesnar vs. Gunther has been a dream match fans have wanted to see for years, and WWE previously had plans for the bout at WrestleMania 40 before those plans fell through.
With rumors suggesting Lesnar could retire at SummerSlam in his home-state of Minnesota, Gunther has emerged as a strong candidate to be the one to retire The Beast. WWE could begin building this long-term rivalry at the WWE Royal Rumble by positioning the two against each other during the match, then slowly escalating the feud all the way to SummerSlam.
#3 Brock Lesnar vs. Bron Breakker
Similarly, fans have also been eager to see Brock Lesnar face Bron Breakker. Lesnar is the OG Beast of WWE, while Breakker represents the new generation’s dominant force. A clash between the two would be a purely physical spectacle, centered around raw strength and sheer power.
If both men collide in the WWE Royal Rumble, even a brief confrontation could be enough to plant the seeds for a future rivalry. The visual of these two juggernauts going toe-to-toe would instantly capture fan attention and establish Bron Breakker further as a top-level threat.
#4 Bron Breakker vs. Roman Reigns
Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman screwed Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. When Reigns attempted to retaliate, he was stopped by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. While Reigns managed to get his revenge on Bronson Reed last year, his issues with Bron Breakker were not fully resolved.
The Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia could serve as the moment where Reigns and Breakker finally cross paths again. A confrontation or elimination involving the two could reignite their feud and set the stage for a marquee clash at WrestleMania 42.
#5 Chris Jericho vs. LA Knight
Chris Jericho and LA Knight are both expected to participate in the WWE Royal Rumble match, and a feud between them would be built as much on the microphone as it would be in the ring. Both men are elite talkers, and a rivalry between them would thrive on verbal exchanges, mind games, and crowd interaction.
A brief encounter in the WWE Royal Rumble could spark a war of mic showmanship that carries into weekly television. Even legends like Bully have publicly endorsed Jericho vs. Knight as a dream feud, making it one that WWE could really explore.