Ex-WWE Champoin’s Absence From 2026 Royal Rumble Confirmed

WWE Royal Rumble takes place this Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Several male and female wrestlers have officially confirmed their entry in their respective divisions.

On the latest episode of Raw, Finn Balor tried entering himself as a participant, only to be informed by general manager Adam Pearce that all the slots in the men’s Royal Rumble match had been filled.

While appearing dejected, Balor vowed to turn things around for himself. In the main event match, CM Punk clashed with AJ Styles, defending his World Heavyweight Championship.

Just when it looked like the bout had reached its business end, The Prince showed up to attack Punk, causing a No-Contest.

He continued to viciously attack the champion and hit three Coup de Grace finishers on him.

Just when the fans thought Finn Balor was turning babyface, his actions signaled quite the opposite. It remains to be seen whether this attack culminates in something last-minute at the Royal Rumble.

Grayson Waller To Miss 2026 WWE Royal Rumble

Another superstar who has suffered a Royal Rumble setback is Grayson Waller.

In his time with the WWE, Waller has competed in one Royal Rumble match, which was during the 2024 edition. He appeared at #3 and was eliminated by Carmelo Hayes.

During his TV segments on Raw, he appears alongside The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, although he is not an official part of the faction.

According to a report by PWInside Elite, Waller will take part in several NXT live events in the United States scheduled around the same time as the Royal Rumble.

On January 29 and 30, NXT shows are scheduled in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Nashville, respectively. On the day of the PLE, which is January 31, a show will take place in Alabama.

Elsewhere, Waller’s former tag team partner, Austin Theory, who is now a part of The Vision, was added to the 30-man match on the latest episode of WWE Raw.