Every year, the Royal Rumble reshapes the WWE landscape in a single night. One win can define a career, launch a WrestleMania main event, or cement a legacy forever. With both the men’s and women’s Rumble matches stacked with elite talent, this year feels especially unpredictable. Still, a few names stand out above the rest. Based on momentum, motivation, and history, here are the top contenders most likely to punch their ticket to WrestleMania.
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Men’s Royal Rumble Predictions
5. Oba Femi
Royal Rumbles are famous for moments, and Oba Femi feels destined to create one. The hype surrounding his WWE debut is massive, and for good reason. As one of the most dominant forces in NXT history, Femi has already proven he can stand toe-to-toe with top-level talent, including Cody Rhodes. If he enters the Rumble match, size and strength alone make him a nightmare. Fresh, unknown, and explosive, Oba Femi has the potential to eliminate half the field and shock the entire WWE Universe.
4. Gunther
Gunther is a terminator in wrestling boots. After forcing John Cena to submit, the logical next step is climbing to the very top of WWE. While his ongoing issues with AJ Styles could complicate things, a focused Ring General is one of the most imposing forces in the company. Long stretches in the Rumble favor Gunther’s brutal efficiency, and few can match his sheer dominance in recent months.
3. Cody Rhodes
At this point, Cody Rhodes and the Royal Rumble feel inseparable. Back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024 already place him in elite company, and now history is calling. With Stone Cold Steve Austin’s legendary three Rumble wins looming, Cody has a chance to tie one of the most iconic records in WWE history. Add fuel to the fire with the fact that Rhodes is still seething after losing the WWE Championship to Drew McIntyre, and you get a dangerous, desperate American Nightmare. Momentum, experience, and narrative all point to Cody being a major threat once again.
2. Bron Breakker
With Bron Breakker, it’s not a question of if; it’s when. He is destined to headline WrestleManias and win Royal Rumbles. The only uncertainty is timing. As of now, Breakker is indefinitely suspended, which could keep him out entirely. But if he enters? He might not just win, he could shatter the elimination record in the process.
1. Roman Reigns
When Roman Reigns declares his intentions, the entire locker room should listen. The Tribal Chief has made it clear that another world title reign is on his mind, and a Royal Rumble victory is the most direct path to reclaiming his throne. What makes Reigns especially terrifying this time around is focus. With Seth Rollins no longer hovering as a constant distraction, Roman can enter the Rumble with tunnel vision. A locked-in, fully motivated Tribal Chief is nearly impossible to eliminate, and his combination of power, ring IQ, and aura makes him one of the most realistic winners in the men’s match.
Women’s Royal Rumble Predictions
5. Rhea Ripley
The women’s division feels incomplete without “Mami” in the title picture. Rhea Ripley hasn’t challenged for a world championship since SummerSlam 2025, and that absence has been noticeable. A Royal Rumble win would immediately restore her aura at the top of the card. Rhea’s power, intimidation, and presence make her nearly impossible to eliminate, and the added intrigue of crossing paths with allies and rivals alike only strengthens her case.
4. Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair returning after more than nine months away would instantly flip the women’s Rumble upside down. A former winner already, Bianca would enter with something to prove after her long absence due to a nagging finger injury. Add in the extra motivation of Jade Cargill currently standing tall on SmackDown, and suddenly the EST has a very personal reason to reclaim her spot at the top. If Bianca’s music hits, she becomes a favorite on the spot.
3. Tiffany Stratton
It’s Tiffy Time — possibly at the perfect moment. Tiffany Stratton has been absent since losing the WWE Women’s Championship in November, making the Royal Rumble an ideal stage for her return. WWE has a clear pattern of rewarding returning stars with Rumble victories, as seen with Charlotte Flair and Cody Rhodes in recent years. Tiffany’s athleticism, confidence, and star power make her a legitimate threat to steal the spotlight and punch her WrestleMania ticket.
2. Iyo Sky
Few superstars can match Iyo Sky bell-to-bell. Arguably the most talented professional wrestler on the planet, Iyo brings unmatched speed, creativity, and awareness to the Rumble environment. What makes her especially compelling this year is motivation. Despite her accolades, a Royal Rumble victory remains a glaring omission from her resume. That hunger, paired with her Hall of Fame-worthy skill set, makes Iyo an incredibly dangerous contender.
1. Liv Morgan
If there’s one woman who understands the chaos of the Royal Rumble better than anyone else, it’s Liv Morgan. Her resume is staggering: over an hour survived last year and runner-up finishes in both 2023 and 2024. You call it bad luck, while I call it experience. Liv has mastered endurance, timing, and survival, the three most important traits in a Rumble match. The “always the bridesmaid” narrative has followed her for years, but this feels like the season where that story finally flips. With unmatched Rumble experience in the women’s division, this could be Liv Morgan’s breakthrough moment.
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