The annual **Royal Rumble** event is one of WWE’s most exciting shows, largely due to the tradition of surprise entrants in its signature battle royal matches. However, any surprises planned for the Royal Rumble next year may not be much of a surprise by the time the show happens.
According to a report from Bryan Alvarez, the location of the 2026 event is the primary cause for concern. With WWE’s annual event taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this coming January, any surprises set to take place on the show would be logistically difficult to keep under wraps.
“There is a feeling that we might not get Royal Rumble surprises this year if only for the fact that sneaking people into Saudi Arabia will be a lot harder,” Alvarez writes. The logistics of coordinating international travel, visas, and hotel accommodations for a secret guest are far more complex than hiding someone domestically.
Alvarez suggests a potential alternative for where fans might see these big moments. “Most likely surprises would take place the week prior at SNME,” he notes.
This aligns with WWE’s recent scheduling announcements. The company confirmed over the weekend that it will be heading to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for a January edition of **Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME)**. This show will take place just one week prior to Royal Rumble weekend.
The Royal Rumble itself will be held for the first time ever in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking another major international stadium show for the company.
Surprises are a fundamental and commonplace part of both the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches, often serving as the most talked-about moments of the night. These entrants can range from returning legends to main roster comebacks from injury, or even crossover appearances from other promotions.
### Notable Surprises from Last Year’s Royal Rumble
Last year’s Royal Rumble event in January 2025 highlighted just how important these surprises can be. The show featured the returns of Alexa Bliss and WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. It also included shocking appearances from streamer iShowSpeed, Joe Hendry from TNA, and Jordynne Grace.
Grace’s appearance was particularly noteworthy, as she had previously appeared in a Royal Rumble as the TNA Knockouts Champion but entered the 2025 match having just officially signed with WWE.
If Alvarez’s report holds true, WWE may opt to use the Montreal Saturday Night’s Main Event as the stage for these big returns. This would allow the company to generate buzz and add confirmed star power to the Rumble matches themselves, rather than relying on the element of surprise at the event in Riyadh.
### Official Dates and Locations
WWE has officially confirmed the dates for its upcoming international events:
– **Saturday Night’s Main Event:** Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
– **Royal Rumble:** Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
This scheduling could mark a new approach to surprise appearances, given the added challenges of international logistics.
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https://www.newsweek.com/sports/wrestling/wwe-fans-may-face-disappointment-with-2026-royal-rumble-10988114
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