In a thrilling display of strength and strategy, Roman Reigns emerged victorious in the 2026 WWE Men’s Royal Rumble, securing his second career win in this prestigious event—his first since 2015. But here’s where it gets controversial: Reigns’ triumph came at the expense of Gunther, who was the last superstar eliminated. Gunther has now reached the final three in three of the last four Rumbles (2023, 2024, and 2026) but has yet to claim the title—a fact that has fans and critics alike debating whether he’s the unluckiest superstar or simply overdue for a win. And this is the part most people miss: Gunther entered the Rumble at No. 30, just hours after defeating AJ Styles in a career-ending retirement match, adding an extra layer of drama to his near-miss.
With this victory, Reigns earns a shot at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, where he’ll face either WWE Champion Drew McIntyre or WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. The stakes are higher than ever, and the wrestling world is buzzing with speculation about who will emerge as the ultimate champion. But let’s take a step back—did you know Reigns is now the 10th superstar to win the Men’s Royal Rumble twice? He joins an elite group that includes legends like Batista, Brock Lesnar, and John Cena. Yet, Stone Cold Steve Austin remains the only superstar to win it three times—a record that still stands unchallenged. Thought-provoking, isn’t it?
The 2026 Royal Rumble wasn’t just about Reigns and Gunther, though. The match was packed with highlights, including the WWE debut of Royce Keys (formerly Powerhouse Hobbs), appearances from AAA’s Mr. Iguana and La Parka, and a heated showdown between El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and the ‘Original’ El Grande Americano (Chad Gable). Oba Femi and Roman Reigns tied for the most eliminations with five each, while Je’Von Evans earned the Iron Man title for his endurance. Speaking of eliminations, here’s the full breakdown of the match entrants and their fates:
- Oba Femi (eliminated 18th by Brock Lesnar)
- Bron Breakker (eliminated first by Oba Femi)
- Solo Sikoa (eliminated third by Oba Femi)
- Rey Mysterio (eliminated fourth by Oba Femi)
- Rusev (eliminated second by Oba Femi)
- Matt Cardona (eliminated fifth by Oba Femi)
- Damian Priest (eliminated 10th by Royce Keys)
- Je’Von Evans (eliminated 22nd by Randy Orton)
- Mr. Iguana (eliminated sixth by Trick Williams)
- Trick Williams (eliminated ninth by Cody Rhodes)
- Cody Rhodes (eliminated 24th by Drew McIntyre)
- El Grande Americano (eliminated seventh by ‘Original’ El Grande Americano)
- ‘Original’ El Grande Americano (eliminated eighth by Trick Williams)
- Royce Keys (eliminated 11th by Bronson Reed)
- Austin Theory (eliminated 14th by LA Knight)
- Bronson Reed (eliminated 15th by LA Knight)
- Ilja Dragunov (eliminated 16th by Brock Lesnar)
- La Parka (eliminated 12th by Austin Theory & Bronson Reed)
- Dragon Lee (eliminated 13th by Bronson Reed)
- Logan Paul (eliminated 27th by Roman Reigns)
- LA Knight (eliminated 21st by Cody Rhodes)
- Brock Lesnar (eliminated 19th by Cody Rhodes & LA Knight)
- The Miz (eliminated 20th by Roman Reigns)
- Rey Fenix (eliminated 17th by Brock Lesnar)
- Jey Uso (eliminated 26th by Roman Reigns)
- Roman Reigns (Winner)
- Jacob Fatu (eliminated 25th by Roman Reigns)
- Penta (eliminated 23rd by Gunther)
- Randy Orton (eliminated 28th by Gunther)
- Gunther (eliminated 29th by Roman Reigns)
As we celebrate Reigns’ victory, it’s impossible not to wonder: Is Gunther’s time finally coming, or will he remain the perennial runner-up? And who do you think Reigns will face at WrestleMania—McIntyre or Punk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
