Liv Morgan makes history at Royal Rumble 2026: Women's victory and surprises in the match lineup

The WWE event concluded with memorable moments that will go down in wrestling history. Liv Morgan was crowned the winner of the 2026 Royal Rumble women’s match, securing her direct spot at WrestleMania, while in the men’s category, Roman Reigns emerged victorious after an intense battle featuring iconic wrestlers such as La Parka, Rey Mysterio, and other representatives of Mexican lucha. The Royal Rumble is one of the most anticipated shows on WWE’s calendar, serving as the bridge to WrestleMania, the company’s biggest event.

Liv Morgan’s Victory in the Women’s Battle

The women’s division opened the Royal Rumble, and although nine participants were initially confirmed, a total of thirty wrestlers competed for glory. The competition was fierce from the start, with figures like Lola Vice and Candice Lorae being eliminated after strategic clashes against the ropes. One by one, Nile, Nia Jax, Maxxine Dupri, Becky Lynch, and Kiana James fell from the ring, while the intensity inside the ring never waned.

When only three contenders remained — Sol Ruca, Tiffany Stratton, and Liv Morgan — excitement reached its peak. The three were on the verge of elimination more than once, but Morgan demonstrated greater skill. With precise moves, she first took out Ruca and then, in a lightning-fast action, threw Stratton out of the ring. Liv Morgan thus became the winner of the women’s tournament, earning her ticket to WWE’s top competition and establishing herself as one of the company’s standout figures.

The Epic Farewell of AJ Styles

One of the most emotional matches of the night pitted Gunther against AJ Styles, a wrestler whose career spanning over two decades has cemented him as a living legend of the sport. The bout started evenly, with both competitors demonstrating refined technique, although referees called fouls that nearly resulted in disqualifications.

As minutes passed, Gunther took control of the pace. After applying a leg lock, Styles showed signs of fatigue that his opponent capitalized on. Once again pinned to the mat, AJ couldn’t resist a new submission move that sealed his fate. With this loss, the legendary career of AJ Styles came to an end, leaving the arena to applause from the crowd recognizing his contributions to the sport.

Drew McIntyre Takes the Crown: New WWE Champion

The second one-on-one match of the night was for the WWE Championship, with Drew McIntyre facing Sami Zayn. Although Sami started with an advantage, jumping from the third rope to impact his opponent, McIntyre quickly regained control.

The Scottish wrestler delivered a series of powerful strikes, using the environment to his advantage by smashing Zayn’s back against one of the announcer tables. Unable to recover, Sami was subdued and finally defeated. Drew McIntyre claimed the championship belt, marking a significant milestone in this edition of the event.

The Men’s Royal Rumble Battle: Roman Reigns Dominates

The men’s division began with an unusual incident when Bron Breakker, one of the first to enter the ring, was attacked by an anonymous attacker before even reaching the ring. Once inside, he was eliminated quickly, remaining in the arena for only seconds.

As new competitors entered, moments electrified the crowd: the legendary presence of Rey Mysterio Jr. drew an ovation, though his stay was brief. Mexico was represented by multiple lucha figures, including Mr. Iguana, La Parka — in his new version — and Penta Zero Miedo, who was victim of a spectacular RKO executed by Randy Orton.

After the successive elimination of 28 wrestlers, only Gunther and Roman Reigns remained standing. In the final titan showdown, Reigns prevailed, securing his victory in the men’s Royal Rumble and his spot at WrestleMania, where he will defend his supremacy.

Royal Rumble 2026 Card

The full event featured four matches, including two epic Royal Rumble bouts:

• Royal Rumble Match (men’s category)
• Royal Rumble Match (women’s category)
• Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Championship
• AJ Styles vs. Gunther (with the loser’s retirement clause)

Participants in the Men’s Royal Rumble

The men’s Royal Rumble featured the following competitors vying for victory and their ticket to WrestleMania:

• Roman Reigns
• Gunther
• Cody Rhodes
• Rey Mysterio
• Penta Zero Miedo
• Dragon Lee
• Jey Uso
• Solo Sikoa
• Bron Breakker
• Logan Paul
• Austin Theory
• Bronson Reed
• Je’Von Evans
• Oba Femi
• Brock Lesnar
• Randy Orton
• La Parka
• Mr. Iguana
• Drew McIntyre
• The Great American
• Other additional competitors

Women’s Participants in the Royal Rumble

The women’s division included these notable competitors vying for the championship and a spot at WrestleMania:

• Liv Morgan
• Rhea Ripley
• IYO SKY
• Roxanne Perez
• Raquel Rodriguez
• Bayley
• Asuka
• Lyra Valkyria
• Kairi Sane
• Becky Lynch
• Other female roster participants