LIV MORGAN AND BIANCA BELAIR NOW JOINT FAVORITES TO WIN 2026 ROYAL RUMBLE
WWE hits Riyadh! Liv Morgan and Bianca Belair lead the betting odds as the 2026 Women's Royal Rumble takes over Saudi Arabia.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 is coming up, and the women’s Royal Rumble is only in its ninth year—but you wouldn’t know it, looking at the lineup. The 30-woman battle royal feels as stacked as ever.
We’ve already got some big names confirmed, including former champions like Alexa Bliss and Asuka. And, you know how it goes—everyone’s waiting for those surprise returns. Last year, Charlotte Flair entered at No. 27, tossed out four people, and walked away with her second Royal Rumble win.
Honestly, Flair’s win didn’t really lead to much, but this time around, the field is wide open. That alone makes the women’s Rumble one of the most exciting matches on the card. With so many stars possibly coming back and no obvious challenger lined up for either main title, there’s no clear favourite.
Still, if you follow the backstage buzz and those little hints WWE likes to drop, you can start to see who’s got the best shot. Here are the five women everyone’s talking about as possible winners for 2026.
Charlotte Flair, looking back, Flair’s win in 2025 probably wasn’t the best move for her character. It didn’t do “The Queen” any favours, creatively speaking.
But she turned things around, thanks in part to an unexpected but really entertaining team-up with Alexa Bliss. Now, Flair’s one of the top stars in the division, so if she wins again—making it back-to-back and her third overall—it actually feels more earned this time.
Right now, she’s working in the tag division, but here’s the thing: there just aren’t a lot of clear challengers for Jade Cargill, the current SmackDown champ. Flair vs Cargill would be a legit dream match. If WWE can’t come up with something better, don’t be shocked if Flair wins another Rumble.
Becky Lynch, Some folks think Becky Lynch’s Intercontinental Championship win means she’s out of the world title picture for a while. Don’t count on it.
Raw’s Women’s World Champ, Stephanie Vaquer, looks set to hold onto her belt through WrestleMania. She needs someone credible to face, and Lynch is right there. She’s been doing great work, building up new talent like Maxxine Dupri and Lyra Valkyria.
A WrestleMania showdown with Lynch might be exactly what Vaquer needs to reach that next level. The Rumble win could set that up perfectly. Sure, there’s a chance someone like AJ Lee makes a surprise return and eliminates Lynch, but it makes a lot of sense for Lynch to go all the way and challenge Vaquer in Vegas.
Word is, Lynch was one of two big names WWE considered for a spot against Vaquer at WrestleMania 42.
Bianca Belair hasn’t wrestled since last year’s WrestleMania 42. She messed up her finger pretty badly, and it’s kept her out for months.
We haven’t heard much about a return, but she’s still one of the top betting favourites for the Rumble. People figure she’s probably close to being cleared, since she’s been gone so long.
Belair is a natural pick to challenge Vaquer, but honestly, she’d be an even better opponent for Cargill—her old tag partner. Cargill’s expected to keep her title through WrestleMania, so it just lines up: Belair comes back at the Rumble and wins the whole thing.
Rhea Ripley, as I said earlier, WWE considered two major names to face Vaquer at WrestleMania 42: Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley.
Ripley might be the most popular woman in WWE right now. She’s a constant presence on Raw, and you can bet she’ll be front and centre at WrestleMania 42. Lately, she and Iyo Sky turned from rivals into tag champs, but apparently, WWE doesn’t plan for them to keep those belts all the way to WrestleMania.
That probably means Ripley and Sky will split up soon—maybe even during the Rumble, maybe a little later and on good terms. As much as their team has done for the tag division, both belong in singles competition.
Ripley’s clearly headed for a big match at WrestleMania, and another Royal Rumble win is the ticket to get her there.
WWE’s got big plans for Liv Morgan heading into WrestleMania 42. Honestly, it almost feels like a lock at this point—she just checks all the boxes for a Royal Rumble winner. She just came back; fans are wild about her, and she’s got the skills to back it up. Even though she’s technically a heel right now, crowds are cheering for her like she’s the hero, so a face turn might be right around the corner.
Plus, her Judgement Day group looks like it’s about to fall apart. If that happens and they handle it right, Morgan’s popularity could skyrocket even more. She’s already a key player in WWE’s women’s division, and making her the centre of attention seems like the smart move.
Fans have wanted her to win the Royal Rumble for a while now. She’s come close—runner-up twice—but this year feels different. This might finally be the year Liv Morgan gets her big win.
HOW PAUL HEYMAN MANAGES FOUR TOP TIER TALENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY ON WWE RAW
Paul Heyman’s massive backstage influence is revealed as Bron Breakker undergoes emergency surgery before WrestleMania 42.
Word is spreading about just how much pull Paul Heyman really has backstage in WWE.
Sure, everybody sees him on RAW standing next to Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory. But behind the curtain, Heyman’s hand is all over things you’d never guess he touched.
Sean Ross Sapp cleared up the whole “Is Heyman involved with creative?” thing during a Fightful Select Q&A. And the answer? Yes, absolutely. Heyman jumps in with ideas, especially for the talent he’s managing on TV.
You’ll usually find him shaping personalities, tweaking promos, and making sure those stories hit harder. He’s got a reputation for mentoring talent he believes in, too. He doesn’t just offer generic advice; he genuinely invests in these people. At one point, he even joked that WWE sometimes holds back on pushing someone if he’s too publicly supportive. That pretty much says a lot about how much clout he’s got.
Currently, all the drama surrounding Heyman’s on-screen group has fans even more glued to what he’s up to. Remember Seth Rollins? He was leading The Vision until his injury last year left him out of the picture.
Then, at Elimination Chamber, Rollins ripped the mask off and went after Heyman’s crew, zeroing in on Logan Paul. Next thing you know, Rollins is attacking Heyman on RAW, making this rivalry even wilder and turning up the heat.
While all of that unfolded, Heyman spoke out about Bron Breakker’s recent setback. He didn’t sugarcoat anything when he called into Busted Open Radio to talk about Breakker’s hernia surgery. Breakker hurt himself so badly that he needed emergency surgery, and this was right when he was on the verge of a big WrestleMania moment. Did Heyman treat it like a tragedy, though? Not really.
He spun it as fuel for the fire, saying the frustration from being stuck on the sidelines could actually help Breakker come back even stronger. In his eyes, every day away just makes that hunger to return even bigger. With WrestleMania 42 coming up fast in Las Vegas, the real question is whether Breakker will heal up in time to make an impact.
TRIPLE H SIGNALS MAJOR LEADERSHIP SHIFT FOR JADE CARGILL BEFORE WRESTLEMANIA 42
Triple H is subtly signalling a massive leadership role for Jade Cargill, potentially leading a new WWE faction at WrestleMania 42.
This week in WWE, something quietly significant happened, something that might prove more important than it first seemed. As WrestleMania 42 approaches, Paul “Triple H” Levesque has been subtly signalling a larger role for Jade Cargill. No flashy announcements or dramatic reveals, just deliberate messaging around her position that hints at a broader plan.
Jade Cargill has already made her mark as one of WWE’s most commanding figures. Her look, confidence, and sheer presence set her apart from nearly everyone else on the roster. But the latest hints suggest WWE might be gearing up to move her beyond simply dominating in singles competition, potentially into the role of leader of a new faction.
Triple H’s creative approach is known for its long-term thinking. He rarely rushes storylines, preferring to plant seeds well in advance and watch them grow slowly. That same careful energy seems to be guiding Cargill’s current direction. Instead of just focusing on who she’s facing next, the narrative is shifting her toward becoming a central figure within a larger power structure.
This shift matters because WWE has leaned heavily on factions to drive weekly shows these last few years. Groups like The Judgement Day and The Bloodline have reshaped entire divisions by influencing multiple storylines simultaneously. If Cargill is about to join that realm, it speaks volumes about the confidence management has in her.
Leading a faction takes a superstar from being a standout competitor to becoming a cornerstone of storytelling. It means she can shape narratives without stepping into the ring every single week. Allies by her side change the dynamics of rivalries and add new layers to title pursuits.
With WrestleMania 42 just around the corner, WWE is looking for stories with staying power, not just one-night stand moments. A faction launch is a game-changer. If Cargill enters WrestleMania as the foundation of a new faction rather than just a solo competitor, it can send ripples through WWE’s programming for months to come.
Naturally, speculation about who might join this potential group is already swirling. WWE has several women who could fit well alongside Cargill—Naomi with her veteran experience, Shayna Baszler’s intensity and credibility, or an up-and-coming NXT talent eager for the spotlight. There’s also talk of cross-brand storytelling, with Raw and SmackDown boundaries becoming more fluid when the story calls for it. A faction spanning brands could offer fresh creative options and heighten anticipation for major events.
Triple H has made clear that layered, evolving story arcs are his preference since taking creative control. The success of Roman Reigns’ longstanding storyline showed fans appreciate depth and consistency over quick bursts that fade away. Building a faction for Cargill aligns with this philosophy, offering sustained momentum and protecting her aura. Dominant champions can sometimes lose steam when feuds cycle too fast, but a faction provides stability and ongoing relevance.
Even weeks when Cargill might not be active in the ring, her presence could still dominate through faction-driven chaos, territory defence, and storyline influence.
WrestleMania often sets the stage for the year ahead. It’s not just about who wins or loses that night but also what new chapters open up. If Cargill’s faction emerges during or immediately following the event, it could be one of the weekend’s most significant story beats.
Looking at the bigger picture, the card includes Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Drew McIntyre, and on the women’s side, Rhea Ripley has been a central figure. Launching a faction led by Cargill positions her alongside WWE’s top names, reinforcing her status.
Fans have been drawn to Cargill’s matches and charisma more and more. Merchandise sales and media presence suggest WWE sees her as a long-term star. Expanding her into a leadership role taps into that growing momentum.
A new faction also injects unpredictability. Who will join or oppose them? What betrayals lie ahead? These questions drive weekly interest far beyond routine match announcements.
What makes this all intriguing is the subtlety of the rollout. There was no grand speech or bold declaration. Instead, careful cues, strategic positioning, and a shift in tone indicate something is brewing. This feels far more like a well-orchestrated evolution than a sudden surprise.
Triple H rarely reveals his hand in full right away. If we are indeed witnessing the start of Cargill’s faction phase, it’s a sign of thoughtful planning. WWE isn’t just grooming another contender; it’s building a power structure around her. The coming months could see her influence stretch far and wide.