The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble is now in the rearview mirror, and it delivered the excitement it promised. We are now officially on the Road to WrestleMania, with Liv Morgan and Roman Reigns punching their tickets to The Show of Shows. They outlasted 29 other superstars in their respective Royal Rumble matches.
The 30-person classics always provide an opportunity for the creative team to feature unexpected staredowns that could set the stage for major bouts in the near future.
That said, in this listicle, we will look at five first-time matches WWE must book after WWE Royal Rumble 2026.
#5. Liv Morgan vs. Sol Ruca vs. Tiffany Stratton
Liv Morgan, Sol Ruca, and Tiffany Stratton were the final three women in the Royal Rumble match. It was the first time the trio faced one another inside a ring. Despite this, they delivered top-notch performances in the squared circle.
Ruca, who made her Royal Rumble debut that night, went for a leap and was eliminated by a returning Stratton. Immediately after, Morgan hit The Buff Barbie with ObLivion to win the Women’s Royal Rumble Match.
Given their impressive collective performance, the WWE Universe now wants to see the trio run it back in a standard match without eliminations.
#4. Roxanne Perez vs. Liv Morgan vs. Raquel Rodriguez
After Liv Morgan eliminated Raquel Rodriguez before eventually winning the Women’s Royal Rumble Match, fans were expecting to see Morgan face Raquel at WrestleMania for the Women’s World Championship.
However, it all came crashing down on the latest episode of RAW, as Stephanie Vaquer retained her title. With the tension within The Judgment Day increasing with each passing week, the faction might soon implode.
If this happens, Roxanne Perez, Raquel, and Morgan should share the ring for the Women’s World Title after The Miracle Kid potentially dethrones La Primera at WrestleMania 42.
#3. Oba Femi vs. Bron Breakker
The 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble Match started on a high note, with Oba Femi entering at number one and Bron Breakker at number two. While the Riyadh audience was hoping to see the powerhouses lock horns, a mystery attacker assaulted Breaakker, leading to his premature exit from the bout.
Given that fans still want to see Femi go one-on-one against The Vision’s Bron Breakker, the creative team should pull the trigger on this move.
#2. Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu for the Undisputed WWE Championship
Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, and Jacob Fatu have been at loggerheads since Fatu made his return and cost The American Nightmare the Undisputed WWE Championship earlier this year.
Although McIntyre has made it clear that there won’t be any rematch against Rhodes for the big one, his rivalry with The Prodigal Son and The Samoan Werewolf has reached its boiling point. It appears that the trio can’t see one another without trading blows.
Given this situation, fans now anticipate a Triple Threat Match among the three powerhouses for the Undisputed WWE Championship, probably at Wrestlemania 42.
#1. Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu
Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu had an interaction during the Men’s Royal Rumble Match. The Samoans had a brief face-off in the ring before Cody Rhodes attacked Fatu from behind.
That said, booking Jacob Fatu and the OTC to go toe-to-toe for the first time will likely be a great decision. Moreover, it was Reigns who eventually threw Fatu over the top rope, giving the creative team a perfect opportunity to start a storyline between the two.
Edited by Pratik Singh