6 Big WWE stars left off the 2026 Royal Rumble poster

WWE has released two variants of the Royal Rumble poster over the last few days. Triple H shared a version that has 10 stars, including Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, and others.

The second variant features many more performers, including Gunther, Jey Uso, IYO SKY, and Jade Cargill, among others. Many stars are worthy of being included since each Rumble match has 30 competitors.

Officials usually pick the same four or five names for PLE posters, and the usual suspects appear on the Royal Rumble poster. The next six big WWE names were excluded from the graphic.

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#6. Bayley misses another PLE poster

Being excluded from major promotional material is nothing new for Bayley. Despite her near MVP status as a reliable and trustworthy veteran, that status doesn't afford her the spotlight of her contemporaries like Flair and Lynch.

Her partnership with Lyra Valkyria has been ongoing since WrestleMania season and will presumably continue into 2026.

The former Hugger actually won the Royal Rumble in 2024, so not including her feels like another slight. Is Maxxine Dupri more deserving than Bayley?

#5. Sami Zayn is beloved in Saudi Arabia

Sami Zayn has been in a storyline over the last two years revolving around never winning a World Championship. He's had stars who have captured gold, like Punk and Drew McIntyre, tell him to his face that he'll never accomplish the feat.

If Jey Uso got a run with a major title, why can't Zayn be afforded the same treatment? He's one of the most selfless performers in wrestling who has put over hundreds of stars.

Not having him in a graphic for a huge PLE in Saudi Arabia, where he's massively popular, feels like a big mistake.

#4. Is AJ Lee competing?

AJ Lee triumphantly returned to WWE a few months back to support her husband, CM Punk, against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.

She's won both of her matches since that return, including tapping Lynch out in WarGames. The former Divas Champion hasn't competed in a Royal Rumble, so it feels like a certainty she'll do so in 2026.

WWE always has big returns and some debuts at the Rumble, so her participation will be a historic moment in and of itself.

#3. Randy Orton's spot on the card

Randy Orton has been out of action, but not because of a major injury. He's reverted to part-time status over the last few years. The Viper feuded with Drew McIntyre before he stopped appearing on SmackDown.

Due to his status in the company, it feels like they'd add him anyway. Having him pop back up as a surprise entrant instead of returning before the event would feel anticlimactic.

He's not seriously injured like Kevin Owens or Big E, so the moment wouldn't be as special as AJ Styles' debut in 2016.

#2. Several WWE stars passed Bianca Belair

Before suffering a broken finger at WrestleMania 41, Bianca Belair was one of WWE's most-pushed women. She and Jade Cargill had a stranglehold on the Women's Tag Team titles.

After losing those, she won another Elimination Chamber match to earn a title shot at The Show of Shows. That injury occurred in April, and The EST is yet to return.

Even when she was out with the injury, Belair was featured on promotional posters, including a version for SummerSlam 2025. Instead of The EST, Dupri and Liv Morgan are featured.

#1. LA Knight gets snubbed again

One WWE star who's been among the most popular but not booked as such lately is LA Knight. He's fallen short of winning major gold a few times this year and has stood up to the Vision over the last few months.

The Megastar was written off TV on the latest RAW after a brutal attack from Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Breakker. It could be so he can nurse a nagging injury, or for other reasons.

Knight isn't booked like the major names, but Reed and Penta were featured, and neither has won singles gold on the main roster.