The stage is set in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for one of WWE’s biggest events of the year — the 2026 Royal Rumble. While CM Punk won’t be stepping into the ring this weekend, the World Heavyweight Champion is very much involved in the action. During the Royal Rumble Kickoff show, Punk made headlines with a few sharp predictions and insights, particularly around the highly anticipated Gunther vs. AJ Styles match and the men’s Royal Rumble.
CM Punk Says Gunther Is Out of the Rumble
CM Punk dropped a surprise during his chat with Michael Cole at the Royal Rumble Kickoff — according to him, Gunther will not compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
This is a big change, as most fans believed Gunther would wrestle twice at the event: once against AJ Styles in a singles match, and again in the Royal Rumble itself. Gunther’s removal from the Rumble match, if true, narrows the field for potential winners — and adds even more pressure to his showdown with Styles.
Punk joked about the news, saying:
“I’m glad he’s not in the Rumble, so he can possibly not beat me up anymore.”
Gunther vs. AJ Styles: Punk Picks His Winner
Gunther vs. Styles is one of the most emotional bouts on the card. If AJ loses, he must retire from WWE. The feud began after Gunther forced John Cena to tap out in his last match, a moment that Styles found disrespectful.
Though Punk and Styles recently wrestled in a World Heavyweight Championship match on WWE Raw (which ended in a no-contest), Punk made it clear he still respects Styles deeply.
On the Kickoff show, Punk confidently said:
“AJ is the Phenomenal One for a reason and if anyone can pull this off, it’s him.”
It’s clear Punk is rooting for Styles to win and avoid retirement — perhaps because he knows that a Punk vs. Styles rematch could still headline a WrestleMania.
Punk Watches Closely as Rumble Winners Target WrestleMania 42
Even though Punk isn’t wrestling at the event, he has plenty to watch for. As the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, the winner of the Men’s Royal Rumble may choose to challenge him at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
Names like Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Jey Uso, and Bron Breakker are all in the mix. Whoever wins will have their sights set on either Punk’s title or Drew McIntyre’s Undisputed WWE Championship, depending on the outcome of the Zayn vs. McIntyre match.
Royal Rumble 2026 — Key Matches Confirmed
The full card for the Royal Rumble is stacked, featuring high stakes and possible career-defining moments:
- Men’s Royal Rumble Match – Winner gets a WrestleMania title shot
- Women’s Royal Rumble Match – Same high-stakes opportunity
- Gunther vs. AJ Styles – Career-threatening match for Styles
- Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Sami Zayn – Undisputed WWE Championship
With surprise returns, shocking eliminations, and possible future champions emerging, this could be one of the most unpredictable Rumble events in recent memory.
How to Watch the Royal Rumble
- United States: Live on ESPN
- Internationally: Streaming exclusively on Netflix
- Start Time: Saturday afternoon (local time in Saudi Arabia)
