Way-too-early Betting Favorites to Win the 2026 Royal Rumble

The dust has barely settled on WWE SummerSlam 2025, and yet the wrestling world remains abuzz with what went down at MetLife Stadium. Cody Rhodes’ stunning triumph over John Cena to reclaim the WWE Championship cemented his spot as the company’s leading man, while Seth Rollins’ surprise Money in the Bank cash-in on a newly crowned CM Punk ensured that the Visionary is now the biggest heel on Monday Night Raw.  But it wasn’t just the championship exchanges that had fans talking—Brock Lesnar’s shock return set the stage for an unpredictable fall season.

Now, with the NFL season around the corner and WWE entering its traditional post-SummerSlam slowdown, attention is quietly but steadily shifting toward one of the most electrifying nights in sports entertainment’s calendar—the Royal Rumble. Set to take place in Saudi Arabia next February, online sports betting websites haven’t yet outlined their favorites for glory. However, when they do, these four are expected to be considered the frontrunners.

Sami Zayn

The popular Bovada website will be offering betting on the Royal Rumble, just as they did last year, and also back at April’s WrestleMania. When their odds are posted, they are expected to make Sami Zayn the favorite to outlast 29 other men and punch his ticket to the Showcase of the Immortals, perhaps even pricing him as short as +150.

When you think about Sami Zayn, one word leaps to mind—heart. Few superstars embody the spirit of perseverance better than The Underdog from the Underground. His story has been one of crushing setbacks, gradual triumphs, and unwavering fan support, making him an irresistible contender in any conversation about the Royal Rumble.

The 2026 Rumble takes on added weight for Zayn. With the event taking place in Saudi Arabia, Zayn’s Middle Eastern heritage elevates the stakes. Rumblings of a potential historic win are on the tip of every fan’s tongue—not just because of geography, but because his underdog narrative is reaching a crescendo. After spending much of the past year battling WWE’s elite, Zayn has picked up not just victories but the emotional investment of fans craving his breakthrough.

His rejection of Karrion Kross’ dark offers at SummerSlam showcased his commitment to walking the high road, contrasting sharply with WWE’s villains trying to corrupt him. What would it mean for Zayn to finally capture his first world championship at WrestleMania 42? A Rumble win in Saudi Arabia would set him on the path, delivering a moment as cathartic as it would be unforgettable.

CM Punk

Few names in wrestling spark excitement—or controversy—like CM Punk. After marking his territory in the 2025 Royal Rumble by eliminating both Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, Punk seized his first-ever WrestleMania main event earlier this year against those two rivals, albeit coming out on the losing side. And while his biggest career moment is still fresh, the Best in the World is far from done.

Punk’s ongoing feud with Seth Rollins remains one of WWE’s most compelling sagas, fueled by pride, gold, and personal animosity. Rollins now holds the World Heavyweight Championship, a championship he claimed by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on a newly crowned Punk, ending the Second City Saint’s reign within three minutes of it beginning. With both Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed now protecting the champion, Punk’s hunt for revenge could go all the way into 2026, culminating with a rumble win.

SETH ROLLINS IS THE WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP #SummerSlam https://t.co/yypzY0WSfX pic.twitter.com/6jC5g6qH2S

— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) August 3, 2025

The possibility of Punk winning the 30-man over-the-top-rope extravaganza and challenging Rollins for the gold at WrestleMania 42 is tantalizing. It’s the kind of rivalry that could headline any event, but WrestleMania makes it larger than life. Expect him to be priced shorter than +500 come next February.

Roman Reigns

For over three years, Roman Reigns sat atop WWE’s mountain with a stranglehold on the championship scene. But 2024 marked the end of his reign—literally and figuratively. Cody Rhodes dethroned Reigns last April, dismantling the Tribal Chief’s island of relevancy once and for all. Since then, the Head of the Table is yet to challenge for championship gold, while matters only worsened in Las Vegas in April as betrayal from his wiseman Paul Heyman left the once dominant Reigns spinning in chaos.

Fast forward to today, and Reigns is now embarking on a redemption arc, clawing his way back to the summit. His rivalry with Rollins and Punk has been personal, bitter, and utterly captivating, setting the stage for more fireworks heading into 2026. The Royal Rumble represents an opportunity for Reigns to realign his destiny. A victory here would not just signal the Tribal Chief’s resurrection—it would be an emphatic declaration that his fall from grace was only temporary.

Should a Rumble victory come, then Reigns would have two paths to take. The WrestleMania main event against world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins is already tailor-made considering the pair’s ongoing rivalry plus their 12-year history together. However, a trilogy against WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is also a mouth-watering prospect.

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Current Wrestling Betting Odds:

Event:	Match:	Where To Bet:
Wrestlemania	All the matches	BetOnline
Elimination Chamber	All the matches	BetOnline
AEW Revolution	Both Rumbles	BetOnline