Surprise Entrants In 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble; LA Knight And Rusev Return

The men’s Royal Rumble headlined the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble PLE.

During the match, the following superstars were surprise entrants, meaning they did not declare or were not announced ahead of time.

Surprise Entrants In 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble

• Rusev entered at number five. He had been off television since November 2025.
• Matt Cardona entered at number six.
• Mr. Iguana entered at number nine. He is part of AAA.
• El Grande Americano entered at number 12.
• El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) entered at number 13. Gable had been sidelined with a shoulder injury since June 2025.
• Royce Keys (Powerhouse Hobbs) entered at number 14. This was his WWE debut.
• La Parka entered at number 18. He is part of AAA.
• LA Knight entered at number 21. He had been off television since December 2025 after being taken out by The Vision.
• Rey Fenix entered at number 24.

Fans can find Fightful’s coverage of WWE Royal Rumble here. Check out the post-show podcast by clicking here.