Cody Rhodes Needs to Win the Royal Rumble 2026

And honestly, there’s no better option right now

So what do you all want to talk about?

Let’s talk about Cody Rhodes going back to what he does best — chasing the title. Because whether people like it or not, Cody Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble 2026 makes more sense than any other option WWE has on the table right now.

This isn’t about fantasy booking. It’s not even about being a Cody fan. It’s about timing, storytelling, and the reality of WWE’s current main-event scene.

The truth: there is no “locked-in” Royal Rumble winner this year

Look around the roster. Be honest.

Usually, by this time of the year, there’s at least one name that feels inevitable. Someone fans and WWE both seem to agree on. This year? That guy doesn’t exist.

There are talented wrestlers, sure. But nobody feels like the Royal Rumble winner.

And when WWE doesn’t have a clear Rumble winner, history tells us exactly what they do — they go with the guy who already feels like a WrestleMania main event.

That guy is Cody Rhodes.

Cody already feels like WrestleMania — and that matters

Royal Rumble isn’t just about surprise pops or cool moments. It’s about setting the tone for WrestleMania season. The winner needs to feel like someone who belongs in the main event of the biggest show of the year.

Cody checks every box:

• Crowd connection

• Promo credibility

• Main-event presentation

• Merchandise mover

• International star

You don’t have to “build” Cody into a WrestleMania guy. He already is one.

And WWE knows this.

The Drew McIntyre story is NOT finished

This part gets ignored way too much.

Cody vs Drew McIntyre didn’t end clean. It didn’t end in a way that feels final. Interference, chaos, and outside involvement all over the place. That kind of finish is wrestling code for “this isn’t over.”

If WWE wanted to close that chapter, they would have done it cleanly on television.

They didn’t.

And big rivalries like this don’t deserve to end on weekly TV. They end at WrestleMania, where everything feels bigger and more important.

Cody winning the Royal Rumble gives WWE the cleanest possible path:

• Cody earns the shot

• Drew walks in as champion

• No excuses

• No shortcuts

• Final payoff on the biggest stage

Simple. Effective. Wrestling 101.

Saudi Arabia matters more than people admit

Let’s be real for a second.

WWE treats Saudi events like premium attractions now, not side shows. These are huge business deals, global showcases, and reputation builders.

If Royal Rumble 2026 happens there, WWE is going to want a winner that feels massive.

Cody Rhodes winning the Rumble in Saudi Arabia checks every corporate and creative box:

• Global babyface

• Family-friendly image

• Emotional story fans can follow

• A win that actually means something

Saudi crowds don’t just want spectacle anymore — they want important results. Cody winning gives them exactly that, while smoothly launching WWE into WrestleMania season.

“But it’s predictable” — and that’s not a bad thing

This argument always comes up, and honestly, it’s weak.

Predictable does not mean wrong.

Some of the greatest WrestleMania moments ever were predictable — because they were earned. Fans knew what was coming, and they wanted it anyway.

Cody winning the Rumble wouldn’t feel lazy. It would feel logical.

And in wrestling, logic goes a long way.

Time is also a factor, whether fans like it or not

Cody isn’t old, but he’s not getting younger either.

Right now, he’s in that perfect window:

• Still at his peak

• Still beloved by fans

• Still believable as the top guy

Waiting too long risks cooling him off or forcing WWE into panic booking later. Giving Cody another Royal Rumble win while the momentum is still strong is smart planning, not desperation.

And yes — winning multiple Rumbles is legacy stuff. WWE loves that kind of history.

WrestleMania deserves the right ending

If Cody and Drew are going to finish this story, it needs to be:

• Clean

• Emotional

• Decisive

No interference.
No distractions.
No “we’ll revisit this later.”

Royal Rumble win → WrestleMania main event → definitive finish.

That’s the path that feels right.

Final thoughts

Cody Rhodes winning the Royal Rumble 2026 isn’t about favoritism. It’s about reality.

There’s no stronger option.
There’s no clearer story.
There’s no better bridge to WrestleMania.

Sometimes the obvious answer is obvious because it’s correct.

Let Cody win the Rumble.
Let the chase begin again.
And let WrestleMania deliver the ending this rivalry actually deserves.