John Cena, The Rock, and Chris Jericho (Image Source: Getty)

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 officially kicks off the road to WrestleMania, and anticipation is already at a fever pitch for fans around the globe. With the possibility of surprise entrants making it an even bigger talking point, this year’s Rumble has added intrigue, as it is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WWE has delivered some of the most shocking returns and debuts full of surprises and direction-changing moments, as The Royal Rumble has always been the most unpredictable event on WWE’s calendar.As WWE goes all out with nostalgia while also pushing new stars, that has naturally led to the conversation about three legends: John Cena, The Rock, and Chris Jericho. All of the superstars have a distinct bond to past and present WWE history, and although everyone are unannounced for the show, fans are still passionate about it. With just over a week to go before the Rumble, let’s break down the chances of each legend showing up.

John Cena’s retirement status and surprise appearance rumors

John Cena officially retired from in-ring wrestling at the end of 2025, in a farewell match that was highly publicized for a WWE audience. Cena is currently busy with his Hollywood career and other projects, which has led many fans to believe that he is done with wrestling for good. Still, the Royal Rumble always has a way of overcoming what we think we know, especially when it comes to legends.Cena himself has not advertised any Royal Rumble appearance in 2026, and is not announced to compete, but that isn’t stopping fans from predicting a cameo or non-wrestling role. WWE regularly uses legends in surprise roles to help push its big shows, and even a fleeting Cena moment would be immediately one of the top moments of the evening. Even so, as things stand, it seems very improbable that she will be back to actively working an entire match anytime soon.

The Rock and Chris Jericho remain the biggest wild cards

Every year, WWE fans speculate on the possibility of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson making a surprise entrance. His busy schedule in Hollywood makes an appearance unlikely, though the marquee global stage presented by the Royal Rumble traditionally piques WWE’s interest when negotiations align. WWE has never confirmed this, but fans believe that the company may have saved a milestone moment ft The Rock to drive interest as we get closer to WrestleMania.Out of the three, Chris Jericho could be the most realistic surprise. Due to his contract with WWE expiring and his being within the company for a long time, fans have speculated that the Royal Rumble will be a perfect spot for him to return. Jericho has built a career on reinvention, and a shock Rumble return would be a perfect fit for WWE’s history of surprise returns.