A WWE announcer has teased entering the 2026 men’s Royal Rumble match.
The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble is set to take place inside the Riyadh Season Arena in about an hour and a half. Ahead of the PLE, Michael Cole, Wade Barrett, Big E, and World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk are kicking things off in the Countdown show.
The Royal Rumble match is all about surprises, and WWE might’ve revealed a surprise entrant during the Countdown show. Michael Cole noted that he holds the unique record of spending the longest time in the Rumble than any other announcer in WWE history. However, former Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett chimed in, teasing that Cole’s record might be in jeopardy.
“Well, let me make a bold prediction now, Michael Cole. That record of yours, announcers getting in the Royal Rumble, you probably got about five more hours to enjoy that record. That could change tonight, ladies and gentlemen, if you catch my drift,” the WWE commentator said.
Wade Barrett hasn’t stepped inside a ring in nearly a decade, as his last match took place on the April 4, 2016, episode of WWE RAW. He departed the company the following month. Following his return in 2020, Barrett has been a full-time commentator, and if his tease is anything to go by, fans might see him enter the men’s Royal Rumble match later today.
Or did the WWE commentator talk about someone else?
However, there is also a possibility that Wade Barrett might have been talking about the person who was seated next to him, former WWE Champion Big E. The former New Day member has been out of action since sustaining a cervical spinal injury in 2022 and has been a pre-show analyst for PLEs since then.
While he did say his career was behind him during his interview on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast in October 2025, it’s hard not to cling to the age-old saying, “never say never,” especially since it’s the WWE Royal Rumble.
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