Rising WWE Star Grayson Waller to Miss 2026 Royal Rumble

Waller will be absent from the Saudi Arabia event to focus on NXT live shows in the U.S.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:31am

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Grayson Waller, a rising star in WWE, will not be participating in the 2026 Royal Rumble event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Instead, Waller will be focused on appearing at NXT live events in the United States that same weekend. The Royal Rumble is set to feature several surprises, but Waller, who has been actively involved with The New Day on Monday Night RAW, will not be part of the Saudi Arabia show.

Why it matters

Waller's absence from the high-profile Royal Rumble event is notable, as he has been viewed as a rising talent in WWE. His focus on NXT live shows suggests the company may have other plans for him that don't align with the Rumble this year, though he continues to appear on the main roster's RAW program.

The details

According to PWInsider, Waller will not be involved in this year's Royal Rumble event. He is scheduled to appear at NXT live events in the U.S. that same weekend, including stops in Knoxville, Nashville, and Birmingham. Waller's last televised in-ring appearance was on the October 10, 2026 episode of WWE programming, when he competed in a WWE World Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Battle Royal. Since then, he has wrestled on non-televised shows like WWE Main Event and NXT live events.

  • The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble event is scheduled for January 28-29, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Waller will instead be appearing at NXT live events from January 29-31, 2026 in Knoxville, Nashville, and Birmingham.

The players

Grayson Waller

A rising star in WWE, Waller is a former tag team champion who has been actively involved with The New Day on the main roster's Monday Night RAW program.

WWE

The professional wrestling promotion that is hosting the 2026 Royal Rumble event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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What’s next

It remains to be seen if Waller will be involved in any capacity at the 2026 Royal Rumble event, or if his absence will be permanent. His continued appearances on RAW and focus on NXT live events suggests WWE may have other plans for him that don't align with this year's Rumble show.

The takeaway

Waller's absence from the high-profile Royal Rumble event is a notable development, as he has been viewed as a rising star in WWE. His focus on NXT live shows that same weekend indicates the company may have other plans for him that don't include the Rumble this year, though he continues to appear on the main RAW program.