3 WWE Stars Likely to Miss Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh

Grayson Waller, Montez Ford, and Angelo Dawkins booked for NXT events instead

Jan. 27, 2026 at 3:15pm

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Three notable WWE superstars - Grayson Waller, Montez Ford, and Angelo Dawkins of The Street Profits - are reportedly scheduled to attend NXT live events in the U.S. this weekend instead of appearing at the upcoming Royal Rumble 2026 pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters

The absence of these three stars from the high-profile Royal Rumble event is notable, as the show is one of WWE's biggest annual events. Their bookings elsewhere suggest WWE may be giving them a break or freshening up their characters ahead of a potential return to the main roster.

The details

According to reports, Waller has been an honorary member of The New Day faction on Raw in recent months, leading some to speculate he could have been used in the Royal Rumble match. Meanwhile, The Street Profits - the tag team of Ford and Dawkins - have reportedly been given time off WWE TV to refresh their act, though it's unclear if that means they will be repackaged upon their return.

  • The Royal Rumble 2026 pay-per-view is scheduled for Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • Waller, Ford, and Dawkins are booked for NXT live events on Thursday in Knoxville, Friday in Nashville, and Saturday in Birmingham.

The players

Grayson Waller

A rising WWE superstar who has been featured prominently on the Raw brand in recent months.

Montez Ford

One half of the WWE tag team The Street Profits, known for his high-flying offense and charismatic persona.

Angelo Dawkins

The other half of The Street Profits tag team, known for his power moves and tag team chemistry with Montez Ford.

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The takeaway

The absence of these three rising WWE stars from the Royal Rumble event suggests the company may be giving them a break or looking to refresh their characters and storylines ahead of a potential return to the main roster in the coming months.