Why Cody Rhodes Was Never Picked to Win the 2026 Royal Rumble

TLDR

According to Dave Meltzer via Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE never planned for Cody Rhodes to win the 2026 Royal Rumble because they wanted his WrestleMania storyline to involve overcoming adversity rather than taking a direct route. With Cody's WrestleMania direction locked in and his path narrowed to either the Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber, WWE chose to have him lose the Rumble first and then earn his way back through the Chamber, similar to John Cena's story last year. This decision led to Roman Reigns winning the Royal Rumble instead, as Cody was intentionally excluded from Rumble consideration from the beginning.