Cody Rhodes Aims to Tie Steve Austin’s Royal Rumble Record In Saudi Arabia

Cody Rhodes has already made Royal Rumble history—but now he’s aiming to tie a record held by Stone Cold Steve Austin at the Saudi Arabian Premium Live Event.

With the Royal Rumble set to take place tomorrow, January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Rhodes appeared on ESPN’s Get Up to talk about his place in WWE’s modern era. Already a two-time Royal Rumble winner, the American Nightmare is looking to do what only one man has ever done—win three. The host kicked things off by acknowledging Rhodes’ impact on WWE’s biggest annual storylines.

“Cody, you’ve now won the Royal Rumble twice and your victories have changed the trajectory of WrestleMania plans. How does it feel to have that kind of influence on WWE’s biggest show?”

Rhodes first talked about the scale of the Royal Rumble event itself—especially given this year’s global setting. He then pivoted to what it means to him personally—not just to win, but to be someone who shapes the direction of the wrestling industry.

“I mean, Royal Rumble—it’s one of the big four that WWE puts on. The fact that we're doing it in Riyadh, we’ve got this stadium out here. I think you always want to be, as part of your generation, somebody that can affect change and someone that can actually move the industry in any direction. I found that out with my second Royal Rumble victory and leading into WrestleMania 40.”

Finally, the American Nightmare made his intentions clear—he wants to make it three Rumble wins and etch his name alongside one of the greatest of all time, Steve Austin.

“And I'd love to find out if I have any influence and what would go down if I win it a third time. And tie Stone Cold Steve Austin’s record here tomorrow night.”

Steve Austin is the only Superstar in WWE history to win the Royal Rumble three times (1997, 1998, 2001). Cody already has back-to-back wins in 2023 and 2024. With the Road to WrestleMania running straight through Riyadh, Cody Rhodes isn’t just looking to finish his story—he’s aiming to rewrite history.

Do you think Cody Rhodes will match Stone Cold’s record with a third Royal Rumble win? Is he the right person to carry that legacy? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—we want to hear what you think.