Prominent WWE Director Set to Miss Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia

WWE is going all out for Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—but one of the company’s most seasoned production minds won’t be there to oversee it.

According to PWInsider on January 27, 2026, Marty Miller, who traditionally directs WWE’s major events including Monday Night RAW and WrestleMania, will not be directing this year’s Royal Rumble. Instead, Miller will remain in the United States to handle directing duties for Zuffa Boxing under TKO, which will air on Paramount+.

In his absence, SmackDown Director Lee Lipschulz is expected to take the helm for the Royal Rumble broadcast. Lipschulz regularly directs SmackDown, Countdown, and Post-Show specials and is stepping into one of WWE’s most ambitious production environments. This marks a major change in production leadership—especially for a show that is shaping up to be WWE’s biggest international event to date.

Royal Rumble 2026 is set to take place on January 31 in a custom-built stadium constructed from the ground up in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District. PWInsider previously reported that Internal sources have already compared the event’s production scale to WrestleMania, with LED rigs, a full enclosed roof, and immersive lighting systems all confirmed.

Photos and footage leaked in recent days showed the setup. On January 26, Twitter user Mohammed Waheed shared a video from inside the venue, showing the full rigging, branded LED panels, and the completed Royal Rumble stage coming together. Earlier, on January 18, Mohammed Mansour revealed construction was already underway with concrete foundations being poured.

Despite the shift in directorial leadership, WWE is clearly treating Royal Rumble 2026 as more than just a PLE. Ticket demand has surged beyond expectations, with internal tracking already labeling it as WWE’s most in-demand live event ever.

Will Lee Lipschulz’s direction maintain the WrestleMania-level spectacle WWE is aiming for—or will Marty Miller’s absence be felt? Share your take in the comments below.