Jim Ross has named two former AEW stars he believes will appear in the Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jim Ross believes both Chris Jericho and Powerhouse Hobbs will be involved in the men’s Royal Rumble match this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Speaking on the latest episode of the Grilling JR podcast with Conrad Thompson, the WWE Hall of Famer discussed who he expects to appear in the Rumble bouts and suggested Jericho is far too savvy to miss out on such a high-profile return.
“Hell yeah. Absolutely. He’s too smart not to get himself booked on this show for his return,” Ross said when asked if he expects Jericho to be in the match. “He’ll get a big pop.”
Ross also singled out Hobbs, who recently joined WWE, as someone he believes will make an immediate impact.
“I’m especially excited about ‘Big Willy,’” Ross said, using his nickname for Powerhouse Hobbs. “I don’t know if it’s a secret or not. He’ll be in the Royal Rumble, I think. Why in the hell would you sign a guy this close to a major event and then not utilise him? And that’ll be a new face. And he looks great.”
Ross went on to reveal that Hobbs personally reached out to thank him for the guidance he had offered over the years.
“He called me a day or two ago, thanking me for my help over the years,” Ross said. “I said, ‘Well, my phone number isn’t going to change, big fella.’”
Later in the discussion, both Ross and Thompson clarified that they do not have any inside information regarding the Royal Rumble line-up and were simply offering their own expectations rather than reporting confirmed plans.
When Did Jim Ross Last Commentate For AEW?
Jim Ross last provided commentary for AEW on the January 7, 2026, episode of Dynamite, from Ross’s home state of Oklahoma, with the show taking place from the BOK Center in Tulsa.
Ross was supposed to resume his commentary duties on the following episode of Dynamite, but he suffered a fall in his home that left him unable to stand for over five hours, so he was unable to attend the show due to his injuries.
