All articles tagged with #royal rumble
WWE reportedly moved Cody Rhodes off the Undisputed Championship earlier this year to keep him free for Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber as part of a WrestleMania plan with Randy Orton. The Orton–Rhodes WrestleMania direction had been discussed for months and remains possible, though plans are fluid; a Rhodes win over Drew McIntyre on SmackDown would clear the path for Orton at WrestleMania 42.
Oba Femi, the former NXT Champion, is reportedly headed to WWE’s main roster and is set to debut on SmackDown tonight, signaling a full-time call-up after his standout Royal Rumble performance; no opponent has been announced yet.
Originally, Breakker was slated to win the 2026 Royal Rumble and dethrone CM Punk at WrestleMania, but after Seth Rollins’ injury WWE reshuffled plans to favor Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, erasing Breakker’s moment and changing the title picture.
WWE reportedly scrapped Bron Breakker’s planned Royal Rumble win after Seth Rollins’ injury, shifting to CM Punk as champion with a plan for Breakker to lose on the Raw Netflix anniversary, then win the Rumble and face Punk at WrestleMania. The change came as Drew McIntyre lobbied to win the title against Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell, pushing Punk vs Reigns for Mania and likely McIntyre vs Rhodes on Night 1, possibly with Jacob Fatu added. Reigns, Rhodes, and Punk are viewed as the top stars.
Liv Morgan said on TMZ’s Inside the Ring that she forgot to point at the WrestleMania sign after winning the Royal Rumble because she wanted to soak in the moment and be present. A referee signaled to her on camera to cue the WrestleMania shot. She’s focusing on gratitude and savoring opportunities after shoulder surgery, and is set for a busy 2026 with a WrestleMania title shot and a debate over which championship to chase; WWE hasn’t announced her opponent yet, and she says WWE feels like home.
AJ Styles explained he put his gloves back on after losing a retirement match to Gunther at WWE Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, signaling that retirement isn’t necessarily final and a return isn’t ruled out—though he has no immediate plans. He’s currently training his second-oldest son to become a pro wrestler, with his daughter also potentially interested, and he emphasized that the possibility of a future in the ring remains “never say never.”
Former AEW star Powerhouse Hobbs debuts as Royce Keys and is officially assigned to WWE's SmackDown after his Royal Rumble appearance, marking a dramatic rebrand; AEW reportedly tried to keep him, but Keys chose WWE and signaled the move publicly.
AJ Styles said on Stephanie McMahon's podcast that he's not sure if he'll wrestle again after his retirement match with Gunther at Royal Rumble; he didn’t leave his gloves in the ring, which fans took as a glimmer of a possible return, and he even floated the idea of someday sharing the ring with his son, though he emphasized there are no immediate plans to come back.
AJ Styles lost his retirement match to Gunther at the Royal Rumble, but his decision isn’t final: he put the gloves back on and suggested there could be a future return, potentially with his wrestle‑ready sons, as WWE leadership hints at keeping him involved behind the scenes.
A BodySlam.net report by Cory Hays says WWE staged Bron Breakker’s Royal Rumble ambush to set up Seth Rollins’ anticipated WrestleMania 42 return, with a masked attacker fueling speculation that Rollins is behind the hit and tying into ongoing RAW storylines.
AJ Styles' post-Rumble retirement begins with a visit to WWE Headquarters alongside Tiffany Stratton, as Stephanie McMahon announced Styles will be the next guest on What's Your Story, suggesting a move into a media or backstage role. While Triple H confirmed he's done with in-ring competition, speculation about producer/mentorship duties or an AEW return lingers, making this a potential new chapter in his WWE relationship.
AJ Styles, retired from in-ring competition after his final WWE match at the Royal Rumble, is reportedly visiting WWE HQ with Tiffany Stratton, fueling talk of a behind-the-scenes producer/mentor role as AEW chatter and new trademark filings keep his options open.
AJ Styles’ current status is unclear, with Fightful Select noting AEW’s likely interest if he becomes available. The discussion follows Styles’ career-on-the-line loss to Gunther at WWE’s Royal Rumble, where he teased leaving his gloves in the ring before leaving with them on.
During the Men’s Royal Rumble, Drew McIntyre appeared at ringside and hit a Claymore on Cody Rhodes, sending him out of the match. He later defended the move, saying Rhodes deserved to be eliminated and that he’s at his best when the champion, signaling ongoing beef with Rhodes and lingering feuds with The Bloodline. Roman Reigns won the Rumble, with rumors about CM Punk for WrestleMania, and McIntyre teased unfinished business with The Bloodline while urging the OTC to back him as a WrestleMania challenger if that path remains open.
Liv Morgan won the Royal Rumble by eliminating Raquel Rodriguez, saying their Judgment Day bond remains strong. Rodriguez now has a Raw title shot at the Women’s World Championship, setting up a possible WrestleMania showdown with Morgan (or alternates like Vaquer or Jade Cargill) depending on the Raw results.