The "Road to WrestleMania" used to be a predictable path. You’d get a big return at the Rumble, a clear-cut hero winning the 30-man match, and a slow burn to the big show in April. But right now? Honestly, the WWE news and rumors and spoilers cycle is more chaotic than a prime-era Attitude Era backstage segment.
Between the massive shift to Netflix and the unprecedented decision to move a "Big Four" premium live event outside North America, the old rulebook has been thrown into the trash.
The Royal Rumble Saudi Rumors: What's Actually Happening?
Social media went into a bit of a meltdown this week. A few leaked photos of the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh surfaced, showing what looked like a half-finished construction site. Fans immediately started panicking that the January 31 date for the Royal Rumble was going to be pushed back.
It’s not.
Internal reports from PWInsider have been pretty firm on this: the venue is nearly finished. WWE isn't moving the date. They’ve gone all-in on this "global" strategy, and the Rumble being the first major show in Riyadh is the centerpiece of their 2026 Q1 strategy.
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The start time is going to be the weirdest part for US fans. We’re looking at a 2 pm ET / 7 pm GMT kickoff. Basically, you’re eating lunch while watching the 30-man over-the-top-rope chaos.
Spoilers: The Drew McIntyre Shake-up
If you haven't been keeping up with the latest SmackDown tapings, the title picture just got nuked. Cody Rhodes is no longer the Undisputed WWE Champion.
Drew McIntyre took the belt in Berlin during a "Three Stages of Hell" match that was, by all accounts, a car wreck in the best way possible. But here’s the kicker—Jacob Fatu is back. Fatu had been sidelined for months (legit dental surgery, actually), but his return was the catalyst for Cody losing the gold.
What does this mean for WrestleMania 42?
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- The rumored Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes III match? Probably dead.
- Dave Meltzer recently mentioned on Wrestling Observer Radio that the internal board was essentially "reset" on January 7.
- The new direction seems to be leaning toward a Triple Threat: McIntyre vs. Rhodes vs. Fatu.
It's a risky move. Cody’s "redemption" arc was the bread and butter of WWE’s storytelling for two years. Pivoting to McIntyre as the dominant heel champion right before the Rumble suggests they want a fresher main event for Las Vegas.
The Netflix Effect: Raw’s One-Year Numbers
We just hit the one-year anniversary of Monday Night Raw on Netflix, and the data is finally trickling out. The January 5 "Stranger Things" crossover episode pulled in roughly 3.2 million global views.
That’s a massive jump from the December slump where they were struggling to hit 2.5 million. Netflix is clearly happy, reporting over 340 million views for Raw in its first full year. It’s changed how the show feels, too. The "Demonito" puppets and the darker, almost cinematic segments we're seeing from Finn Balor and the Bullet Club guys wouldn't have worked as well on cable.
Rumors: Who is Coming Back?
The rumor mill is currently obsessing over Chris Jericho. His AEW contract is the elephant in the room. While he wasn't backstage at the recent Raw in Germany, the talk of a "Hall of Fame" run in 2026 is getting louder.
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Then there’s the NXT situation. Shawn Michaels is reportedly "losing" Jacy Jayne and Blake Monroe to the main roster soon, though Fightful suggests Jayne might stay through Stand & Deliver to anchor the women’s division.
Speaking of NXT, they've got a massive hole to fill. Oba Femi vacated the NXT Championship, and we’re heading toward a six-man ladder match on February 3. Qualifying matches start next week, with names like Sean Legacy and Eli Knight (the recent WWE ID standout) already being penciled in.
The "Heavy Is the Crown" Vibe
WWE officially tapped Linkin Park's "Heavy Is the Crown" as the Rumble theme. It fits. The current locker room vibe is all about "the new guard" trying to snatch the crown from the icons.
Look at Bron Breakker. Even though he lost to CM Punk on the January 5 episode of Raw, he's still the betting favorite alongside Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn to win the Rumble. On the women's side, it’s a toss-up between Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley, though Liv Morgan's recent momentum makes her a dangerous "spoiler" pick.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Adjust your calendar: The Royal Rumble on Jan 31 starts in the afternoon for US viewers. Don't get spoiled by checking Twitter at 8 pm.
- Watch the NXT Qualifiers: The February 3 ladder match is going to determine the next face of the brand; keep an eye on Elio LeFleur’s debut against Ethan Page next week.
- Track the "Triple Threat" rumors: If Cody doesn't win the Rumble, the McIntyre/Fatu/Rhodes storyline is almost certainly the WrestleMania 42 main event.
Keep an eye on the Friday Night SmackDown episodes leading into the Rumble—with the show moving back to three hours, the creative team has a lot more room to breathe, which usually means more "impromptu" title defenses and surprise appearances.