The vibe in the wrestling world right now is... a lot. Between the Netflix transition finally finding its legs and the massive shock of Drew McIntyre holding the Undisputed WWE Championship, everyone is trying to figure out what the hell is going to happen in Riyadh.
Honestly, if you told me a year ago that Cody Rhodes would be entering the Royal Rumble as a challenger rather than the defending champion, I’d have called you a liar. But here we are. The latest WWE news and rumors suggest that the 2026 Royal Rumble isn't just another stop on the calendar; it's a massive gamble by TKO to see if a "Big Five" event can thrive outside of North America.
The McIntyre Problem and the Cody Question
Let's talk about that title change. People are still reeling from the backstage reports regarding why WWE pulled the trigger on Drew McIntyre defeating Cody Rhodes. The word coming out of the OVO Arena Wembley tapings is that Triple H wanted a "chaos factor" heading into the Rumble.
Cody is officially in the 30-man match. He announced it on the January 16 episode of SmackDown in London.
But it’s not just a straight shot back to the top for the American Nightmare. He’s booked to fight Jacob Fatu at Saturday Night’s Main Event first. That’s a brutal match to take before a Rumble. Jacob Fatu has been an absolute wrecking ball, and there’s a lot of chatter that Solo Sikoa might use that match to finally break Cody before he even gets to Saudi Arabia.
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Is The Rock Actually Skipping WrestleMania 42?
This is the rumor that won't die. Every time we think the "Final Boss" is locked in, something shifts.
The current buzz is that Dwayne Johnson is mulling over a massive offer to wrestle his retirement match in Saudi Arabia instead of the traditional WrestleMania stage. If that happens, it blows the roof off the current plans. Andrew Baydala and other insiders have been hinting that if The Rock isn't at Mania in Las Vegas, the main event almost certainly defaults to Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns III.
Would fans be mad? Probably. But a Roman vs. Cody trilogy has a certain "history" feel to it that WWE loves.
- The Saudi Factor: TKO is pushing for massive international gates.
- The Netflix Era: RAW’s move to Netflix has changed how they pace these stories.
- The Retirement Clause: If this is truly The Rock's last match, he wants the biggest paycheck and the most control.
The Royal Rumble in Riyadh: What We Know
This is the 39th annual Rumble, and the first time a traditional one is leaving North America. It’s happening Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the King Abdullah Financial District.
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The match card is already taking shape, even if half of it is "subject to change." We've got the Men's and Women's 30-person Rumbles, obviously. But the big one is Drew McIntyre defending that Undisputed WWE Championship against whoever survives the four-way qualifier at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Names like Sami Zayn and Ilja Dragunov are in the mix. Sami has been on the run of a lifetime lately, and the crowd in Riyadh usually treats him like a literal god. It’s a smart move to keep him near the top of the card.
Rumors of a Commentary Shakeup
Reddit has been melting down over the possibility of Pat McAfee leaving—again.
The speculation is that once the college football season wraps up, WWE might shuffle the desks. Michael Cole and Corey Graves have been the backbone of the Netflix transition, but there’s a persistent rumor that Booker T might be moved up from NXT to provide some "color" for the RAW brand.
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A lot of fans hate the idea. Some love it. Booker T has this weird ability to get people over just by being confused by them. But if Graves gets moved back to NXT, it might feel like a demotion he doesn't deserve.
What about the Women’s Tag Titles?
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky—the team everyone is calling 'Rhiyo'—are currently holding the gold. This pairing is genuinely terrifying for the rest of the roster. They kicked off RAW on Netflix recently and looked like they could hold those belts until 2027.
However, Raquel Rodriguez is looming. She’s been targeting Stephanie Vaquer, but there’s talk she might pivot to the tag scene if she can find a partner strong enough to match her.
Actionable Insights for the Road to WrestleMania
If you're trying to keep up with the chaos, here is what you actually need to watch:
- Watch Saturday Night’s Main Event: The winner of the Fatal Four-Way there determines Drew McIntyre’s opponent for the Rumble. This is the biggest "tell" for the Mania card.
- Monitor the Bloodline segments: If Jacob Fatu injures Cody, it’s a sign Cody isn't winning the Rumble this year.
- Check Netflix on Mondays: The "WWE Unreal" documentary season 2 drops January 20. It's supposed to pull back the curtain on Seth Rollins' recent "injury" and the real reason R-Truth left the group.
The next few weeks are going to be a blur of jet lag and title changes. Stay tuned to the SmackDown results from the European tour, because that’s where the real groundwork for the 2026 WWE news and rumors is being laid right now.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the Saturday Night’s Main Event results, as the winner of the #1 contendership will likely dictate the next three months of storytelling. You should also set a reminder for the January 20 premiere of WWE Unreal on Netflix to see how much of the "behind-the-scenes" drama is actually a work.