Everyone thought they knew the plan. For months, the consensus among the "smart" fans and the dirt sheets was that we were headed for a predictable, albeit massive, trilogy match between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42. It made sense. It was the safe bet. But then, a random Friday night in Berlin changed everything, and now the WWE spoilers and rumours mill is working overtime to figure out what the heck actually happened in that production meeting.
WWE doesn't usually pivot this hard, this fast.
The decision to put the Undisputed WWE Championship on Drew McIntyre wasn't some long-term masterstroke planned out six months ago. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the call to crown "The Scottish Warrior" wasn't even finalized until the Wednesday before the January 9th SmackDown. That's a 48-hour window. In the world of corporate wrestling, that is basically light speed.
Why the WrestleMania 42 Card Just Got Nuked
If you’ve been following the breadcrumbs, the original vision for Las Vegas was clear. Cody. Roman. One last time to settle the score. But the minute Jacob Fatu interfered in Berlin to help McIntyre secure the gold, that vision went up in smoke. It’s rare to see WWE scrap a main event that they've been teasing since the Men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series, but here we are.
Honestly, the backstage vibe is chaotic right now.
Insiders are whispering about a Triple Threat match. Imagine McIntyre, Rhodes, and the "Samoan Werewolf" Jacob Fatu all vying for the top spot. It’s messy. It’s fresh. It’s also exactly the kind of "unpredictable" booking Triple H has been leaning into lately. Some reports from WrestlingNews.co suggest that while the Cody/Roman trilogy is "probably not happening," WWE is still trying to figure out where Roman fits if he isn't in the title hunt.
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Does he go after the Bloodline 2.0? Or is there a bigger fish to fry?
The Netflix Era and the "Stranger Things" Shift
We can't talk about the current landscape without mentioning the move to Netflix. We’re officially one year into the streaming era, and the presentation has shifted. Did you see the January 5th "Stranger Things" themed episode of RAW? It wasn't just a gimmick; it was a statement.
WWE is leaning heavily into the Netflix partnership, even labeling matches as "Chapters" and using the "Upside Down" aesthetic at the Barclays Center. It's weird, but it's working. The numbers don't lie—RAW is averaging over 3 million views per week on the platform.
But with big numbers comes big pressure.
Rumours are swirling about a potential "blackout" scenario or rights complications as we head further into 2026. While some YouTube clickbait would have you believe WWE is getting "removed from TV," the reality is likely just high-level posturing between TKO and their global partners. Don't buy the panic just yet.
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Royal Rumble 2026: The Return of the Legends?
The Road to WrestleMania officially starts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this year for the Royal Rumble. This is where the WWE spoilers and rumours get really spicy.
- Brock Lesnar: People are banking on a return. He’s been gone long enough that the "Beast" pop will be deafening.
- The Legend Killer’s Legend Killer: Gunther is on a tear. After retiring Goldberg and John Cena in the same year (yeah, still hard to process that one), he’s now targeting AJ Styles.
- The AEW Exodus: Keep a very close eye on Powerhouse Hobbs. His AEW contract reportedly expired at midnight on Wednesday, and the word is he’s headed to WWE imminently.
And then there's the Chris Jericho factor.
Jericho’s AEW deal is the subject of massive speculation. He’s a six-time world champion in WWE, and with 2026 looking like a "farewell tour" year for several icons, a return to the Fed for one last run feels almost inevitable. Seeing Jericho and AJ Lee (who has been heavily rumoured for a Rumble appearance) back in the same locker room in 2026 feels like a fever dream, but it's the kind of dream Triple H loves to book.
The Problem With "The Vision"
Let's talk about Bron Breakker. He’s clearly the chosen one, but his association with "The Vision"—the faction consisting of Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory—is starting to feel like a lead weight.
Experts like Brent Brookhouse from CBS Sports have pointed out that Breakker doesn't need a Bloodline-style stable to keep him afloat. He’s a wrecking ball. The rumour is that WWE might dissolve The Vision by SummerSlam, leaving Breakker with Paul Heyman as a solo advisor. That’s a pairing that actually makes sense. Logan Paul is great, but Breakker needs to be the alpha, not just a member of a group.
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What This Means for You (The Actionable Part)
Wrestling moves fast. If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve, stop looking at the "projected" cards from three months ago. They're irrelevant now.
Watch the "Open Challenges." Carmelo Hayes is currently defending the United States title in a series of open challenges on SmackDown. These aren't just filler matches; they are often used to debut or re-introduce talent. Tomorrow's show in London is a prime example—TBA is the most dangerous opponent in wrestling right now.
Follow the "contract years." 2026 is a massive year for free agency. Between Powerhouse Hobbs, potential returns like Matt Cardona or even Britt Baker, the roster you see today will look completely different by SummerSlam.
Keep an eye on the Saturday Night’s Main Event qualifiers. The winners (Orton, Miz, Sikoa, Priest, etc.) are being fast-tracked into the #1 Contender spot for Drew McIntyre. If you want to know who is winning the Rumble, look at who loses these qualifying matches. WWE often protects their Rumble winner by keeping them away from the title scene until the end of January.
The "Road to Vegas" is officially a construction site. It’s messy, the plans are being redrawn every Wednesday, and that’s exactly why we keep watching.