Tag: WWE Rumors

The latest WWE rumors have the wrestling world buzzing as we head into Royal Rumble weekend. Here\’s your complete WWE rumors roundup for January 27, 2026.

Royal Rumble Production Described as WrestleMania-Level

Backstage talk at Monday\’s RAW indicated that the Royal Rumble production in Saudi Arabia is shaping up to be the largest WWE has ever staged in the kingdom. Sources describe the production plans as being comparable to WrestleMania, setting the stage for a truly massive event this Saturday.

Seth Rollins Rules Out Royal Rumble Return

Fans hoping to see Seth Rollins make a surprise Royal Rumble return will have to wait a bit longer. The former World Champion confirmed to ESPN that his doctors have not cleared him to compete, ending speculation about a potential comeback at this weekend\’s event.

Rollins expressed his disappointment, saying he would love nothing more than to enter the Rumble match and punch his ticket to WrestleMania, but the medical staff simply won\’t allow it at this time.

John Cena Fueling AJ Styles Retirement Speculation

John Cena has been posting photos of AJ Styles on his Instagram account, which has only intensified speculation that Styles may be hanging up his boots this weekend at the Royal Rumble. Styles faces GUNTHER with his career on the line, and Cena\’s cryptic social media activity has fans convinced the end may truly be near for the Phenomenal One.

PWInsider Elite previously reported that Styles was expected to \”finish up before WrestleMania 42,\” with the Royal Rumble being \”one of the choices\” for his final match. This aligns with GUNTHER\’s positioning as the \”Career Killer,\” having defeated Goldberg and John Cena in their respective retirement matches.

CM Punk Rumored as WWE 2K26 Cover Star

CM Punk is rumored to be the cover star for WWE 2K26, according to a report from Mike Straw at Insider Gaming. Interestingly, WWE has already revealed the three special edition covers—Monday Night War, Attitude Era, and King of Kings—all featuring Triple H, making The Game the true centerpiece of this year\’s game release regardless of the standard edition cover.

The upcoming WWE 2K26 video game releases on Friday, March 13, 2026, according to gaming insider Billbil-kun of Dealabs.

Tommaso Ciampa Officially Done with WWE

Tommaso Ciampa has been added to WWE\’s Alumni section on the company website, and new merchandise has appeared on Pro Wrestling Tees. This officially signals the end of his latest run with the company. Given his track record and popularity, it likely won\’t be long before we see the Blackheart resurface elsewhere on the wrestling landscape.

Rumor: Finn Balor Leaving Judgment Day

CM Punk\’s recent on-screen advice to Finn Bálor to think about his legacy and consider leaving The Judgment Day if he truly wants to become World Champion has sparked fresh speculation that WWE may be preparing a major character shift for the former Universal Champion.

Between Punk framing Dominik Mysterio as \”garbage\” holding Bálor back, visible tension with Judgment Day members like Dominik and Liv Morgan, and growing fan buzz around Bálor\’s more sympathetic presentation, many observers now see a possible split from the faction as a realistic direction, with some even predicting a full babyface turn and renewed singles push as WrestleMania season approaches.

McIntyre\’s Title Reign Could Extend to WrestleMania

Drew McIntyre\’s latest WWE Championship win is rumored to be the start of a sustained main-event run rather than a quick transitional reign, with internal chatter suggesting he is penciled in to remain champion heading into WrestleMania 42.

WWE is continuing his heated feud with Cody Rhodes on the Road to WrestleMania, with backstage speculation that Rhodes could be steered back into title contention via a major stipulation bout such as the Elimination Chamber instead of relying solely on a Royal Rumble victory to refresh their storyline dynamic.

Will Wardlow Follow Hobbs to WWE?

With Powerhouse Hobbs to be under WWE contract, Hall of Famer Bully Ray is encouraging Wardlow to follow suit.

On Busted Open Radio, the broadcaster from Dudleyville, USA says Wardlow is another big man who would benefit from a change of scenery after years of stagnation in AEW.

Which of these rumors are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below.

Here\’s your WWE Rumor Roundup for Tuesday, December 23, 2025, featuring the the latest reports and rumors from around the wrestling world.

ESPN Wanted WWE Draft, But Idea Never Got Off the Ground

According to TC of WrestleVotes, ESPN was interested in featuring the WWE Draft on its streaming platform in 2025, but the idea never materialized because it doesn\’t work in a premium live event setting. \”I know ESPN definitely wanted to have the draft on their platform, but it doesn\’t really work in a PLE setting,\” TC noted. \”The draft is more of a Raw and SmackDown thing.\” TC added that WWE\’s formatting and ESPN\’s expectations didn\’t mesh, making the concept difficult to execute. The way WWE formats its shows doesn\’t line up with what ESPN would be offering to the audience, and it\’s hard to picture what a WWE TV draft would even look like in that format.

Huge Hype Around Carmelo Hayes Following US Title Win

According to multiple sources, there is significant backstage hype surrounding Carmelo Hayes following his United States Championship victory at the December 26 SmackDown tapings. Hayes defeated Ilja Dragunov to capture the title in Grand Rapids, Michigan, earning an overwhelmingly positive reaction from those in attendance and backstage.

The former NXT Champion has been viewed as a breakout star with main event potential, and this title win marks a major milestone in his main roster career.

WWE Announce Teams Expected To Change After Holidays

Per PWInsider, WWE\’s announce teams are expected to undergo changes after the holidays now that Joe Tessitore\’s college football commitments have come to an end. Tessitore has been splitting duties between WWE and college football throughout the fall, and with the college football season wrapping up, he will be able to focus full-time on WWE programming. Starting in January, the announce teams will Beas follows:

New Raw and Smackdown Commentary teams

• Raw: Michael Cole and Corey Graves
• Smackdown: Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett

Andrade Free To Sign Anywhere After WWE Waives Non-Compete

According to Fightful, Andrade is now free to sign with any promotion after WWE agreed to waive his non-compete clause. The report notes that this came together after RUSH connected Andrade with an attorney who has a strong working relationship with WWE, helping facilitate the agreement.

Andrade is now a free agent and can appear for any wrestling promotion without any restrictions from WWE. The waiving of the non-compete clause is relatively rare and shows goodwill between Andrade and WWE management.

Here\’s your WWE Rumor Roundup for Saturday, December 21, 2025, featuring the latest backstage news and speculation from around the wrestling world.

WWE Implements Hiring Freeze, Turns Away TNA & AEW Talent

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE has recently informed wrestlers from both TNA and AEW that the company is not actively looking to bring in new talent at this time. \”We were told that of late talent from both TNA and AEW who have called WWE have been told that they aren\’t looking at hiring new people,\” Dave reported. The belief internally is that WWE\’s developmental pipeline is already stacked with performers who are either main roster-ready or very close to it, making outside signings largely unnecessary for the moment. The reported hiring freeze is not absolute—Meltzer clarified that exceptions could still be made for truly elite performers like Chris Jericho or Leon Slater.

Trick Williams Officially Called Up to SmackDown

According to Bodyslam.net, former TNA World Champion Trick Williams has officially been called up to the WWE main roster and is now listed internally on the SmackDown brand. Williams appeared in a backstage segment during the December 26 SmackDown taping, where he confronted WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. The two-time NXT Champion has not competed in NXT since the November 18 episode, when he lost an Iron Survivor Qualifying Match to Myles Borne. Williams is engaged to Lash Legend, who is also on the SmackDown roster.

WWE Offers Contracts to NJPW IWGP Tag Team Champions

WWE has made contract offers to Yuto-Ice and Oskar, better known as the Knockout Brothers in NJPW, according to Self Made. The duo currently holds the IWGP Tag Team Championships after defeating Taichi and Tomohiro Ishii at Destruction in Kobe in September. Multiple sources have confirmed to Self Made Pro that WWE is still very much looking \”everywhere\” for talent recruitment, including international markets, particularly to bolster their tag team division. The Knockout Brothers advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 World Tag League before falling to Gabe Kidd and Yota Tsuji, cementing their status as top-tier talent.

Jacob Fatu Expected to Return Soon After Dental Procedure

According to Fightful, Jacob Fatu is expected to make his WWE return soon after being sidelined with a dental issue. The Samoan Werewolf was written off television on the October 17 episode of SmackDown after being found backstage in a pool of blood with teeth scattered on the concrete floor. Per the report, Fatu\’s absence was due to a legitimate dental procedure that required him to take time off for recovery. Backstage sources at Survivor Series indicated that Fatu could be back on the road within the next few weeks, though no exact date has been confirmed. The former United States Champion\’s return will be a major boost for SmackDown heading into Royal Rumble season.

Nikki Bella/Cooper DeJean Dating Rumors

Social media erupted this week after WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella posted an Instagram video from her trip to Philadelphia that included footage of her posing in Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean\’s locker and celebrating with the 22-year-old after the team\’s 31-0 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. The 42-year-old Bella and DeJean have been spotted together at multiple WWE events since August, including Raw tapings in Philadelphia. However, on The Nikki & Brie Show podcast, Bella seemingly dismissed the dating speculation, revealing she hasn\’t been romantically involved with anyone recently and joked that she hasn\’t even kissed anyone \”in a long time.\” Neither Bella nor DeJean have officially commented on the nature of their relationship.

Here’s your WWE Rumor Roundup for Thursday, December 19, 2025, featuring the latest backstage news and speculation from around the wrestling world.

WWE Producing John Cena Retirement Documentary

Per WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, WWE is producing a documentary centered on John Cena’s retirement tour. The project is expected to chronicle Cena’s final year in WWE, which concluded with his emotional farewell at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13. The documentary would mark another collaboration between WWE and their content partners, similar to previous behind-the-scenes projects documenting major WWE moments.

WWE and Netflix Planning Stranger Things Crossover

WrestleVotes also says a promotional crossover between WWE and Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things is expected to happen soon. While specific details about the collaboration format remain unclear, the crossover would further strengthen WWE’s growing partnership with Netflix. The streaming service began airing Monday Night Raw earlier this year as part of their landmark $5 billion deal with WWE.

Maxxine Dupri Push

Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer claims WWE is marketing Maxxine Dupri as a wrestler who works hard to improve, but he suggests the actual reason for her push is her marketability based on appearance.

According to Meltzer, the hard-work narrative serves to deflect from the perception that she’s being pushed primarily for her looks. Dupri recently captured the Women’s Intercontinental Championship and has been featured prominently in training vignettes with Natalya.

WWE Hiring Freeze

Meltzer also notes that WWE is not actively recruiting talent, unless you\’re a legend like Chris Jericho. “We were told that of late, talent from both TNA and AEW who have called WWE have been told that they aren’t looking at hiring new people. The idea is that they have so many in developmental, many of whom are ready that they don’t need new people.\”

WWE and Fanatics Eye Netflix Podcast Expansion

A source told Front Office Sports that WWE and Fanatics plan to expand their podcast network, which currently includes shows hosted by Stephanie McMahon, Cody Rhodes, The Undertaker, and Logan Paul. The companies have recently vetted talent for new programming and are in discussions with Netflix about bringing WWE video podcasts to the streaming platform. This comes as Netflix aggressively expands its video podcast offerings with deals for Barstool Sports and iHeartMedia content.

Royal Rumble 2026 Start Time and Card Details

WrestleVotes reported that WWE’s Royal Rumble 2026 will start at 2 p.m. Eastern Time after internal debate. The early start accommodates the 10 p.m. local time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the event takes place on January 31. Per Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the show is tentatively planned as a four-match card featuring two Royal Rumble matches and two championship bouts, though the specific title matches have not been finalized.

Here’s your WWE Rumor Roundup for Thursday, December 18, 2025, featuring the latest backstage news and speculation from around the wrestling world.

No NXT Call-Ups Despite SNME Showcase

Despite widespread online speculation, WWE has NOT officially called up any NXT talent following Saturday Night’s Main Event. Bryan Alvarez addressed the rumors directly, stating “at this point, nobody has been called up.”

The rumored names included Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, Je’Von Evans, Leon Slater, and Joe Hendry, all of whom impressed at the December 13 event. Oba Femi faced Cody Rhodes in a champion vs. champion match that ended in a no-contest due to Drew McIntyre interference.

NXT Implementing New Backstage Policy After Title Botch

WWE is implementing major policy changes following Thea Hail’s accidental title win over Blake Monroe. Per Fightful Select, talent booked for tapings will now be required to stay until the end of filming, even if their segments are completed early. The botched finish caused creative chaos since WWE had already pre-taped segments with Monroe as champion through the holiday season.

Thea Hail vs. Blake Monroe Rematch Expected at New Year’s Evil

Following the unplanned title change, a rematch between Thea Hail and Blake Monroe is already being discussed internally. Multiple sources expect the bout to take place at NXT New Year’s Evil on January 6, though nothing has been officially confirmed. WWE appears to be leaning into the result for now, with the backstage confrontation segment between the two added on short notice.

Royal Rumble 2026 Start Time Finalized

WWE has officially settled on a 2 PM ET start time for the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WrestleVotes reported there was “internal back and forth” about when the show should air before landing on the afternoon slot. This translates to a 10 PM local start time in Saudi Arabia—slightly later than recent Saudi PLEs which typically started at 1 PM ET.

Raquel Rodriguez Placed in Concussion Protocol

Raquel Rodriguez has been placed in WWE’s concussion protocol following a scary spot on Monday’s RAW. During her Women’s World Championship match against Stephanie Vaquer, Nikki Bella interfered and threw Rodriguez head-first into the steel steps, leaving a visible “goose egg” on her forehead. Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live that being placed in protocol doesn’t necessarily mean she has a concussion—it’s a standard precautionary measure for head injuries.

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Ric Flair Weighs In On Cena vs. Sting Retirement Outcomes

Ric Flair has offered his take on why Sting won his retirement match while John Cena lost his. The Nature Boy stated that Sting won because there’s “no one at AEW worth putting over.” Whether fans agree with his assessment or not, it’s sparked debate across social media about how wrestling legends should go out.

WWE Officials Impressed by NXT Talent at SNME

WWE reportedly came away very encouraged by the NXT talent showcased at Saturday Night’s Main Event, with multiple performers leaving a strong impression on company officials. While no call-ups have been made yet, the future looks bright for the developmental stars who shared the stage with legends like John Cena. Leon Slater has already earned an NXT Championship match against Oba Femi at New Year’s Evil after winning a Fatal 4-Way this week.