As the road to WrestleMania begins, the end of the road seems near for AJ Styles.
Last Monday on Raw, Styles demanded a rematch with Gunther after nearly defeating “The Ring General” the week before. Gunther agreed, but on one condition: Styles must put his career on the line at the Royal Rumble. After thinking it over, Styles accepted.
Since then, “The Phenomenal One” defeated longtime rival Shinsuke Nakamura at Saturday Night’s Main Event in what appears to be their final match together. Hours later,
Nakamura posted a tribute to Styles on Instagram, claiming Styles told him last year he planned to retire at the Rumble.
Styles has repeatedly said 2026 will be his final year, but few expected it to come this soon. Most assumed he would at least appear at WrestleMania.
In wrestling, though, plans change. Styles might extend his career, which means he’ll have to defeat Gunther, creating a possible booking dilemma for the Austrian star.
If Gunther loses, it stalls his momentum after he tapped out John Cena in Cena’s final match in December. That could also cool off any rumored plans of a potential match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
With three other high-stakes matches on the card, Gunther vs. Styles stands among the most consequential, with an outcome sure to have a ripple effect on the way to WrestleMania.
WWE Ramps Up Rumble Build
WWE took its time building this year’s Royal Rumble, with the promotion of the event unfolding more slowly than usual. In past years, superstars often announced their Rumble entries as early as December. But after Cody Rhodes declared he was entering the men’s match on the Jan. 16 episode of SmackDown, others quickly followed.
At least half the women’s field is set, with 15 participants already announced. They include:
- Rhea Ripley
- Iyo Sky
- Charlotte Flair
- Alexa Bliss
- Liv Morgan
- Raquel Rodriguez
- Roxanne Perez
- Nia Jax
- Lash Legend
- Bayley
- Lyra Valkyria
- Jordynne Grace
- Asuka
- Chelsea Green
- Giulia
As for the men, almost a third of the match is set and includes some huge names:
- Roman Reigns
- Cody Rhodes
- Gunther
- Jacob Fatu
- Jey Uso
- Solo Sikoa
- Rey Mysterio
- Penta
- Dragon Lee
R-Truth appeared to announce his Rumble entry on last Friday’s SmackDown, but there are concerns he may not make it to the correct location after recently going to a Burlington store instead of Berlin, Germany.
While WWE still has work to do filling both matches, no clear favorite has emerged despite the star power. The men’s Rumble is especially uncertain, since its result may depend on the outcome of Undisputed WWE Championship match, which isn’t as clear-cut as it seems.
Underdog or Favorite?
Sami Zayn defeated Damian Priest, Randy Orton, and Trick Williams at Saturday Night’s Main Event to earn a match against Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Historically, the first challenger in a new champion’s first televised defense is often a stepping stone, and rumors place McIntyre, who won the title on Jan. 9, in the WrestleMania title picture.
That alone does not bode well for Zayn, nor does his record against the undisputed champion. According to Cagematch.net, Zayn has never beaten McIntyre in singles competition, with a record of 0-12 against him.
But things aren’t always as they appear.
At Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cody Rhodes and Jacob Fatu brawled before their match could officially start. Rather than let them eliminate each other, McIntyre inserted himself into the fight, putting both men through a table and leaving them battered.
McIntyre’s latest act of treachery follows his torment of Rhodes and his Undisputed title win over “The American Nightmare,” and comes months after he allegedly injured Fatu.
It’s not unreasonable to think Rhodes or Fatu — together or separately — will seek payback at the Rumble. If that happens, it could open the door for a Zayn victory and a winding road to Las Vegas, host of this year’s WrestleMania.
Weather and Construction Notes
Crews in Saudi Arabia continue to put the finishing touches on the temporary open-air stadium set to host the Royal Rumble in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.
Despite its hot desert climate, vacation website Responsible Travel notes that January is Saudi Arabia’s coldest month. While the forecast calls for nighttime lows in the 50s on Saturday, the weather on the way to Riyadh could be a bigger issue.
Rough winter conditions in North America reportedly kept announcer Joe Tessitore from reaching Montreal for Saturday Night’s Main Event. However, Fightful Select reports WWE expects everyone to arrive in Riyadh in time for the Rumble and SmackDown the night before.
How to Watch
The Royal Rumble will stream on ESPN in the U.S. on Jan. 31, starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Internationally, the action will stream live on Netflix. Fans can also catch the action on the big screen at select movie theaters. Tickets for the Rumble screening are on sale now through Fandango.
