Friday, February 6, 2026
Wrestling News February 6 2026
# WrestleMania 42 Chaos: Massive Creative Pivots, Major WWE Signings, and Shocking AEW Squash
The road to WrestleMania 42 has taken a sharp, unexpected turn. As of Friday, February 6, 2026, the professional wrestling landscape is shifting beneath our feet following the fallout from the Royal Rumble. From major injury-forced script rewrites in WWE to a stunning upset in AEW, here is everything you need to know about today’s top stories.
## 1. Massive WrestleMania 42 Creative Pivots Revealed
According to the latest *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*, Dave Meltzer reports that WWE’s creative team has been forced into a "complete overhaul" of the WrestleMania 42 card. Originally, fans were looking at a blockbuster lineup featuring **Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns** and **Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk**.
Unfortunately, Rollins’ legitimate shoulder injury sustained at Crown Jewel has scrapped those plans.
* **The Bron Breakker Factor:** Internal documents originally had Bron Breakker winning the 2026 Royal Rumble to dethrone CM Punk. That plan is now dead.
* **The New Reality:** With Roman Reigns winning the Rumble instead, he has officially challenged CM Punk. Meanwhile, **Drew McIntyre** has successfully politicked (with Cody’s blessing) for a top-tier spot following their "Three Stages of Hell" war. Expect McIntyre vs. Rhodes to be a cornerstone of the Philly mega-show.
## 2. Royce Keys (Powerhouse Hobbs) Signs with WWE
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the industry, **Fightful Select** has confirmed that former AEW standout Powerhouse Hobbs is now officially WWE Superstar **Royce Keys**.
Keys was reportedly seen backstage at Monday Night Raw, but sources confirm he has been assigned to the **SmackDown** brand. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is rumored to be introducing Keys as the ultimate "powerhouse counter" to the ongoing dominance of The Bloodline and the MFT.
## 3. Brody King Squashes MJF; Becomes #1 Contender
In what is being described as one of the most shocking results in *AEW Dynamite* history, **Brody King** didn't just beat AEW World Champion **MJF**—he squashed him.
By winning this non-title Eliminator Match, King has secured a championship opportunity at **AEW Grand Slam Australia**. Despite the loss, MJF remains as vocal as ever, responding to viral crowd chants by labeling AEW "the listening company" and doubling down on his refusal to censor the fans.
## 4. Elimination Chamber 2026 Qualifiers Set for SmackDown
The path to Chicago’s Elimination Chamber (Feb 28) begins tonight on SmackDown. WWE has loaded the card with high-stakes qualifying matches:
* **Men’s Triple Threat:** Randy Orton vs. Solo Sikoa vs. Aleister Black.
* **Women’s Triple Threat:** Tiffany Stratton vs. Chelsea Green vs. Lash Legend.
* **Tag Team Gold:** The dominant duo of Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY (**RHIYO**) defend their titles against Giulia & Kiana James.
* **The Royal Rumble Winner:** Liv Morgan is set to appear to finally announce which champion she’s targeting for WrestleMania.
## 5. The Mystery of AJ Styles’ "Retirement"
Is "The Phenomenal One" truly finished? Following his recent loss to Gunther, rumors of **AJ Styles'** retirement have reached a fever pitch.
While Roman Reigns posted a cryptic "farewell" message to Styles on social media today, **Fightful Select** indicates that the door isn't completely closed. Internal speculation suggests WWE may be planning a final "Sayonara" tour or a massive surprise return later this summer to give Styles the proper send-off he deserves.
## 6. WWE Roster Departures: Kelly Kincaid Exits
The transition into WWE’s "Netflix era" continues to result in backstage reshuffling. **Ringside News** and **Fightful** confirmed today that **Kelly Kincaid** (known as Kelly Borne in NXT) has officially departed the company. Kincaid, who served as a versatile backstage interviewer and ring announcer, is the latest on-screen personality to exit as the company streamlines its production teams.
## 7. International Update: NJPW Road To New Beginning & NOAH Jr. Tag League
The action is just as intense overseas. In Japan, **NJPW** is moving forward with the "Road to The New Beginning" tour. Notably, **Drilla Moloney** is reportedly working through an injury but has opted to continue competing on the tour.
Meanwhile, **Pro Wrestling NOAH** officially kicked off the **Junior Tag League 2026** at Korakuen Hall. Early standouts include the teams of Daga & Daiki Odashima and Dragon Bane & Alejandro. The winners of this round-robin tournament will earn a title shot on March 1st.
---
### **Conclusion**
From Royce Keys’ arrival on SmackDown to the total restructuring of WrestleMania 42, the next few weeks are going to be historic. Can Drew McIntyre fill the void left by the "scrapped" Bron Breakker push? And will Brody King actually dethrone MJF in Australia?
**What do you think about the WrestleMania pivots? Is Royce Keys the right man to stop The Bloodline? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!**
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
wrestling news february 4 2026
# Wrestling News: AJ Styles Finished with WWE, Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania 42 Plans, and NJPW Exodus Begins
The professional wrestling landscape has been shifted to its core this week. Following the fallout of a massive Royal Rumble, we are seeing the end of legendary careers, the rise of "Phenomenal" free agents, and a total restructuring of rosters across WWE, AEW, and NJPW. Here is your comprehensive news breakdown for **Wednesday, February 4, 2026**.
## AJ Styles Finished with WWE; AEW and NJPW on High Alert
Is "The Phenomenal One" about to test the open market one last time? According to *Fightful Select*, AJ Styles has officially wrapped up his active in-ring career with WWE. This follows his high-stakes "forced retirement" match against GUNTHER at the Royal Rumble.
While Styles’ contract is reportedly set to expire later this month, sources say he is satisfied with how his WWE run concluded. However, "retirement" in wrestling is rarely permanent. Word backstage at the recent *AEW Dynamite* suggests Tony Khan is preparing a massive offer to bring Styles in for a final legendary run. Not to be outdone, NJPW is also reportedly interested in a homecoming for the former Bullet Club leader to help stabilize their roster.
## Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi Discussed for WrestleMania 42
WWE is looking toward the bright lights of Las Vegas for **WrestleMania 42**, and a "clash of titans" is currently on the drawing board. On the latest *Wrestling Observer Radio*, Dave Meltzer noted that WWE is internalizing a "Beast vs. Ruler" program between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi.
The seeds were planted when Lesnar eliminated Femi during the Royal Rumble match. Femi has since vacated the NXT Championship and made a violent statement on *Raw* by decimating The War Raiders. While the match isn't 100% locked in, it is currently the frontrunner for Lesnar’s spot on the grandest stage of them all.
## NJPW Shakeup: Hiromu Takahashi and EVIL Departure News
New Japan Pro Wrestling is facing a historic talent exodus. The promotion has officially confirmed that **Hiromu Takahashi** will finish his 16-year tenure following *The New Beginning in Osaka* on February 11.
The "Ticking Time Bomb" is reportedly looking to achieve one final major goal, leading to speculation of a jump to AEW, WWE, or even NOAH. To make matters worse for NJPW, *POST Wrestling* reports that **EVIL** (Takaaki Watanabe) is also expected to depart. This marks a massive turning point for the King of Sports as they look to rebuild their main event scene.
## Joe Hendry Wins NXT Championship; New Management Named
"I believe in Joe Hendry" is the new mantra of the NXT brand. In a chaotic Ladder Match on the February 3 edition of *NXT*, Hendry captured the vacant NXT Championship. This victory ushers in a new era for the developmental brand, which also saw **Mr. Stone** named the Interim General Manager by Shawn Michaels following Ava's departure.
In other roster news, the main roster has gained significant firepower. Following their standout performances in the Rumble, both **Jordynne Grace** and **Trick Williams** have officially signed with the *SmackDown* brand.
## AEW Dynamite Tonight: World Title Contenders Series Begins
Tony Khan is wasting no time finding a challenger for MJF at *Revolution*. Tonight’s *Dynamite* live from Las Vegas kicks off the **World Championship Contenders Series**. The loaded card includes:
* **Kenny Omega vs. Andrade El Idolo** (Contenders Series Match)
* **Hangman Adam Page vs. Mark Davis** (Contenders Series Match)
* **Ricochet (c) vs. Jack Perry** for the AEW National Title
* **MJF vs. Brody King** in a World Title Eliminator Match
Rumors are also swirling that AEW is close to signing **Clark Connors** following his exit from NJPW.
## Flip Gordon Wins 2026 CMLL Reyes del Aire
Flip Gordon continues his dominance in Mexico. As reported by *TheCubsFan.com*, Gordon emerged victorious in the **2026 Reyes del Aire** tournament at Arena México, defeating Yutani in the finals. As the current CMLL World Historic Middleweight Champion, Gordon has become one of the most successful *extranjeros* in recent history, further strengthening the working relationship between CMLL and AEW.
## Ratings Controversy: Nielsen’s "Big Data" Impact
The business side of wrestling is in a state of confusion due to Nielsen’s new "Big Data" methodology. Reports indicate a frustrating **20-30% drop** in the vital 18–49 demographic for *SmackDown*, *NXT*, and *Dynamite*.
While total viewership numbers have remained steady, the "inexplicable" dip in the key demo has caused tension between the major networks (USA, WBD, The CW) and Nielsen. Dave Meltzer reports that internal data suggests the audience hasn't actually left; rather, the tracking system is failing to capture them accurately.
***
**What do you think?** Should AJ Styles go to AEW for one last run, or should he stay retired? And is Oba Femi ready to take on "The Beast" at WrestleMania?
**Sound off in the comments below!**
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
