# Royal Rumble Riyadh 2026: Surprising Returns, Powerhouse Hobbs Jumps to WWE, and Roman Reigns Fires Shots!
It is January 31, 2026, and the professional wrestling world is buzzing. Today marks a historic milestone as WWE presents the **39th Annual Royal Rumble** live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is the first time in history that the iconic January tradition has been held outside of North America, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
From massive roster jumps to shocking injury news and last-minute "spoiler" leaks, here is everything you need to know about the current landscape of pro wrestling.
## 1. Royal Rumble Riyadh: Surprise Entrants and a Major Leak
The atmosphere in Riyadh is reportedly electric. According to *Fightful Select*, WWE Hall of Famer **Nikki Bella** has been spotted in Saudi Arabia, making her a lock-in surprise for the Women’s Royal Rumble match.
However, the road to the Rumble hasn't been without its hiccups. A promotional graphic aired earlier today appears to have accidentally spoiled a major detail: **Bron Breakker** was listed as the #1 entrant for the Men’s Royal Rumble. While WWE has not confirmed this, fans are already debating if the "leak" was intentional or a major production blunder.
Adding to the hype, *Dave Meltzer* reports that rumors of former NJPW star **EVIL** appearing are at a fever pitch. With his contract expiring just yesterday, many expect the "King of Darkness" to make a shocking debut tonight.
## 2. Powerhouse Hobbs Officially Signs with WWE
In what is being described as a massive blow to AEW, **Powerhouse Will Hobbs** has officially jumped ship to WWE. Despite AEW making a "much higher than expected" final offer—reportedly exceeding the first-year earnings of any AEW original—Hobbs opted for a multi-year deal with the TKO-owned giant. Sources indicate Hobbs is looking for a "fresh start" under the Triple H creative era, signaling a major shift in the "Wednesday Night War" veteran ranks.
## 3. Roman Reigns Shoots on the WWE Locker Room
The "Tribal Chief" is back, and he isn't pulling any punches. During an appearance on *The Pat McAfee Show* just 24 hours before the Rumble, **Roman Reigns** delivered a scathing assessment of the current roster. Reigns accused the younger talent of "mediocrity," claiming that no one stepped up to "slam it home" during his recent hiatus. This "shoot" promo has added a layer of genuine tension to his return match tonight, as the locker room is reportedly fuming over his comments.
## 4. AEW Collision: The "Revolution" Build Continues
AEW isn't backing down from the Royal Rumble competition, counter-programming with a loaded live episode of *Collision* from Arlington, Texas. The card features:
* **AEW International Championship:** Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Adam Priest.
* **TNT Championship:** Mark Briscoe (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa.
* **AEW Women’s Tag Titles:** Babes of Wrath vs. Sisters of Sin.
* **Special Attraction:** Clark Connors vs. Darby Allin.
## 5. NJPW & Stardom: EVIL Departs, Heartbreak for Bozilla
The landscape of Japanese wrestling changed today as **EVIL** is officially a free agent. While NJPW offered a massive extension to keep him, his former LIJ teammate Tetsuya Naito fueled the fire by telling *Tokyo Sports* he expects to see EVIL in a "different ring" immediately.
On the Stardom side, the news is devastating. Breakout star **Bozilla** has confirmed a **complete ACL tear**. She will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of 2026, a massive loss for the promotion's heavyweight division.
## 6. Lucha Libre: The WWE/AAA Partnership One Year Later
Today marks nearly one year since WWE’s formal investment in Mexico's AAA promotion. To celebrate the "New Era," today’s AAA broadcast on FOX features **Rey de Reyes** qualifying matches, including WWE’s **Apollo Crews** competing against Jack Cartwheel, Aerostar, and La Parka. Additionally, Lola Vice is set to battle La Hiedra to determine who will challenge the reigning Mixed Tag Team Champions, Ethan Page and Chelsea Green.
## 7. Logistics: Severe Weather Disrupts WWE Travel
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the Riyadh trip. *PWInsider* reports that severe weather across the U.S. and Canada nearly stranded several Rumble participants. While the main roster stars made it to Saudi Arabia, others like **Grayson Waller and The Street Profits** were rerouted. They will now be appearing at NXT house shows this weekend to fill gaps in the domestic schedule caused by the travel chaos.
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**What are your predictions for tonight?** Will EVIL actually show up in Riyadh, or is it a smokescreen? And how do you feel about Powerhouse Hobbs joining WWE?
**Sound off in the comments below!**
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