TNA Thursday Night iMPACT on AMC taped from the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
AJ Styles’ loss at the 2026 Royal Rumble is still being talked about across the wrestling world. Few fans expected “The Phenomenal One” to fall in a career-on-the-line match, but GUNTHER did exactly that, putting Styles to sleep in a hard-hitting showdown that took place in Saudi Arabia. The moment felt final — especially when Styles lingered in the ring afterward, teasing the possibility of leaving his gloves behind.
But that moment never fully came.
Now, AJ Styles has finally addressed the emotional aftermath of that match and what it could mean for his future in WWE. Appearing on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story? podcast, the former WWE Champion explained why he ultimately chose not to leave his gloves in the ring — a longtime wrestling tradition signaling retirement.
Styles admitted he didn’t have a clear answer at the time, but his mindset was simple: never close the door completely. While he stopped short of confirming any kind of comeback, he emphasized that retirement in wrestling is rarely as final as it seems. According to Styles, everyone deserves at least one chance to return, even if that opportunity never materializes.
Perhaps the most interesting part of his comments involved family. Styles floated the idea that one day his son could step into the ring, and the possibility of tagging together — even just once — is something that keeps him from saying “never.” While he acknowledged that there will eventually be a moment when the gloves go on for good, he made it clear that he’s not rushing to define when that day comes.
For now, AJ Styles remains in a strange in-between space — not officially retired, but not actively competing either. Whether the Royal Rumble loss truly marked the end of his legendary WWE career or simply a pause remains to be seen. One thing is certain: if the gloves ever do hit the mat for good, Styles wants to be sure it’s on his own terms.
During his appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, Stephanie read a letter AJ’s wife wrote.
You can check out the letter below:
“To my loving husband whom I call Allen and the world calls ‘The Phenomenal AJ Styles,
“Growing up, who knew I would marry a wrestler? Sure, I would watch wrestling with my grandmother, but I never had a desire to marry one. Well, we paid for our small wedding with money made by your short stint in the WCW when you started chasing this dream. You always told me to trust you that you would make it. Never once did you doubt yourself. As your bride, I trusted you and even encouraged you to go when the WWE came knocking very early in your career. I believe that required you to move to Cincinnati. I was in college at the time. As a young married couple, you refused. You chose me. Even when I was pushing you to go, you politely declined the offer.
You always said we would do this together and not apart. Together we have. You have traveled the world wrestling and conquered what many only dream of accomplishing. You have put God and your family first in this business. I truly believe God opened every door and allowed not just you but our family to walk through them. For that, I am eternally grateful. You wanted to beat the house. Well, you did. A phenomenal career. Four amazing and individually gifted kids. And a loving, always supportive wife who has stood beside you the entire time. You won; come home. The phenomenal times are just beginning. I love you, babe!”
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight on TBS and HBO Max from the Pearl Concert Theater at the Psalms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
ROH x MPX Global Wars. The special episode, which is the 21st Global Wars event, will air on February 5th on HonorClub in the usual ROH timeslot at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.
The show was taped on Saturday before the weekend’s AEW Collision show and was originally set to take place last week, with the taping scheduled for January 24th. Those dates both ended up pushed back due to the winter storm that caused the January 24th episode of AEW Collision to be taped instead of air live.
WWE NXT tonight on The CW network.
New Japan Pro Wrestling is preparing for another significant shift, as the company has officially confirmed that longtime standout Hiromu Takahashi will be departing the promotion once his current contract expires.
NJPW announced the news on its official website earlier today, explaining that the decision came after discussions between both sides. Officials apologized to fans for the abrupt nature of the announcement and expressed gratitude for Takahashi’s contributions, wishing him success in whatever comes next.
While the news marks the beginning of the end of an era, Takahashi still has a handful of appearances left with the company. He is currently touring with the roster on The Road To The New Beginning, which wraps up on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka. That night will feature Takahashi’s final NJPW match, where he will team with fellow Unbound Co. member Taiji Ishimori against United Empire’s Jakob Austin Young and Francesco Akira. Once the bell rings for the final time, Takahashi will officially become a free agent.
Following the announcement, “The Time Bomb” spoke with Tokyo Sports in an exclusive interview, shedding light on his mindset and why now felt like the right moment to move on. Takahashi described the decision as something he had given serious thought to, noting that the outpouring of love from fans reinforced just how meaningful his NJPW run had been.
While he made it clear that his ambitions within wrestling haven’t changed — including his long-standing dream of eventually holding the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and competing at the very top of the card — Takahashi revealed that another personal dream has taken priority. He explained that waiting any longer could have led to regret later in life, making the timing of this decision crucial for him.
Takahashi exits NJPW with one of the most decorated résumés in junior heavyweight history. His accomplishments include five reigns as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, a run as IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, a NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship reign, and a record-setting four Best of the Super Juniors tournament victories.
As NJPW continues to evolve, Takahashi’s departure leaves a massive hole in the junior division — and opens the door to endless speculation about where one of the most influential performers of his generation may land next.
While WWE’s Royal Rumble dominated headlines over the weekend, a surprising off-screen development involving Ava quickly became one of the most talked-about stories in the company. The former WWE NXT General Manager announced on Friday that she was leaving WWE, a move that caught many fans — and insiders — off guard.
Things escalated further on Sunday when Ava posted politically charged comments on social media aimed at ICE and the Trump Administration before ultimately deactivating her X account altogether. While those remarks drew plenty of attention online, they weren’t the focus of the internal discussion within WWE.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed the situation, clarifying that Ava’s departure wasn’t the result of disciplinary action or a release. According to Meltzer, the prevailing belief backstage was simple: Ava no longer wanted to continue in her role.
Meltzer noted that those within WWE felt the decision was entirely hers, adding that Ava is expected to transition into other projects, potentially tied to the film and media studio run by her parents, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia. With those opportunities available, there was no pressure for her to remain in NXT if her heart wasn’t in it.
However, Meltzer also mentioned a quieter factor that may have played a role. He revealed that he was told Ava’s girlfriend, Tatyane Dumas, had been released by WWE a few weeks prior — a move that flew largely under the radar. While Meltzer stressed that no one directly claimed this was the reason Ava left, some within the company privately speculated that it may have influenced her decision.
Ultimately, Meltzer emphasized that there was no looming threat to Ava’s position and no indication WWE was planning to move on from her. The exit came without much warning, and even those close to the situation didn’t see it coming.
In the end, it appears Ava simply chose to step away on her own terms — and with her background and connections, her next move outside of WWE will be worth keeping an eye on.
WWE Hall of Famer Mark “The Undertaker” Calaway is stepping into a fascinating new role behind the scenes, and he’s making it clear that his goal isn’t to turn Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide into another version of WWE programming.
Back in September, reports surfaced that WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque would be overseeing creative direction for AAA, with a support group that includes Jeremy Borash, Konnan, Dorian Roldan, and Calaway himself. Now, The Undertaker is shedding more light on what that vision actually looks like.
While appearing on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Calaway emphasized that his philosophy centers on simplifying wrestling in order to elevate it.
According to The Undertaker, he wants to lean back into physicality, logical in-ring storytelling, and matches that feel grounded and meaningful. He also spoke highly of lucha libre’s deep-rooted traditions, particularly the importance of masks, family lineages, and generational legacies that are woven into AAA’s identity.
Rather than changing that culture, Calaway says the goal is to respect it.
At the same time, he believes AAA can benefit from enhanced production values and more refined storytelling to better showcase its talent. He praised the current AAA roster, noting both their athleticism and the passion of the fanbase that supports them.
Most importantly, The Undertaker made it clear that this project isn’t about exporting WWE’s formula to Mexico.
He stressed that he has no intention of turning AAA into RAW or SmackDown. Instead, the plan is to blend what AAA already does well with select elements he’s learned throughout his legendary career, creating a hybrid product that feels authentic while also appealing to a broader audience.
If Calaway’s vision comes together as planned, AAA could be entering a new era—one that honors lucha libre’s past while presenting it in a way that resonates with modern wrestling fans worldwide.
WWE Raw airs live tonight on Netflix from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Brie Bella’s surprise return at the Royal Rumble immediately sparked questions about whether the WWE Hall of Famer is back for more than just a one-night cameo — and a new backstage update has begun to clarify her situation.
After appearing in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, Brie fueled speculation with an Instagram post declaring that “BRIEMODE IS ACTIVATED.” Naturally, fans wondered if that meant a longer-term WWE run could be on the horizon.
According to Dave Meltzer, the answer for now appears to be maybe, but nothing permanent. Meltzer reported Sunday evening that Brie is back with WWE “for the time being,” suggesting the door is open but no long-term commitment has been finalized.
Brie entered the Women’s Royal Rumble at No. 29 and spent roughly seven minutes in the match before being eliminated by Lash Legend. The appearance marked her first in-ring action since the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble, making it a notable return after several years away from active competition.
Her comeback also comes at an interesting time, given the landscape of her family connections. Brie’s husband, Bryan Danielson, remains under contract with AEW and recently handled a brief color commentary role on Dynamite while Taz recovered from shoulder surgery. Despite that, Brie’s Royal Rumble appearance shows WWE is still very open to working with her.
Meanwhile, her twin sister Nikki Bella has already re-established herself in WWE over the past year. Nikki returned in 2025, reigniting her in-ring career with a feud against Liv Morgan before later turning heel and targeting Stephanie Vaquer. That run culminated in a high-profile three-way Women’s World Title match at Survivor Series, where Nikki came up short against champion Raquel Rodriguez.
For now, Brie Bella’s WWE future remains fluid. She’s officially back in the fold, but whether this turns into a sustained run, sporadic appearances, or another short-term return remains to be seen. Either way, her Royal Rumble moment has clearly reopened the conversation about what’s next for Brie in WWE.
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