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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.
Chris Jericho continues to prove there’s life beyond the wrestling ring. The AEW star and former multi-time world champion is set to appear in an upcoming Apple TV series alongside Hollywood heavyweight Nicole Kidman.
According to Elle, Jericho will be featured in the new series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, marking another notable acting credit for the veteran performer. While details about Jericho’s character haven’t been officially revealed, early promotional images offer a strong hint. One preview photo shows Jericho standing in the corner of a wrestling ring behind Kidman, who is dressed in colorful pink-and-blue ring gear while leaning against the ropes — suggesting wrestling will play at least some role in the storyline.
Jericho also took to social media to hype the project, expressing his excitement about working with such a high-profile cast. He noted that filming alongside Kidman and Nick Offerman was a blast and praised the ensemble as an “all-star cast.”
Margo’s Got Money Troubles stars Elle Fanning as Margo Millet, a 20-year-old woman whose life takes a complicated turn after becoming pregnant by her junior college professor. As financial pressures mount, Margo turns to OnlyFans — with marketing help coming from her estranged father, a former professional wrestler.
Nick Offerman portrays that father, Jinx Millet, a retired wrestler navigating his own past while trying to help his daughter survive. Kidman also plays a former pro wrestler and longtime friend of Jinx, further tying the series into the wrestling world. Michelle Pfeiffer rounds out the core cast as Margo’s mother, Shyanne, a single mom with her own complicated history.
The series is scheduled to premiere on April 15 on Apple TV. The first three episodes will drop immediately, followed by weekly releases for the remaining five episodes.
Between music, wrestling, and now another major television role, Jericho continues to show why he’s one of the most versatile personalities to ever come out of the pro wrestling business.
Another familiar name from the modern wrestling era is preparing to step away from active competition. Former WWE star Nixon Newell, best known to many fans as Tegan Nox, has confirmed that she’s likely entering the final year of her in-ring wrestling career.
Speaking recently on Casual Conversations with The Classic, Newell explained that this timeline has been on her mind since her WWE release in 2024. At the time, she gave herself a rough two-year window, and with one year already gone, she now sees the end of her full-time wrestling run coming into focus.
According to Newell, the decision isn’t rooted in burnout or frustration with wrestling itself. Instead, her passion has simply shifted. These days, she finds far more fulfillment behind the scenes — producing matches, training talent, and helping others grow within the industry.
Newell has already begun embracing that role. She’s been producing shows alongside Miranda Alize and assisting with training at Evolution Dojo in Houston, experiences she described as genuinely rewarding. Helping others succeed, she said, has always come naturally to her, and that mindset has only grown stronger as her career has progressed.
After spending more than a decade wrestling across the globe — including stints in Japan, Europe, Canada, the UK, and several years inside WWE — Newell feels she’s reached a point where lifting others up means more to her than chasing personal accolades.
Her future plans extend beyond wrestling production as well. Newell is actively studying personal training and massage therapy, with a focus on injury recovery for athletes. That path is deeply personal, given her own well-documented history with major injuries.
During her WWE run, Newell suffered multiple devastating setbacks, including an ACL tear just weeks before the inaugural Mae Young Classic and a horrific injury during the 2018 tournament that saw her fracture her tibia while tearing her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. Those experiences, she says, shaped her desire to help others navigate the long and difficult road back from serious injuries.
While she hasn’t completely closed the door on wrestling opportunities that may arise in the next year, Newell made it clear that her priorities have changed. Her focus is now firmly on education, licensing, and building a future centered around coaching, rehabilitation, and mentorship.
Newell’s most recent match took place in December 2025 for Riot Cabaret Pro Wrestling in London. Whether or not fans see her step into the ring again, it’s clear her impact on the wrestling world is far from over — it’s simply entering a new chapter.
The speculation is officially over. Former AEW standout Powerhouse Hobbs has arrived in WWE — and he’s doing so under a new name.
Hobbs made his WWE debut during the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble, entering the match at No. 14 and immediately revealing his new ring name, Royce Keys. His arrival drew a massive reaction from the Riyadh crowd, helped in part by a striking presentation that featured his old “Powerhouse Hobbs” name going up in smoke on the titantron before he stepped through the curtain.
While Keys didn’t go the distance in his first WWE appearance, his debut left little doubt that the company views him as a major player. He wasted no time making an impact, going straight after Damian Priest and scoring a statement elimination by dumping the former world champion over the top rope.
Keys’ Rumble run also saw him mix it up with several notable names, including fast-rising NXT standout Je’Von Evans and former WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. The repeated interactions with Rhodes were particularly notable, given Rhodes’ status as the most high-profile example of an AEW talent successfully transitioning to WWE. Keys was also shown squaring off with hard-hitting competitors like Ilja Dragunov, further reinforcing his positioning among WWE’s upper-tier talent.
Ultimately, Keys’ night came to an end thanks to a combined effort from The Vision, with Bronson Reed being officially credited with the elimination.
Before joining WWE, Keys was best known for his time in AEW as Powerhouse Hobbs. During his run there, he captured the AEW Trios Championship alongside Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata as part of the group known as The Opps. His AEW contract expired on January 14, the same day he competed in his final match for the company, losing the Trios titles to JetSpeed and “Hangman” Adam Page.
As of now, WWE has not confirmed which brand Royce Keys will land on following his Royal Rumble debut. While a move to NXT would be a logical starting point, his interactions with established main-roster stars — and even AAA-linked talent during the match — suggest WWE may have bigger plans for him sooner rather than later.
Either way, Royal Rumble 2026 marked the official beginning of a new chapter for Royce Keys, and his arrival is one that won’t go unnoticed.
AJ Styles’ legendary WWE run came to a heartbreaking conclusion at Royal Rumble 2026, as “The Phenomenal One” was defeated by GUNTHER after passing out in the Ring General’s sleeper hold.
Following the match, Styles briefly teased leaving his gloves in the ring — a traditional symbol of retirement — before ultimately putting them back on and taking in the ovation from the Riyadh crowd, choosing to acknowledge the fans one final time rather than quietly walking away.
After both men vowed on SmackDown to make the other submit, the match began with Styles targeting GUNTHER’s leg in hopes of setting up the Calf Crusher. GUNTHER quickly shifted the momentum, dumping Styles to the floor and unleashing his trademark brutality by slamming him into the announce desk and ring post.
Styles battled back with a well-timed Pele Kick and continued hunting for the Calf Crusher. GUNTHER countered with a powerbomb, but Styles stayed alive and managed to lock in the submission on a second attempt. The Ring General responded by wrapping Styles up in a sleeper, signaling the beginning of the endgame.
Momentum swung wildly as Styles connected with a Phenomenal Forearm and wiped GUNTHER out on the outside. Back in the ring, the two traded punishment, with GUNTHER’s relentless chops wearing Styles down. Still, Styles dug deep, landing a springboard 450 splash followed by a Styles Clash that came agonizingly close to ending the match.
GUNTHER avoided another Phenomenal Forearm and went back to the sleeper, only for Styles to counter with one of his own. Drawing from their controversial encounter in Germany, GUNTHER once again bent the rules, distracting the referee before delivering a low blow to regain control.
An increasingly frustrated GUNTHER unloaded with repeated chops as Styles tried to mount one last comeback. Before Styles could fire off another Pele Kick, GUNTHER snatched him up and cinched in the sleeper once more. Styles fought desperately, reaching toward the ropes with his fingertips just inches away, but GUNTHER refused to release the hold.
With nowhere left to go, Styles passed out in the center of the ring, forcing the referee to stop the match and officially ending his WWE career.
While the loss marked a devastating conclusion, the post-match reaction made it clear: AJ Styles left Royal Rumble 2026 not just as a defeated competitor, but as one of the most respected and celebrated performers in WWE history.
WWE Hall of Famer Brie Bella made an unexpected return to the ring during the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble, entering the match at No. 29. Her appearance came after PWInsider Elite reported earlier in the day that Bella had quietly been flown into Saudi Arabia ahead of the event.
The familiar “Brie Mode!” theme hit inside the stadium, signaling her arrival just minutes after her twin sister Nikki Bella entered at No. 25. Brie wasted no time getting involved, unloading with her signature kicks on Raquel Rodriguez. On commentary, Michael Cole noted that the moves are now referred to as the “It Kicks,” a nod to the fact that the “Yes!” chant was popularized in WWE by Brie’s husband, Bryan Danielson (formerly Daniel Bryan).
Moments later, Brie helped Nikki back to her feet, and the sisters shared a brief reunion in the middle of the ring. The Bella Twins then went on a short but effective run, teaming up to eliminate both Lyra Valkyria and Bayley while leading the crowd in another round of “Yes!” chants.
The nostalgia-fueled comeback came to an end when Lash Legend overpowered both sisters, eliminating Brie and Nikki together and drawing audible disappointment from the Riyadh crowd. Despite the brief run, Brie Bella’s return stood out as one of the night’s most memorable Royal Rumble moments.
WWE kicked off the road to WrestleMania in massive fashion with Royal Rumble 2026, delivering two chaotic Rumble matches, a career-ending classic, and a hard-hitting championship bout. By the end of the night, Liv Morgan and Roman Reigns stood tall as this year’s Rumble winners — but not without controversy, shock eliminations, and emotional moments along the way.
The Women’s Royal Rumble opened the show with Charlotte Flair drawing the unlucky No. 1 spot and immediately setting a playful-but-competitive tone with Alexa Bliss. The early portion mixed humor and intensity before the match quickly escalated with powerhouse entries like Nia Jax, Jordynne Grace, Lash Legend, and Raquel Rodriguez.
Grace made a huge impact, eliminating Candice LeRae, Lola Vice, and Ivy Nile before eventually being overpowered by Lash Legend. The middle stretch saw Becky Lynch briefly enter the fray, only to be shockingly dumped out by Natalya moments after eliminating Maxxine Dupri.
Star power ramped up late with appearances from Bayley, Brie Bella returned to WWE joining her sister Nikki, Tiffany Stratton, IYO SKY, Asuka, Rhea Ripley, and Giulia. Ripley ran roughshod through multiple competitors, including Chelsea Green and Roxanne Perez, before Raquel Rodriguez stunned the crowd by eliminating her.
The final stretch narrowed down to Liv Morgan, Tiffany Stratton, and Sol Ruca. After a wild apron battle and a failed Sol Snatcher attempt, Stratton eliminated Ruca — only for Morgan to capitalize seconds later.
Winner: Liv Morgan, last eliminating Tiffany Stratton
Reward: Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania
In one of the most emotional matches of the night, AJ Styles put his career on the line against GUNTHER in a brutal, methodical battle. Styles survived relentless chops, powerbombs, and submissions, repeatedly locking in the Calf Crusher while refusing to stay down.
GUNTHER ultimately resorted to ruthless efficiency, repeatedly applying the Gojira Clutch. Despite Styles clawing for the ropes and fighting through sheer will, the referee was forced to stop the match when AJ could no longer defend himself.
Winner: GUNTHER (Referee Stoppage)
Result: AJ Styles’ career officially comes to an end
Post-match, Styles received a lengthy standing ovation, sharing an emotional farewell with the crowd.- AJ takes his gloves off as the crowd chants “NO!” before putting them back on! He throws up his hand gesture as people in the crowd are shown reciprocating and throwing up Too Sweets for him. The chants shift to “AJ Styles!” and he leaves the ring.
He gets a couple steps up the ramp before heading back in and climbing the turnbuckles, throwing up Too Sweets and holding his hand to his heart as his music starts up one more time and he takes his leave.
A poignant goodbye to a legendary career.
Sami Zayn pushed Drew McIntyre to the limit in a grueling title defense that featured near-falls, desperation counters, and escalating intensity. Zayn survived Future Shock DDTs and a Claymore, even catching McIntyre with a Helluva Kick for a heart-stopping near fall.
Ultimately, McIntyre’s power and ruthlessness prevailed. After surviving Zayn’s last rally, the champion nailed a second Claymore to finally put the challenger away.
Winner: Drew McIntyre (Pinfall)
Result: McIntyre retains the WWE Undisputed Men’s Championship
The Men’s Royal Rumble began in shocking fashion as Bron Breakker was ambushed during his entrance by a masked attacker and immediately eliminated by Oba Femi. Femi dominated the early portion, racking up multiple eliminations before becoming a target himself.
The match escalated with surprise entries, legends, and chaos – return of the Original El Grande Americano (Chad Gable), the much anticipated debut of Royce Keys (Powerhouse Hobbs), plus Mr, Iguana and La Parka from AAA
Brock Lesnar entering at No. 22 and bulldozing half the field before being eliminated through a temporary alliance between Cody Rhodes and LA Knight.
Roman Reigns entered late and quickly asserted dominance, eliminating The Miz, Jey Uso, and later Jacob Fatu. GUNTHER entered at No. 30 despite visible damage from earlier in the night, adding another layer of drama.
The final four came down to Roman Reigns, GUNTHER, Randy Orton, and Logan Paul. Paul was eliminated by Reigns, Orton was shoved out by GUNTHER, and the final showdown became a war of attrition between The Tribal Chief and The Ring General.
After surviving multiple Gojira Clutch attempts, Reigns rallied with a spear and sent GUNTHER over the top rope to seal the victory.
Winner: Roman Reigns, last eliminating GUNTHER
Reward: Men’s Championship match at WrestleMania
Simone Johnson — known to WWE fans as NXT General Manager Ava — has officially parted ways with WWE. The former Ava Raine confirmed the news on Friday, revealing she chose not to renew her contract and that this past Tuesday’s episode of NXT marked her final appearance with the company.
Taking to Instagram, Ava shared a heartfelt message thanking fans and those she worked with during her time in WWE. She acknowledged the decision wasn’t an easy one, but described it as a meaningful new chapter in her life.
“While my decision to not renew my contract was very difficult, it’s also a new turning point in my life,” Ava wrote. “It has been an honor & a privilege to be Ava.”
Ava’s WWE journey was historic from the start. As the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, she became the first fourth-generation wrestler to sign with WWE when she joined the company in February 2020. She began training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando and eventually made her televised debut on NXT in October 2022 as part of Joe Gacy’s dark and controversial faction, The Schism.
Competing under the ring name Ava Raine — later shortened to Ava — her in-ring run was brief. She wrestled just four televised matches and never picked up a singles victory. Not long after, WWE pivoted her role on screen, positioning her as an assistant to Shawn Michaels before elevating her to the role of NXT General Manager in January 2024.
Despite limited ring time, Ava became a consistent on-screen presence as the authority figure of WWE’s developmental brand. One of her most high-profile moments came during NXT: New Year’s Evil in January 2025, when she shared a backstage segment with her father — a rare on-screen crossover between the two.
As of now, The Rock, who sits on TKO’s board of directors, has not publicly commented on his daughter’s departure.
What’s next for Ava remains unclear, but her exit closes a unique chapter in WWE history. Whether she stays connected to the wrestling business or pursues something entirely new, her decision marks a major shift — both for her personally and for the future direction of NXT’s on-screen leadership.
AEW Collision live Saturday night 1/31/2026 at 8/7C on TNT and HBO Max from Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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