Backstage WWE Rumors on AJ Styles, Rey Mysterio, LA Knight and More
The Road to WrestleMania 42 kicks off Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the 2026 Royal Rumble, and the rumor mill is overflowing with possibilities surrounding Superstars who may appear at the event or in the men's and women's matches.
Who are the latest names discussed for the bout and how close are we to seeing the legendary AJ Styles retire?
Find out in this latest collection of reports.
AJ Styles Retirement Update
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AJ Styles may well wrestle his final match Saturday when he squares off with Gunther in a contest where his career will be at stake.
Regardless of whether he wins, The Phenomenal One's in-ring career appears to be winding down, with Triple H telling ESPN during an appearance on Unsportsmanlike that he has been working on a list of matches Styles wants to have before he wraps up.
Recently, we have seen the future Hall of Famer battle Shinsuke Nakamura and CM Punk, two men with whom he has a lengthy history.
The 48-year-old has also already worked Gunther, with The Ring General getting the better of him under controversial circumstances.
Whether Styles retires Saturday or if that decision is on hold until later down the road, Triple H's answer suggests the former WWE champion has only a few matches left in the company.
So, it is fitting that someone of Styles' stature should have the opportunity to go out on his own terms against some of the names he wants to face on his way to retirement.
Is Rey Mysterio Injured?
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Rey Mysterio appeared to suffer a knee injury during his match with Austin Theory on Monday's Raw, sparking concern that he would miss the Royal Rumble.
That does not appear to be the case, though.
Mysterio is in Saudi Arabia for the event, posting a selfie on Instagram with fellow WWE Superstars ahead of this weekend's PLE.
The Hall of Famer has a long history of knee issues that have caused him to miss significant ring time, so there was legitimate concern.
However, it seems the greatest luchador of all time will be ready to appear in the men's Rumble, which he will attempt to win for the second time in his career.
Will LA Knight Appear at the Royal Rumble
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LA Knight has not been seen on WWE TV since the December 8 episode of Raw, when he was brutally attacked and driven through the roof of a car by Bronson Reed.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported: "As of earlier this month, LA Knight was scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia. There are decorations on hand implying he will be there."
The Megastar is one of the bigger names on Raw and someone who can immediately return to television, be inserted into a main event-caliber program and be accepted in that role by fans.
It makes sense that, as the company kicks off the road to WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, it would want one of its top performers back in commission and ready to play a big role in ongoing stories.
With Reed slated for the men's Rumble, might the Australian see his hopes of a WrestleMania main event thwarted by the returning Knight?
Update on an NXT Entrant in the Women's Royal Rumble
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Sapp also reported that Sol Ruca is "expected to be in Saudi Arabia for the Royal Rumble. There will be NXT talent present."
Ruca is no stranger to high-profile WWE main roster shows. She appeared on the December 13 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, defeating future Hall of Famer Bayley for the biggest win of her young career.
One of the standouts of the NXT roster, it makes total sense that the uber-athletic former North American champion would be one of the competitors handpicked to appear in this year's women's Royal Rumble.
Since its inception in 2018, the match has regularly featured stars from NXT, giving them a platform to showcase their abilities while also offering fans a preview of the talented competitors who will be coming to the main roster in the future.
Ruca has been ready to make her way to main roster programming for a while now, and if the Rumble spells the beginning of that run, then it will be about time.
