At 51 years old, Rey Mysterio competed in his 15th Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, drawing entry number four. Despite participating, he did not eliminate any opponents and was eliminated early by Oba Femi. A few days later, on the February 2, 2026, episode of Monday Night RAW in Philadelphia, announcer Michael Cole disclosed that Mysterio had suffered an injury during the Royal Rumble event. This came after fans grew concerned following Mysterio’s match against Austin Theory on RAW, where he appeared to be hurt and was assisted backstage.
Although injured, Mysterio still traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Royal Rumble match. However, it remains uncertain if this injury is officially confirmed or if Michael Cole mentioned Mysterio’s condition to explain his absence during a match involving Penta, Bronson Reed, Austin Theory, and Logan Paul. In that match, Penta secured a win over Reed by count-out after interference from LA Knight, who attacked Reed while the referee was incapacitated.
Reflecting on John Cena’s Character Shift and Mysterio’s Reaction
Last year, John Cena made a surprising heel turn at Elimination Chamber 2025, then returned to a babyface role ahead of SummerSlam 2025. This shift in Cena’s character sparked reactions from many in the WWE community, including Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio. He openly shared his feelings about Cena’s unexpected betrayal.
The day I saw John Cena turn on Cody [Rhodes], I was sick to my stomach,
Mysterio said.
I couldn’t believe it; but I didn’t see it coming. I had 50/50 partial feelings on what was going on, because if I didn’t see it coming, that means it was done very well.
— Rey Mysterio, Hall of Famer
What Mysterio’s Injury Could Mean Moving Forward
Rey Mysterio’s status following the recent Royal Rumble event remains unclear, leaving fans anxious about his health and potential role in upcoming WWE shows. As a veteran who has participated in numerous Royal Rumble matches throughout his career, any injury could impact future storylines and appearances. WWE watchers will be closely monitoring updates to determine when Mysterio might return to in-ring competition and how this situation could influence ongoing rivalries, particularly given the recent complex interactions involving Bronson Reed, Austin Theory, and others.
