During the WWE Royal Rumble event on February 2, Rhea Ripley, the current Women’s Tag Team Champion, sustained an injury that has raised concern among fans and insiders. Ripley was eliminated after taking a rough fall, bringing attention to her condition amidst the high-stakes competition. Alongside Ripley’s incident, Roman Reigns claimed victory in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match, signaling his return as a leading contender in WWE. These developments mark significant moments for the company as it navigates talent challenges and storylines.
Dominik Mysterio Faces a New Challenger at AAA Event
Dominik Mysterio, holding both the Intercontinental and AAA Mega Championships, has remained largely inactive in WWE ring action since his win against John Cena at Survivor Series: WarGames 2025. Recently, he made an appearance at a Lucha Libre AAA show, where Vikingo earned the #1 contender spot for Mysterio’s AAA Mega Championship. After Vikingo’s win, Mysterio taunted his opponent and Vikingo’s stablemates, positioning himself for a championship defense at Rey de Reyes.
“Congratulations, Vikingo, because you are my new challenger. Your Mega Champion! But truthfully, I want to congratulate you because it seems like you have a new family. And never in my life have I seen so many cowards in one ring, but here we are. And for the last time, I want to congratulate you because at Rey de Reyes, you’ll be in the main event thanks to me, Dominik Mysterio, facing me for my Mega Championship,” Dominik Mysterio said.
Mysterio’s recent wrestling activity at AAA’s Guerra De Titanes 2025 was cut short due to an injury sustained during a tag team match. This sidelined him but set the stage for an intriguing rivalry leading up to his next title defense.
Roman Reigns Receives New Moniker After Royal Rumble Victory
Roman Reigns made a decisive statement by winning the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, outlasting 29 competitors to secure his place as a top contender in WWE once again. Following his victory, Triple H dubbed Reigns “The Cerebral Assassin,” heralding his strategic dominance in the ring. Although Reigns has operated as a part-timer in recent years, this win signals a possible renewed focus on reclaiming WWE’s top spot.
Details Emerging on Rhea Ripley’s Injury After Royal Rumble Elimination
Rhea Ripley was a strong contender in the Women’s Royal Rumble, lasting among the top five participants before being eliminated by Raquel Rodriguez. During her elimination, Ripley took a precarious fall and was visibly in pain, requiring assistance from referee Jessika Carr. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion’s injury has prompted concerns regarding her ability to compete in upcoming events. Official updates on her condition are still awaited, as the company and fans monitor her recovery closely.
Ava’s Sudden Exit from WWE After Declining New Contract Offer
Ava recently confirmed her departure from WWE, making her final appearance as NXT general manager. Despite being offered a lucrative contract extension, she decided to forgo continuing with the company to pursue other interests. Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer shed light on Ava’s decision, noting her diminished enthusiasm for wrestling and her potential future outside the industry.
“I’ve talked to and heard from several people and the general thing was is just she didn’t want to do it anymore. There was no compelling reason. It was just one of those things where her parents own a studio and they thought that she’s probably going to end up working there. She doesn’t have to do it,” Meltzer said.
Ava initially joined WWE in 2020 as an active competitor before transitioning to a management role in 2024, where she served as NXT’s general manager. Her departure marks another notable shift in WWE’s talent roster and management landscape.
Implications of Recent WWE Developments on Future Storylines
The injury to Rhea Ripley poses immediate questions about the future plans for the WWE Women’s Tag Team division, where she currently holds championship gold. Her absence, even temporary, could lead to title defenses being postponed or new contenders emerging. Roman Reigns’ renewed prominence following his Royal Rumble win sets the stage for high-profile matches moving forward, especially with his new moniker emphasizing his cerebral approach.
Dominik Mysterio’s injury and the challenge from Vikingo add intrigue to the AAA Mega Championship storylines intersecting with WWE talent, while Ava’s exit underscores changing dynamics behind the scenes. Collectively, these events illustrate WWE’s ongoing balancing act between top-tier talent exchanges, wrestler health, and evolving story arcs that remain central to maintaining audience engagement.
Triple H is asked when they can hear from Roman Reigns next.
“I was given a nickname at one point of time, ‘Cerebral Assassin’ by Jim Ross, and it would be a name that I would use for Roman Reigns right now. One of the greatest thinkers in this business.
He will take some time… pic.twitter.com/1JyHHkuJ6t
— meraWRESTLING (@meraWRESTLING) February 1, 2026
