Roman Reigns Returns at Royal Rumble Amid CM Punk Chaos

Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, Royal Rumble, WWE, WWE RAW, Roman Reigns Royal Rumble
Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, Royal Rumble, WWE, WWE RAW, Roman Reigns Royal Rumble [Image Source: WRESTLING-WORLD]
Smackdown

AJ Styles opened WWE RAW by expressing that 2026 might mark his retirement, vowing to claim the World Heavyweight Championship one last time before stepping away. Addressing Gunther, Styles asserted his determination, noting that Gunther would not be the one to retire him at the Royal Rumble as he “isn’t phenomenal” like himself.

CM Punk Challenges AJ Styles for World Heavyweight Title

CM Punk entered the ring to affirm his respect for AJ Styles, questioning if Styles was truly ready to risk his career against Gunther. Punk revealed his desire for their first-ever match inside a WWE ring and raised the stakes by offering to put the World Heavyweight Championship on the line. After the crowd enthusiastically urged the contest, Styles accepted, leading to an agreement for the main event later that night.

Summary of WWE RAW on January 26, 2026

The night’s matches included Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and Stephanie Vaquer defeating The Judgment Day, Austin Theory overcoming Rey Mysterio, Alpha Academy prevailing over The New Day, American Made, and Los Americanos, and a World Heavyweight Championship match between CM Punk and AJ Styles that ended without a decision.

Tag Team Action Provides Early Excitement

The early tag match saw IYO SKY and Roxanne Perez start strong with SKY dominating, though Perez retaliated after a distraction by Raquel Rodriguez. Stephanie Vaquer’s attempted move was interrupted by Raquel, leading to a multi-wrestler exchange. Rhea Ripley eventually secured victory by pinning Roxanne after a decisive Riptide maneuver.

Roman Reigns
Image of: Roman Reigns

CM Punk and Finn Balor Exchange Words Backstage

Backstage, CM Punk and Finn Balor shared mutual respect for their previous encounter, but Punk advised Balor to distance himself from Dominik Mysterio to be taken seriously. Simultaneously, Paul Heyman confronted Adam Pearce over interference involving Bron Breakker, prompting Pearce to reverse Bron’s suspension and add all four members of The Vision to the Royal Rumble lineup.

Austin Theory Claims Victory over Rey Mysterio Amid Ringside Chaos

In a hard-fought bout, Rey Mysterio impressed early with several high-impact moves, but Austin Theory countered effectively, including a Codebreaker and a powerful slam. The contest escalated into a ringside brawl involving Logan Paul and members of The Vision. Capitalizing on the turmoil, Theory landed a finishing stomp for the pinfall win. Post-match, The Vision attacked the luchadors, with Bron Breakker delivering multiple powerful Tsunamis to assert dominance.

Natalya Calls Out Maxxine Dupri in Promotional Segment

In a backstage segment, Natalya criticized Maxxine Dupri’s performance, emphasizing her role in Dupri’s development but declaring that she would no longer tolerate failure, adding personal tension to their storyline.

Gunther Declares Intent to Retire AJ Styles at Royal Rumble

In an interview with Michael Cole, Gunther confidently stated his plan to end AJ Styles’ career at the upcoming Royal Rumble event, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation.

Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer’s Escalating Rivalry

Raquel Rodriguez pushed for a match against Stephanie Vaquer backstage but was met with aggression, sparking a physical altercation. Later, Vaquer confronted official Adam Pearce and secured a Street Fight match scheduled for the following week’s RAW in Philadelphia, heightening anticipation for their feud.

Je’Von Evans Declares Royal Rumble Entrance

Je’Von Evans announced that he would be entering the Royal Rumble, breezing over a recent injury that he described as minor, adding more competitors to the already packed event roster.

Roman Reigns Confirms Return for Royal Rumble

The most significant announcement was Roman Reigns‘ confirmed return to the Royal Rumble, signaling a major presence for the marquee event and promising to shift the dynamics in the lead-up to WrestleMania.

Finn Balor Attempts Entry Amid Full Royal Rumble Roster

Finn Balor sought to join the Royal Rumble match, only to be told by Adam Pearce that all 30 spots were occupied. Liv Morgan cautioned Balor against trusting CM Punk, warning about The Judgment Day’s influence, but Balor dismissed the warning and walked away, maintaining storyline tension.

Multi-Team Match Energizes the Crowd

The four-way tag team match featured Bravo and Kofi Kingston starting the action, with the Creed brothers producing notable teamwork. Akira Tozawa showcased agility by executing a Frankensteiner and powerful suplexes, followed by a top rope senton that helped Alpha Academy secure victory after interference attempts from Grayson Waller and retaliation by Jey Uso.

Becky Lynch Discusses Training and Royal Rumble Readiness

Becky Lynch reflected on her coaching of Maxxine Dupri, expressing disappointment over Dupri’s failures. The segment concluded with a warning to Becky from Asuka and Kairi Sane, who cautioned her about the upcoming Royal Rumble rivalry before The Kabuki Warriors abruptly exited the scene.

The Path is Set for Bron Breakker and The Vision

Backstage, The Vision united in their resolve to ensure Bron Breakker’s success at the Royal Rumble, solidifying alliances that could impact the event’s outcomes significantly.

World Heavyweight Championship Match Ends in Controversy

The highly anticipated match between CM Punk and AJ Styles featured technical exchanges, with both wrestlers showcasing submission holds and high-impact strikes. Styles executed significant moves including the Ushigoroshi and Styles Clash, while Punk aimed for the Anaconda Vice and the GTS finisher. The contest was abruptly interrupted when Finn Balor entered, attacking both men and causing the match to be declared a no-contest. Balor delivered multiple Coup de Grace kicks to Punk before RAW concluded with Balor standing tall in the ring, setting up further conflict.

Related Posts

Kevin Jewell
Kevin Jewell
Kevin Jewell is a journalist at CynicalTimes.org, covering the WWE SmackDown Men’s Division. With two years of experience, he reports on headline matches, major rivalries, and superstar developments from WWE’s blue brand. Kevin brings sharp analysis, accurate updates, and a deep passion for storytelling to his coverage. His work highlights the key figures, championship pursuits, and weekly action that define the SmackDown men’s roster. From rising talents to veteran icons, Kevin delivers content that keeps fans informed and engaged with every twist in the ring.