On Thursday, the WWE Road to Royal Rumble event took place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, England, featuring several decisive matches that set the stage for the upcoming Royal Rumble. The event showcased notable victories and title defenses involving prominent WWE superstars, illustrating the rising tensions and rivalries heading into the Royal Rumble.
Highlights from Singles and Tag Team Contests
In singles competition, Gunther, known as The Ring General, secured a win over Sami Zayn. Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Ilja Dragunov, also known as The Mad Dragon, in a hard-fought match. Meanwhile, a scheduled contest between Je’Von Evans and Bron Breakker evolved into a tag team match following interference, where Evans teamed with WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, dubbed The Best In The World, to overcome Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed representing The Vision.
In tag team action, Bayley partnered with Charlexa—a duo featuring The Queen Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss—to defeat a team composed of The Kabuki Warriors, Asuka and Kairi Sane, alongside Roxanne Perez from The Judgment Day. The Wyatt Sicks, including WWE Tag Team Champions Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy, along with Erick Rowan and Uncle Howdy, emerged victorious against MFT, a group made up of JC Mateo, Talla Tonga, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa, in an intense 8-man tag match.
Title Matches and Championship Outcomes
Becky Lynch, known as The Man, successfully defended her WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Maxxine Dupri of Alpha Academy, maintaining her status as champion. In a high-stakes Undisputed WWE Championship match, Cody Rhodes, The American Nightmare, defeated the Scottish Warrior Drew McIntyre via disqualification; however, McIntyre retained the title due to the match stipulations.
Implications for the Upcoming Royal Rumble Event
This event’s results have significant implications as wrestlers position themselves for Royal Rumble opportunities, with several rivalries intensifying. Title holders such as CM Punk and Becky Lynch entering Royal Rumble with successful defenses reflect their readiness to maintain dominance, while challengers like Cody Rhodes continue to pursue championship success. The unfolding storylines promise heightened competition and surprises as WWE fans anticipate the Royal Rumble.
THE COMPLETE RESULTS:#WWENewcastle: UTILITA ARENA:
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026:1. GUNTHER defeats Sami Zayn
2. Bayley / Charlotte Flair / Alexa Bliss defeat The Kabuki Warriors: Asuka and Kairi Sane with Roxanne Perez
3. Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Ilja Dragunov
4. Je'von Evans… pic.twitter.com/nZbl5AMe3o— Wrestling Bodyslam (@WrestleBodyslam) January 15, 2026
