• 2 Absent SmackDown Stars Are In Saudi Arabia Ahead Of Royal Rumble
Aleister Black and Zelina have been absent from Friday Night SmackDown for four weeks, but the reason is a mix of creative storytelling and a real-life minor injury. Black’s last appearance was an Ambulance Match against Damian Priest on the January 2, 2026, episode, which marked SmackDown’s return to a three-hour format.
According to PWInsider, WWE made the creative decision to keep Black off television to “sell” the brutal nature of his loss to Priest. The hiatus was reportedly pre-planned, but there is a physical component as well. Black reportedly suffered a small fracture to his tailbone during one of the high-impact spots in the Ambulance Match.
While this is a real injury, sources note that it is not severe enough to keep him out if the company desperately needed him; however, the timing allows him to heal while enhancing the storyline impact of Priest’s victory.
In an update from PWInsider, Black and Zelina are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of today’s SmackDown and tomorrow’s Royal Rumble, where they could return.
• 2 More Surprise Royal Rumble Entrants Confirmed
NXT stars Sol Ruca and Lola Vice were previously confirmed as surprise entrants in the Women’s Royal Rumble match.
In an update from PWInsider, Kelani Jordan and NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne are also in Saudi Arabia and will be surprise entrants in the Women’s Royal Rumble.
Jacy was originally scheduled to work this weekend’s NXT Live Events, but got pulled from those shows and WWE took her to Saudi Arabia instead.
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• Update On Who Paid For Women’s Ring Gear For Royal Rumble In Saudi Arabia
As WWE descends on Riyadh for the Royal Rumble, the female roster is once again navigating the unique logistical hurdles of wrestling in Saudi Arabia. While the event promises massive spectacles, the women behind the scenes are reportedly handling a very different kind of challenge: specialized wardrobe requirements.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, the strict parameters for women’s ring gear, which traditionally require full-coverage bodysuits, remain firmly in place this year as well. Surprisingly, there has been no coordinated effort from WWE’s costume department to create a uniform look or team aesthetic for the 30-woman match. Instead, it’s every woman for herself.
Speaking with Sean Ross Sapp, one talent involved in the show revealed that the financial and creative burden is falling squarely on the performers. Wrestlers are reportedly responsible for designing, commissioning, and paying for their own custom Saudi-compliant gear out of pocket.
This means that while fans will see a ring full of specialized outfits, each one was an independent project managed by the talent themselves to ensure they meet local standards without sacrificing their personal branding.
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