• Former WWE Star Is Now Doing William Regal’s Job In The Company
For years, William Regal was widely viewed as one of WWE’s most influential voices when it came to spotting elite talent outside the United States. From Japan to Mexico, Regal played a central role in identifying performers he believed could shape WWE’s future – whether through NXT’s developmental system or direct placement on the main roster.
Regal wasn’t simply offering suggestions – he was actively pushing for specific signings, advocating strongly for names he felt WWE needed to lock down.
Among the wrestlers Regal reportedly championed were Dragon Lee and Kairi Sane. He also made a notable attempt to bring in Kazuchika Okada, though that effort ultimately didn’t succeed. Additional names tied to Regal’s scouting push included Tama Tonga and Jeff Cobb aka JC Mateo.
However, that responsibility may no longer rest on Regal’s shoulders. Self Made Pro reports that there has been a quiet shift in who oversees WWE’s global talent evaluation, particularly on the developmental side. Matt Bloom (aka A-Train / Prince Albert / Lord Tensai) is now deeply involved in monitoring overseas talent.
Sources indicate Bloom is currently the primary figure tracking developments in New Japan Pro-Wrestling and beyond.
• Backstage Reaction To This Week’s Major WWE Spoiler
WWE taped this Friday’s episode of SmackDown last week. During the taping, Carmelo Hayes defeated Ilja Dragunov to win the United States Championship.
You can watch the finish below:
Carmelo Hayes wins the United States Championshippic.twitter.com/8pPnPpFzrl
— WrestleFeed (@WrestleFeedApp) December 20, 2025
During WrestleVotes Live on Fightful Select, a fan asked about the backstage reaction to Carmelo’s title win and what WWE officials think about his future.
Here’s what Joey Votes had to say:
“People (backstage in WWE) like Carmelo. People are excited for him. There’s a lot of people backstage that see a world of potential in him. He’s very athletic. He’s over with the crowd when he does make his appearances. I think there’s a lot of hype and potential around Carmelo Hayes.”
• Current Betting Favorite To Win The 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble
Weeks before the first countdown clock even starts, one name has already taken control of the conversation surrounding the Royal Rumble. As wagering interest builds for the 2026 edition set for Riyadh, the betting public has made its position unmistakably clear: Roman Reigns is the man they expect to outlast the field.
Fresh figures released by Oddschecker show The OTC installed as the overwhelming favorite, listed at 10/11 odds. Nearly two-thirds of all bets placed over the past week have gone toward Reigns, giving him a commanding share of the action before the event has even begun to take shape.
Oddschecker spokesperson Chris Rogers pointed out just how decisive the early betting trends have been. According to Rogers, bettors have rallied quickly behind Reigns as anticipation builds for what’s being promoted as the largest Royal Rumble ever staged, with The Tribal Chief standing alone at the top of the market.
Trailing him is Bron Breakker, who has separated himself from the pack as the clear second choice. Breakker currently sits at 5/2 odds and has captured a respectable portion of the betting interest, signaling growing belief in his ascent despite being well behind Reigns in overall support.
Rounding out the top tier is Sami Zayn, priced at 10/1. Zayn has drawn a similar level of weekly bets as Breakker, suggesting fans still see him as a potential dark horse capable of making a serious run if the night breaks his way.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 will be the 39th annual Royal Rumble PPV/PLE. It will take place at the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 31.
