• Backstage News On Dominik Mysterio Heading Into The Royal Rumble
Dominik Mysterio’s status heading into the Royal Rumble remains uncertain as questions continue to surround his health and recent absence from WWE television. On WrestleVotes Live on Fightful Select, it was noted that Mysterio has not appeared on RAW in the past couple of weeks following his reported injury.
He was also not featured in front of the live crowd at a recent AAA taping, further fueling speculation that he is still dealing with lingering physical issues. As of now, Mysterio is not officially advertised as a participant in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
While his image has appeared on general Royal Rumble promotional materials, WrestleVotes cautioned that this should not be viewed as confirmation of his involvement, as similar graphics often include talent regardless of their final status.
A clearer picture is expected once the event gets underway. If Dirty Dom does not appear at all during the Royal Rumble, it would likely indicate that WWE still has health concerns regarding his condition.
That said, WrestleVotes suggested there is still an expectation that the current WWE Intercontinental & AAA Mega Champion could be present at the Royal Rumble in some capacity.
The belief is that he may appear earlier in the show without physically competing, potentially playing a supporting role for the female Judgment Day members (who will compete in the Women’s Royal Rumble) rather than entering the men’s Rumble match. This would allow him to be involved without risking further injury.
RELATED: WWE Shows Dominik Mysterio With AEW Title (Photo)
• WWE Signs Super-Heavyweight Champion From Saudi Arabia
WWE is heading to Saudi Arabia this weekend with a massive surprise in tow. Turki Alalshikh officially announced the signing of Fahd Tuwaiq (born Fahad Sahli), a mountain of a man who looks to become the company’s first true Super-Heavyweight from the Kingdom.
Tuwaiq isn’t just a big body; he’s an elite athlete with championships in both powerlifting and arm wrestling. While most fans are just learning his name, WWE has been grooming him behind the scenes for months. He has already spent time at the Performance Center in Orlando, and WWE felt confident enough in his potential to trademark his name back in December.
Fahd said the following about his signing: “WWE is my stage to change the world. I want to make my country proud, and I will do so in WWE.”
The timing of the announcement is no accident. With SmackDown and the Royal Rumble taking place in Saudi Arabia over the next few days, Tuwaiq is perfectly positioned to make a high-impact debut in front of a hometown crowd.
Whether he enters the 30-man Rumble or appears on SmackDown, WWE has clearly found a local hero who has the size and the strength to become a permanent fixture on the main roster.
Turki Alalshikh posted the following video of Fahd Tuwaiq and wrote: “Our guy that we support in WWE, Fahad Sahli… May Allah grant you success, and I’ve been your fan from now on ❤️🇸🇦💪🏻”
ولدنا اللي ندعمه في WWE فهد سحلي … الله يوفقك وانا من جمهورك من الان ❤️🇸🇦💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/ADkfCRJlrq
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) January 27, 2026
• Update On Rey Mysterio’s Royal Rumble Status After Getting Injured On RAW
During a match against Austin Theory on RAW, Rey Mysterio appeared to suffer an injury that immediately raised concern about his status for the Royal Rumble.
At ringside, the referee flashed the “X” hand signal, which WWE uses internally to indicate a legitimate medical situation. As Austin Theory and The Vision continued their post-match attack, Mysterio was noticeably missing from the chaos. Instead of rejoining the fight, he remained slumped on the apron as trainers rushed to check on him.
Bryan Alvarez later confirmed that the injury was real, noting that Mysterio was discreetly escorted backstage while the broadcast cut to a Natalya vignette to keep the situation off camera. Given the timing, the scare was especially alarming, as WWE’s Saudi Arabia shows are only days away. Mysterio also entered the situation after an injury-plagued 2025, having returned late in the year only to recently deal with another minor setback.
However, there is now optimism regarding his condition. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reports that the initial outlook backstage is that the injury is not considered serious. Although WWE has not released any medical specifics, there is said to be internal optimism about Mysterio’s condition.
At this point, he is still expected to compete in the 30-man Royal Rumble match this Saturday.
