WWE News

CM Punk’s Royal Rumble 2026 Role Revealed

Posted on
CM Punk Royal Rumble 2020

• CM Punk’s Royal Rumble 2026 Role Revealed

At today’s Royal Rumble Kickoff Show, it was revealed that World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is the cover star of the upcoming WWE 2K26 video game. Below is the unveiling video:

After this, Michael Cole revealed that Punk will work the Royal Rumble 2026 Countdown Show, where he will join the pre-show panel. Punk said he’s going to talk trash about people like Finn Balor and Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch.

• Roman Reigns Takes A Shot At WWE Creative

Ahead of his return at the Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns appeared on The Pat McAfee Show today and said the WWE creative hasn’t advanced since he lost the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40. Here’s what The OTC said:

“To be completely honest and transparent, two years ago it all changed around. What I’ve been doing hasn’t exactly been what I’ve done before. The way I look at it is, I’m a generous Tribal Chief. I’ve given the people plenty of time. These young talents saying we hog all the TV time will complain about one thing, and then I leave an opening and give them plenty of space to create whatever type of superstardom they want. Get over, kids. Get over.

We’re two years here now, and we haven’t advanced and evolved. We have great leadership in Nick Khan. God bless, what a businessman, he’s a genius, but we have to be able to keep up with that creatively.

That’s why people like me, people striving to be the very best, the G.O.A.T, I can’t just sit around and see mediocrity. Not when I set it up for everybody to slam it home. We’re on Netflix. You have to capitalize. We have people playing around and trying to figure it out. I got the formula. I know how to cook it up.”

The 2015 Royal Rumble winner plans to become a 2-time Royal Rumble winner tomorrow in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

“I didn’t come all the way out here for nothing.”

• The Rock’s Daughter Ava Has Left WWE

NXT General Manager Ava (real name: Simone Johnson) has announced that she’s leaving WWE. The Rock’s daughter issued the following statement:

“This past Tuesday was my last appearance on NXT & subsequently WWE. Thank you to all who have cheered, watched, and supported me through my journey.

While my decision to not renew my contract was very difficult, it’s also new turning point in my life. It has been an honor & a privilege to be Ava.”

Before becoming the General Manager of NXT, Ava had a short run as a wrestler on NXT. In 2023, she had 6 matches in NXT. Her debut match took place at NXT Stand & Deliver 2023 Kickoff. Her last match took place at NXT Heatwave 2023, where she lost to Ivy Nile.

In September 2025, The Rock told MTV UK that Ava didn’t use his influence to get ahead in WWE:

“I am so proud of her, because it’s what I did, and I love what I did, I love wrestling, I grew up in wrestling. She was born into it too just like I was, and when she said, ‘Hey I wanna do what you do’ – but the difference is, it’s why I get emotional, because she’s like, ‘I wanna do what you do, but I wanna carve my own path.’ That’s the difference.

That was a big deal when I heard that. Because it’s easy I think for any kid who want to come up and do what their parents are doing to… maybe it’s not overt, but to utilize the influence. I’m telling you, it never happened. I never got that call. Like hey, ‘Can you call someone, could you…’ – I never got that call. And that’s the truth.

And that’s the thing that makes me proud. Look, I’d have been there anyway, I would have made that call, but when you don’t get it, it gave me a profound sense of pride, because I helped, with her mom, raise an amazing human being.”

• WWE Accidentally Spoils Entry #1 For Men’s Royal Rumble (Photo)

During today’s SmackDown in Saudi Arabia (which is airing live for fans outside the United States on Netflix), WWE accidentally spoiled the #1 entry for the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

When Axiom was making his entrance, WWE accidentally showed a graphic of Bron Breakker being the #1 entrant in tomorrow’s 30-man match.

Bron Breakker Number 1 Entry Botch

Earlier on SmackDown, Paul Heyman said tomorrow will be Bron Breakker’s night.

RELATED: Complete SmackDown Results – Saudi Fans Don’t Want Cody Rhodes To Win The Royal Rumble

To Top