PWI Weekly for February 9, 2026
Rumbling Royally: A Robust Review Of The 'Rasslin, Raring & Ready To Read
THE 2026 ROYAL RUMBLE is now in the books, and, with that, WWE is officially on the road to WrestleMania. The big show in Riyadh yielded outcomes that are set to shape the company's landscape in the coming weeks. In this edition of the PWI Weekly, we’re shining our spotlight on the people poised to make that happen.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
On January 31, Roman Reigns added his name to the shortlist of men who have won two Royal Rumble matches in their careers. Entering the contest at #26, the “Original Tribal Chief” outlasted the rest of the field to punch his ticket to WrestleMania 42 and a title shot of his choosing. In recent years, a certain amount of posturing has come with being a Rumble match winner. But, to his credit, Reigns wasted little time in deciding who he was coming for in Las Vegas: CM Punk. While he’s not there yet, the “Head Of The Table” is one seat closer to assuming his former position in the WWE hierarchy.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT …
In a heartbreaking conclusion to what was a fairytale run, AJ Styles wrestled his final WWE match at the Royal Rumble. A grueling loss to the “Career Killer,” Gunther, is nothing to be ashamed of—just ask Bill Goldberg or John Cena. Still, this was likely not how the valiant Styles wanted to go out. Evidence of this can be found in his demonstrated reluctance to leave his signature gloves in the center of the ring.
Once upon a time, many thought that the “Phenomenal One” would never make it to WWE, let alone have a decade-long tenure there. Perhaps that’s why he was so easy to root for … and why his apparent retirement caused an outpouring of gratitude from fans and peers. PWI would like to extend its gratitude, as well. Thanks for the matches, AJ. And, if this buzz we’re hearing is to be believed, see you down the road!
WOMAN OF THE WEEK
The proverbial “bridesmaid” finally overcame the ghosts of so many previous near-misses when Liv Morgan walked out of Riyadh as the Women’s Royal Rumble winner. Entering at #14, Morgan fought like a woman possessed, visibly determined to claim a spot at WrestleMania that she had come so agonizingly close to before. In a chaotic finale, the opportunistic Morgan held on as Tiffany Stratton dispatched a game Sol Ruca, and then swept in to dump Stratton following a devastating ObLIVion onto the ring apron. (It’s the hardest part of the ring, don’tcha know?)
AND ANOTHER THING …
While a Drew McIntyre Claymore kick to the face has got to hurt, eventually, the physical pain will wear off. The emotional pain that comes with losing an Undisputed WWE championship match, however … well, that’s one that Sami Zayn is becoming too familiar with. Much like his loss to Roman Reigns in Montreal at Elimination Chamber 2023, when the crowd rallied solidly behind him, the same fate befell Zayn in front of a partisan audience in Riyadh. How many more times can Zayn believably challenge for the biggest prize in WWE? Will the fans stick by him? We shall see.
WAIT, THERE’S MORE …
Want to hear more of our Royal Rumble ramblings? Check out the latest PWI Podcast, as hosts Al Castle and Brian Solomon are joined by Contributing Writer Jason McVeigh to review the show and look ahead to WrestleMania.