Here's your Wrestling News Briefing for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, covering the biggest stories from WWE, AEW, and the world of professional wrestling over the past few days.
Rey Mysterio Injured on WWE Raw
WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio reportedly sustained an injury during his match against Austin Theory on Monday Night RAW. The injury seemingly occurred late in the match, with Mysterio clutching his shoulder after taking Theory's stomp finisher.
While he finished the bout, Mysterio was noticeably absent from the post-match beatdown by The Vision. Medical personnel attended to Mysterio at ringside, and the referee reportedly signaled an "X," indicating a legitimate injury. The severity of the injury remains unknown, casting doubt on Mysterio's participation in this Saturday's Royal Rumble.
Finn Balor Costs CM Punk World Title, Unleashes Assault
The main event of Monday Night RAW saw CM Punk defend his World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles. However, the match ended in disqualification after Finn Balor interfered, attacking Punk and costing him the match.
Balor, furious over being denied a spot in the Royal Rumble by Adam Pearce, unleashed a vicious assault on Punk, delivering multiple Coup de Grace finishers. The attack throws Punk's title reign into further chaos heading into the Royal Rumble.
EVIL Officially Departing NJPW, Expected to Join WWE
New Japan Pro Wrestling has officially announced that EVIL will be leaving the promotion when his contract expires at the end of January. Reports indicate that the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion is WWE-bound.
EVIL, who debuted in NJPW in 2011, captured numerous titles during his time there, including the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and multiple tag team championships. While neither EVIL nor WWE has confirmed the signing, sources say Tony Khan is not a fan, and AEW is not an option.
Sami Zayn Earns Royal Rumble Title Shot
Sami Zayn emerged victorious from a Fatal 4-Way match on WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, earning the right to challenge Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. The match, held in Zayn's hometown of Montreal, saw him defeat Randy Orton, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams in a hard-fought contest. The closing moments featured Priest hitting Zayn with the Razor's Edge, but Zayn recovered to deliver a Helluva Kick for the win. McIntyre attempted a post-match attack, but Zayn was ready and fought him off, standing tall to close the show.
Stephanie Vaquer Returns, Confronts Raquel Rodriguez
WWE Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer made a surprise return at Saturday Night's Main Event, interfering in the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match between Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY and Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez. Vaquer, who had been sidelined with a walking boot following an attack by Raquel Rodriguez, appeared without the boot and confronted Rodriguez, who was attempting to interfere in the match. Vaquer fought off Rodriguez, allowing Ripley and SKY to retain their titles. A Women's World Championship Philadelphia Street Fight between Vaquer and Rodriguez has been announced for the February 2nd RAW.
Alpha Academy Earns Tag Title Opportunity
Alpha Academy, comprised of Otis and Akira Tozawa, emerged victorious in a four-way tag team match on RAW to become the number one contenders for the WWE World Tag Team Championships. They defeated The New Day, American Made (The Creed Brothers), and Los Americanos to earn their shot at The Usos. Tozawa pinned Julius Creed after a senton bomb to secure the victory.
Killer Kelly Confirms TNA Departure
Killer Kelly has confirmed her departure from TNA Wrestling after her contract expired. While TNA offered a short-term extension, Kelly chose to move on. She expressed gratitude for her time in TNA and is looking forward to her next move. She was backstage at the January 14th AEW Dynamite in support of her fiancé, Myron Reed, who recently joined AEW.
Paul Wight Joins AEW Collision Commentary Team
Paul Wight (formerly known as The Big Show in WWE) made his return to the commentary desk on this week's AEW Collision, joining Excalibur and Tony Schiavone. Wight is no stranger to commentary, having previously worked on AEW Dark: Elevation. He hasn't competed for AEW since November 2023 and recently underwent minor back surgery.
Quick Hits
- Bron Breakker Reinstated: Adam Pearce lifted Bron Breakker's suspension and added him to the Royal Rumble match, along with the rest of The Vision (Logan Paul, Bronson Reed, Austin Theory).
- Oba Femi Enters Royal Rumble: NXT standout Oba Femi has been officially announced as a participant in the Men's Royal Rumble match.
- Je'Von Evans Cleared: Je'Von Evans declared himself fit and will compete in the Royal Rumble after an injury scare last week.
- Royal Rumble Theme Song: Triple H announced that Linkin Park's "Heavy Is The Crown" is the official theme song for the 2026 Royal Rumble.
- Ricochet vs. Jack Perry Set: AEW National Champion Ricochet will defend his title against Jack Perry on the February 4th Dynamite/Collision show in Las Vegas.
- AEW's "Brawling Birds": AEW has filed a trademark for the name "Brawling Birds," potentially for the new tag team of Alex Windsor and Jamie Hayter.
- MJF Heads to HOG: AEW World Champion MJF will appear at House of Glory's "No Turning Back" event next month in Long Island.
- Becky Wants Toni: Becky Lynch expressed her desire to wrestle AEW's Toni Storm, naming her as a dream opponent.
- WWE 2K26 Monday Night Wars Edition: WWE and 2K announced the "Monday Night War" edition cover for WWE 2K26, featuring stars from WWE and WCW. Pre-orders open January 30th.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for continuing coverage of these stories.