WWE Royal Rumble Highlights: Roman Reigns, Liv Morgan win Rumble matches; Gunther retires AJ Styles | Hindustan Times

Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 UTC 2026: ### Reigns Dominates Royal Rumble 2026, Styles Forced into Retirement

The Story:
WWE’s Royal Rumble 2026, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, delivered several shocking outcomes. Liv Morgan emerged victorious in the Women’s Royal Rumble, earning a title shot at WrestleMania 42. However, the night was overshadowed by Gunther’s career-ending victory over AJ Styles, forcing Styles into retirement. Drew McIntyre retained his Undisputed WWE Title against Sami Zayn, while Roman Reigns secured his second Royal Rumble win, setting the stage for a monumental WrestleMania main event.

Key Points:

• Liv Morgan won the Women’s Royal Rumble.
• Gunther defeated AJ Styles in a career-threatening match, leading to Styles’ retirement.
• Drew McIntyre retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.
• Roman Reigns won the Men’s Royal Rumble, last eliminating Gunther.
• A masked man attacked and eliminated Bron Breakker early in the Men’s Rumble.
• The event took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the start of WrestleMania season.
• The event was streamed live on Netflix.

Critical Analysis:
The strategic booking of the Royal Rumble 2026 suggests a clear direction for WWE heading into WrestleMania 42. Roman Reigns’ victory cements his position as the top star, likely setting up a championship match against a worthy challenger. AJ Styles’ forced retirement signals a significant shift in the roster, making way for rising stars. The masked man’s attack on Bron Breakker could be the beginning of a new storyline for Breakker who early articles teased as possibly betraying Brock Lesnar.

Key Takeaways:

• Roman Reigns continues to be WWE’s dominant force.
• The event marks the beginning of WrestleMania storylines.
• The forced retirement of AJ Styles signals a changing of the guard in WWE.
• Liv Morgan will likely choose either Iyo Sky or Rhea Ripley at Wrestlemania.

Impact Analysis:

The results of Royal Rumble 2026 will have significant long-term implications for WWE. Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania main event solidifies his legacy and draw. The departure of AJ Styles opens up opportunities for other performers to rise. The success of the event streamed on Netflix could lead to further expansion of WWE’s digital presence.

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