This Saturday, January 31, WWE will present its first premium live event of the year with Royal Rumble 2026.
The go-home show for the event will be the January 26 edition of WWE Raw from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Coming off the heels of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event and just mere days before the Royal Rumble, there will be several changes that could dictate what will happen on the first PLE of 2026.
Here are seven potential changes to WWE Raw before Royal Rumble 2026.
7. LA Knight Is Back For The Royal Rumble 2026
Back on the December 8 episode of Monday Night Raw, Logan Paul defeated LA Knight. Post-match, The Vision attacked Knight, ending with Bronson Reed delivering a Tsunami on top of a car.
In the weeks since then, Knight has been absent from WWE television and out indefinitely to recover from the injuries suffered.
‘The Megastar’ should be back in time for WWE Royal Rumble 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, January 31.
Whether it be getting revenge on The Vision or trying to win the Rumble to advance to WrestleMania 42, Knight could return on the January 26 WWE Raw and be back in time for the Royal Rumble PLE.
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6. Bron Breakker Un-Suspended And Enters The Men’s Royal Rumble
On the January 12 episode of Monday Night Raw, Bron Breakker went ballistic and attacked both Penta and Dragon Lee during their tag team match against The Vision.
This led to Raw General Manager Adam Pearce confronting him before Breakker physically intimidating the authority figure and getting himself suspended.
After some goading from Paul Heyman, Pearce agreed to allow Breakker back on the January 26 episode of WWE Raw to speak to him face-to-face.
This should lead to Breakker getting un-suspended and being allowed to enter the 2026 men’s Royal Rumble match where he would have to be considered a favorite to win.
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5. GUNTHER vs. AJ Styles Becomes A Submission Match
On the January 12 edition of WWE Raw, GUNTHER defeated AJ Styles after ‘The Ring General’ did a phantom tap out behind the referee’s back and low blowed ‘The Phenomenal One’ for the win.
Then on the January 19 episode of Raw, Styles decided to put his career on the line against GUNTHER at the WWE Royal Rumble premium live event.
Based on their previous meeting, an additional stipulation could be added to make this career threatening match even more interesting.
Adding a Submission stipulation would play off the previous match between Styles and GUNTHER, while also making this a more compelling battle at WWE Royal Rumble 2026.
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4. Chris Jericho Returns
Over the past few months, Chris Jericho has been at the center of multiple headlines regarding his future in pro wrestling.
With his AEW contract set to expire, reports have indicated that Jericho is expected to make his return to WWE.
While the former AEW World Champion could make a surprise appearance at WWE Royal Rumble 2026, Jericho could make his comeback early on the January 26 WWE Raw.
Considering the show will take place from Toronto, Jericho could return in his home country to declare himself for the men’s Royal Rumble match this coming Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
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3. Stephanie Vaquer Is Healthy & Ready To Compete
On the January 24 WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, RHIYO defeated The Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
During the course of the bout, Raquel Rodriguez tried to help her Judgment Day stablemates get the win, but Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer fought off her rival.
This marked the first time in weeks that Vaquer had appeared without her walking boot after suffering a reported ankle injury at the end of 2025.
Vaquer being healthy and ready to compete could see her set up for a title match at WWE Royal Rumble 2026 or in the coming weeks on Monday Night Raw.
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2. Natalya Becomes Nattie Neidhart
On the January 19 edition of Monday Night Raw, Becky Lynch defeated Maxxine Dupri to retain the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
This loss for Dupri came as a result of Natalya betraying her longtime protege and friend.
Following this heel turn, Natalya could have a true character change with the veteran adopting her ‘Nattie Neidhart: Lowkey Legend’ persona from outside of WWE.
Bringing Nattie Neidhart to WWE for the first time could be key to making her a prominent character on WWE Raw moving forward.
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1. AJ Lee Comes Back To Declare For The Women’s Royal Rumble
Back in September 2025, AJ Lee made her return to WWE for the first time in a decade and aligned with her husband CM Punk to defeat Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in a mixed tag team match at Wrestlepalooza 2025.
Lee then made another return to cost Lynch the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the November 17 Raw and made ‘The Man’ tap out to win the women’s WarGames at Survivor Series 2025.
Recent reports have indicated that Lee will be back to set up a matchup with Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 42, but her return could come early for her to compete in her first Royal Rumble.
Lee returning to declare for the Rumble could happen early on the January 26 edition of WWE Raw to confront Lynch before competing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this Saturday.
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