Fans believed Roman Reigns had secured his second Royal Rumble victory on January 31 in Riyadh. He eliminated Gunther and chose CM Punk as his WrestleMania 42 opponent. However, a recent report reveals a different story.
Bron Breakker Was Almost the Champion
According to Dave Meltzer in the February 9, 2026 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE originally planned for Bron Breakker to win the Men’s Royal Rumble. The plan would have set Breakker up to challenge CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42.
This hidden plan formed part of a larger storyline that also featured Roman Reigns facing Cody Rhodes in the main event. The idea was to showcase four top stars – Reigns, Punk, Rhodes and Seth Rollins – in high stakes matches.
Why the Plan Changed
In the weeks after the Rumble, an injury to Seth Rollins forced WWE to rethink its approach. The company decided to keep CM Punk as champion and to use a three step program for Breakker. First, Breakker would appear on the Raw Netflix anniversary show and lose. Second, he would win the Royal Rumble. Third, he would defeat Punk at WrestleMania.
When Rollins could not compete, the creative team shifted focus. They chose to keep Roman Reigns in the WrestleMania 42 main event against Punk. Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes negotiated a title match for the Saturday night show.
How the Decision Affected Other Storylines
McIntyre argued that he deserved a title shot after multiple losses to Rhodes. He pushed for a Three Stages of Hell match, which the board approved. This move gave McIntyre the spot that Breakker might have occupied.
WWE executives also wanted to avoid a Rhodes versus Reigns showdown because that match had already headlined two WrestleMania events. By keeping Rhodes out of the main event, they could build a fresh narrative around Punk versus Reigns.
What This Means for Fans
The revelation of the scrapped plan shows how fluid WWE storytelling can be. It also highlights the importance of adaptability when injuries occur. While Bron Breakker missed out on a historic win, his future remains bright as the company still sees him as a top star.
Fans can now look back at the 2026 Royal Rumble with a new perspective. The match was not just about who won, but also about the many possible paths that were considered behind the scenes.
Stay tuned for more updates on WWE original plans 2026 and future championship scenarios.
Source: Wrestletalk
