Brandi Rhodes Rules Out Royal Rumble 2026 Return – Brandi Rhodes has addressed speculation about a possible in-ring return and clarified her status for Royal Rumble 2026. With the Premium Live Event scheduled for January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, rumors had circulated about surprise appearances, including potential cameos from past names and free agents. As attention grew around the historic international show, Rhodes chose to speak directly about the situation.

During a recent episode of her A Shot of Brandi cooking series, Rhodes discussed the idea of returning to the ring while speaking with WWE star Maxxine Dupri. While she did not announce any formal plans, Rhodes explained that she could imagine herself participating in a Royal Rumble match under very specific circumstances. According to her, the motivation would be personal rather than competitive.

“Well, if I ever were to come back and do anything, I would love to make an entrance at the Royal Rumble, and be out in, let’s see how fast. Maybe three seconds?” Rhodes said. “I literally would probably hit the ring and be like, ‘Please throw me out, please throw me out, somebody throw me out!’ It would really just be to make the entrance, one more time for Libby.”

Rhodes noted that her daughter, Liberty, is the main reason she would consider such a moment, saying the appeal lies in letting her child see her walk onto one of wrestling’s biggest stages.

However, when the conversation turned to the upcoming Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, Rhodes was clear that fans should not expect to see her there. When Dupri directly asked if Rhodes would be returning at the event, she responded plainly.

“No, no, no, we’re not.”

That response effectively shut down rumors surrounding Royal Rumble 2026, though it does not completely rule out a future appearance at another edition of the match. Rhodes’ comments leave open the possibility of a cameo if the timing and location align with her personal goals.

Brandi Rhodes has not competed on television in several years. Her last publicly aired match took place on January 31, 2022, when she faced KiLynn King at the taping of AEW Dark: Elevation. Reports later emerged that she participated in a private in-house match at the WWE Performance Center in August 2022, though that appearance was not televised or open to fans.

Since Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE and rise to the top of the company, Brandi has largely focused on projects outside the ring. Still, her comments show that she has not completely closed the door on wrestling, especially if the moment carries personal meaning.

Brandi Rhodes Rules Out Royal Rumble 2026 Return

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AEW Grand Slam Australia Gets Extended TNT Runtime – AEW’s upcoming Grand Slam Australia special will receive additional broadcast time on TNT, giving the company a longer window to present the event to its United States audience. According to TNT’s updated programming schedule, AEW Grand Slam Australia is set to air for two and a half hours on Saturday, February 14, running from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Because the event is taking place in Australia, the show will be taped earlier in the day before airing later that evening in the United States. The time difference allows AEW to maintain its prime-time slot on TNT while still delivering a major international event. The broadcast will be presented as a special edition of AEW Collision rather than a standard weekly episode.

Grand Slam Australia is scheduled to take place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on February 14. The show marks one of AEW’s most significant international television efforts to date and represents a rare extended runtime for a Collision-branded broadcast. The added time suggests AEW is planning a deeper card than usual, with more room for matches and story development.

AEW’s trip to Australia will feature two events across two cities. Following Grand Slam Australia, the company will hold a non-televised live event on February 15 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. While that second show will not air on television, it continues AEW’s push to expand its live event presence outside the United States.

International tours remain uncommon for AEW, making this Australia run notable. Holding events in Sydney and Brisbane over consecutive days highlights the company’s commitment to building its brand in overseas markets. It also gives international fans a rare opportunity to see AEW talent live without traveling abroad.

After completing the Australia tour, AEW will return to the United States and resume its regular television schedule. Dynamite is set for February 18 in Sacramento, California, followed by Collision on February 21 in Oceanside, California. These shows will play a key role in setting the stage for AEW Revolution 2025.

AEW Revolution is scheduled to take place on March 15 in Los Angeles. The events following Grand Slam Australia are expected to continue storylines introduced during the international broadcast, making the extended Collision special an important part of AEW’s road to its next major pay-per-view.

AEW Grand Slam Australia Gets Extended TNT Runtime

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WWE Travel Plans Set Ahead of Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia – WWE is preparing for a busy week of international travel as the company gets ready for the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will take place this Saturday and is expected to be the first of three major WWE shows held in Saudi Arabia this year.

Before the Royal Rumble, WWE will also present SmackDown this Friday from the King Abdullah Financial District Arena in Riyadh. With two major events scheduled back to back, WWE’s travel timeline became a topic of discussion on a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.

Dave Meltzer explained that WWE’s overseas travel plans were impacted by severe weather conditions during the company’s recent trip to Canada. WWE was in Montreal over the weekend for Saturday Night’s Main Event, and the cold weather created complications for talent and staff trying to move between cities.

“A lot of guys had to get to Toronto because the weather up there in Montreal was bad, it was a bad deal,” Meltzer said. “Royal Rumble’s a morning show, afternoon for most of the country, morning for us … everyone’s leaving Tuesday morning for Saudi Arabia.”

According to Meltzer, most of WWE’s roster and production crew are expected to depart for Saudi Arabia from Toronto Pearson International Airport on Tuesday morning. This schedule follows tonight’s episode of RAW, which is set to take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

The Royal Rumble card currently includes both the men’s and women’s Royal Rumble matches. In addition, Drew McIntyre is scheduled to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn. Another high-stakes match will see AJ Styles put his career on the line when he faces GUNTHER. As of now, no other matches have been officially announced for the event.

The timing of the Royal Rumble has also been noted, as it will air earlier in the day compared to typical WWE Premium Live Events due to the time difference between North America and Saudi Arabia. This makes travel coordination especially important, particularly after an already challenging weekend caused by extreme weather conditions in Canada.

With RAW, SmackDown, and the Royal Rumble all taking place within a short window, WWE’s travel schedule reflects the logistical demands of running major international events. More updates on the Royal Rumble card are expected as the week continues.

WWE Travel Plans Set Ahead of Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia

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