WWE Rumor Roundup: Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre; WrestleMania 42 plans for Roman Reigns; Rey Mysterio & Charlotte Flair's injury & more (January 17, 2026)
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Let’s dive into the latest WWE rumors circulating on social media!
Speculation and rumors are among the favorite pastimes of WWE fans worldwide. Fans from all over the world enjoy discussing and debating various aspects of the world of pro wrestling. In the aftermath of the Crown Jewel 2025, the rumor mill continues to run in full force.
In today’s edition of the roundup, we cover the latest rumors and news circulating among fans on social media, including Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre, WrestleMania 42 plans for Roman Reigns, Rey Mysterio & Charlotte Flair’s injury, and more.
Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre & WrestleMania 42 plans for Roman Reigns
According to a recent report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE’s decision to have Drew McIntyre defeat Cody Rhodes last week for the WWE Championship was influenced in part by Rhodes himself.
Rhodes believed it would feel more refreshing to head into this year’s WrestleMania in pursuit of the title rather than as the defending champion. McIntyre was also described as being strongly in favor of the title change, feeling it was the right move for everyone involved.
The Observer also noted that the initial plan for WrestleMania 42 centered on a third Undisputed title match between Cody and Roman Reigns. However, those plans were scrapped within 48 hours of the Three Stages of Hell match.
Triple H ultimately felt that revisiting Rhodes vs Reigns for the third time in four years, and dedicating months of storytelling to it, risked wearing out the audience.
Because of the change in plans, Roman Reigns is now expected to be left out of the title picture at WrestleMania. As things currently stand, the promotion is reportedly considering either a singles title match between Rhodes and McIntyre or a Triple Threat bout involving Rhodes, McIntyre, and Jacob Fatu.
“The two ideas for Mania at this point are a three-way for the title with Rhodes, Fatu and McIntyre, or just McIntyre vs. Rhodes.”
Rey Mysterio, Charlotte Flair’s injury & LA Knight
F4WOnline’s Dave Meltzer reported that Charlotte Flair was absent from last week’s SmackDown in Germany because she “was very ill,” prompting adjustments to the show’s plans.
Meltzer also noted that Rey Mysterio missed this week’s Raw due to a minor injury, but added that “he’ll be back quickly.” Mysterio is currently advertised for the Lucha Libre AAA premier on Fox, which will emanate
According to Fightful Select, although LA Knight was listed on certain WWE internal travel schedules for the Germany trip, he was never actually flown out, which explains his absence from this week’s episode of Raw.
Nick Khan’s role in creative & WWE’s interest in signing Persephone
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE President Nick Khan reportedly “has a say in creative decisions,” despite publicly denying it. Sources say he often bypasses the broader creative team and communicates exclusively with Triple H.
Regarding AEW’s recent acquisition of Persephone, Bryan Alvarez clarified that she didn’t exactly pick AEW over WWE. While WWE had shown interest, they never extended an offer because she was still under contract with CMLL and couldn’t negotiate with them. Instead, she decided to sign with AEW alongside her existing CMLL deal.
When and where will WrestleMania 42 take place?
The 42nd edition of WrestleMania is set to emanate live from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show will take place over two nights, April 18 (Saturday) and April 19 (Sunday), 2026.
Why did Triple H scrap plans for Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42?
Per WON, Triple H ultimately felt that revisiting Rhodes vs Reigns for the third time in four years, and dedicating months of storytelling to it, risked wearing out the audience.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.