BetnewsUpdate recap with Devin “Hannibal” Nicholson
This week’s The Hannibal TV Combat Sports Report runs through a stacked set of pro-wrestling headlines coming out of WWE’s big weekend: surprise winners, a career-ending stipulation, a major roster jump, and a venue pivot for the first post-WrestleMania premium live event.
Royal Rumble winners set the WrestleMania picture
- Men’s Royal Rumble 2026 winner: Roman Reigns
- Women’s Royal Rumble winner: Liv Morgan
Undisputed title: McIntyre holds off Zayn
In the Undisputed WWE Championship match, Drew McIntyre (c) defeated Sami Zayn, keeping his reign intact after a physical, back-and-forth fight.
Career-ending clause: Gunther retires AJ Styles
One of the night’s biggest talking points: Gunther defeated AJ Styles in a match where Styles’ WWE career was on the line—meaning the loss effectively forced Styles into retirement.
Roster movement: Hobbs turns down AEW, becomes “Royce Keys”
Nicholson also highlighted the reported jump by Powerhouse Hobbs, who allegedly declined a five-year offer from All Elite Wrestling and is expected to go by Royce Keys in WWE.
NXT shakeup: Ava’s exit and the acting chatter
On the NXT front, Ava confirmed she’s leaving WWE after opting not to renew her deal. Nicholson noted the online buzz that she could pivot toward acting next, leveraging her family’s entertainment connections.
Backlash plans change: Tampa gets May 9
Finally, a key scheduling/venue update: after earlier talk that Backlash might land in San Juan, Paul “Triple H” Levesque announced Backlash 2026 for Tampa on Saturday, May 9 at Benchmark International Arena.
