WWE: ESPN Reportedly To Broadcast Condensed Version of Royal Rumble 2026, Bianca Belair Broken Finger Injury & Surgery Update, Backstage Update on Current Main Roster Call-up Plans for Sol Ruca

ESPN Reportedly To Broadcast Condensed Version of Royal Rumble 2026

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that ESPN will be airing a condensed version of this past January’s WWE Royal Rumble 2026 event on their network.

It was reported that this condensed version will be three hours in length and is currently scheduled to air on Sunday, February 22nd starting at 8PM EST on ESPN’s main channel.

It was also reported that this decision is part of a broader effort by ESPN to promote upcoming WWE PLEs and allows ESPN to “evaluate viewership data for an over air presentation of the product.”

WWE had signed a five year deal with ESPN in 2025 to broadcast all of their PLEs live on ESPN’s new ESPN Unlimited streaming service in the United States.

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Bianca Belair Broken Finger Injury & Surgery Update

As noted before, Bianca Belair has been out of action for WWE since this past April’s WrestleMania 41 Night 2 event due to a broken finger injury. Belair underwent successful surgery this past Tuesday to repair her broken finger.

Belair provided an update earlier today on Instagram thanking her doctor for fixing her frustrating injury and everyone who has supported her.

“10 months post injury, 8 months of rehab, 5 Dr’s Later…And we are FINALLY here. Now I can finally start to put this behind me. Thank you so much Dr. Desai for hearing me and fixing me!

Fingers and JOINTS are complicated, frustrating, confusing, essential… if you don’t get it… consider yourself lucky and I hope you never have to find out. Maybe one day I’ll go into detail but it’s a lot. Thank you to those who have sent so much love my way and continue to.”

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Backstage Update on Call-up Plans for Sol Ruca

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials currently have plans in place for Sol Ruca to get a character refresh when she makes her official call-up to the main roster.

It was reported that this character refresh plans also includes the introduction of a brand new entrance theme song for Ruca.

Several internal supporters of Ruca reportedly stated that they believe her time in the NXT developmental brand has run its course and a main roster call-up to either the RAW or SmackDown brand is coming soon.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that he had been told by his sources that Ruca was tentatively planned to be in Chicago for WWE’s Elimination Chamber 2026 event that weekend.

Ruca had made several appearances on WWE’s main roster shows in recent months including her competing in the Women’s Royal Rumble match at this past January’s Royal Rumble 2026 event and in a singles match against Bayley at this past December’s Saturday Night’s Main Event show.