WWE: Tiffany Stratton Absence & Return Plans Update, Liv Morgan Alleged Stalker Arrest Trial Update, Backstage Update on Shinsuke Nakamura’s Deleted Instagram Post About AJ Styles Retiring at WWE Royal Rumble 2026

Tiffany Stratton Absence & Return Plans Update

Tiffany Stratton has been noticeably absent from WWE’s SmackDown brand since her WWE Women’s Championship loss to Jade Cargill at this past November’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event show.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that there have been recent talks within WWE about potential plans for Stratton to make her return at this Saturday’s WWE Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia.

Johnson reported that those spoken to stated that the reason for Stratton’s current abscense was due to WWE wanting to allow her character to get a break from WWE programming.

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Liv Morgan Alleged Stalker Arrest Trial Update – Trial Start Date Reportedly Delayed

As noted before, a man named Shawn Chan was arrested this past June outside of WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida over charges of him being an alleged stalker of Liv Morgan. Chan was issued federal charges related to a stalking incident at Morgan’s home, which Morgan was away from at the time. Chan had filed a motion this past August requesting to be released from jail that was later rejected by the court twice. Chan had filed a notice of insanity defense this past December leading to his trial start date to potentially be delayed.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that The United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division issued a ruling earlier today stating that they are deferring their decision on whether to allow the defendant Chan’s claims of insanity in regards to charges against him over his alleged stalking of Morgan.

In the ruling, Judge Mary S. Scrive wrote “The Government may retain an expert to conduct a psychiatric or psychological examination of Defendant to determine whether Defendant was insane at the time of the offense. The Government shall file its report with the Court, under seal, within forty-five days.”

Johnson reported that as a result of the ruling, Chan’s trial start date that had been originally scheduled for January 12th has been officially delayed.

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Backstage Update on Shinsuke Nakamura’s Deleted Instagram Post About AJ Styles Retiring at WWE Royal Rumble 2026

As noted before, Shinsuke Namakura recently deleted an Instagram post that included Nakamura revealing that Styles had told him last year that he was planning to retire at WWE’s Royal Rumble 2026 event. Styles is currently scheduled to face off against Gunther in a match at WWE’s Royal Rumble 2026 event with Styles’ career being on the line.

The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that his sources stated that Nakamura’s comments about his conversation with Styles and what Styles had told him was legitimate and not some sort of planted story by WWE to try to fool the fans and media again.

Meltzer reported that while plans can still change, WWE officials currently do not have any plans for Gunther to lose his match at this Saturday’s Royal Rumble event.