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Welcome to the Rumor Look Back, where we look at the rumors from six months ago and see how they all played out. Let's jump right to it.
It looks like Brock Lesnar will be a consistent presence on WWE TV starting in late June and going through SummerSlam. That includes working Battleground.
He returned June 21 and worked Battleground and SummerSlam. He actually stuck around for Hell in a Cell too. (2/2)
Rusev is unlikely to work the Elimination Chamber show this weekend.
He did not. Mark Henry took his place in the Intercontinental Title Elimination Chamber match. (1/1)
WWE has apparently changed their minds on AJ Styles and there is some interest in bringing him in. It does not mean it will happen.
It hasn’t yet. Do you want to see the Phenomenal One in WWE/NXT?
The word going around is that Sasha Banks is injured and that’s why she missed the last set of tapings
She worked a house show on the 31st of May, according to this tweet from someone at the show, so this would be incorrect. (0/1)
There are actually some members of creative who like having less time between big shows (this was when there were 3 shows with two weeks between them) because it forces them to tighten up the writing and not have to stretch angles out for so long.
I can believe this. I think stretching angles is a huge problem with WWE now. On the fallout shows, they’ll set up angles for the next PPV and then after an angle has been set up, they tread water until the PPV, doing nothing more to raise the stakes or make you care any after the match has been announced.
Daniel Bryan is scheduled for next Monday’s Raw but not the SmackDown after.
He was on neither show. (1/2)
Big Show could be back by next Monday but he will definitely be back by Money in the Bank.
He did return the following Monday at Raw, to start a feud with Ryback (and the Miz) for the Intercontinental title. (1/1)
Kevin Owens moving to the main roster could mean that they are going to lockdown Samoa Joe and put the NXT title on him.
They did lock him up to an exclusive deal. If he wins this upcoming TakeOver, I’ll grade that part as correct. If he loses, even though he can eventually win it, I’m going to mark it as incorrect. (1/1)
Apparently Global Force Wrestling is hoping to get Jim Ross and Chael Sonnen as the announce team. The promotion is actually hoping the two can help them secure a TV deal.
They only got Sonnen. They’re still without a TV deal. (1/2)
You can expect John Cena to get his win back against Kevin Owens at Money in the Bank, though it could look something like Cena’s rematch with Lesnar at SummerSlam (where there wasn’t a clean finish/interference.)
He did get his win back but it was squeaky clean. (1/2)
It looks like both Randy Orton and Big Show will be making their returns tonight on Raw.
Both men were there. Orton returned for a random match with Sheamus. So many matches with Sheamus. (2/2)
WWE feels that heel Sheamus has a ton of upside and they’re looking at pushing him really hard soon, which includes an Intercontinental feud with Ryback.
While he never feuded with Ryback (or really anyone not named Randy Orton until Survivor Series), he did win the title at Survivor Series, which shows they have some confidence in him. Sure that didn’t look like it was close to happening prior to the Rollins injury, but I’ll grade that part as correct anyway. (1/2)
Apparently Sami Zayn was meant to get the big main roster push that went to Kevin Owens after he got injured. Nonetheless, the brass really likes Owens and there are big things in store for him.
The Zayn rumor made sense. That would have left Owens to have a big run as heel champ in NXT instead of putting the title on Finn Balor so soon.
I’m not going to grade the "big things" for Owens again like I did last week because it is rather subjective. I had a good debate in the comments last week and it really can go either way.
My take is that while he’s booked well, he’s no different than other guys in his upper midcard position like Rusev. However I do see the argument that he has been booked strongly even during the fat comment stage of things. And in the upper midcard, he’s as booked as strong as anyone.
There are also big plans for Finn Balor in the future, which could mean being the face of NXT or being brought up to the main stage.
He is the man in NXT right now. (1/1)
As of now, Roman Reigns is penciled in to win the Money in the Bank ladder match.
He was close, but Wyatt cost him the briefcase, which Sheamus eventually won. (0/1)
There’s definitely something to the Stephen Amell/Stardust angle they are pushing on-line. While it may not be a match for SummerSlam, which is the hope, he will be there as part of a major angle.
It actually was a match. I thought he handled himself well, and unlike Steve Austin/Wade Keller, did not think it really hurt the business. Amell didn’t get the pin nor got much offense that the opponents looked ridiculous selling. (1/1)
There’s some issue with King Barrett right now but it’s unclear what. He’s been doing a lot of jobs lately.
Maybe that’s just his thing. Jobbing.
The Observer notes that the end of the Austin podcast that teased Austin/Lesnar at WrestleMania 32 isn’t a shoot but is setting up an angle.
Even though I don’t think this is happening at all because Austin and Jim Ross have shot it down a thousand times, I’m still going to put it in the pending column. This is pro-wrestling and there’s always the chances that’s part of the work. Though once again, I really don’t think so and I’m 99% sure this rumor is going to end up incorrect.
Paul Heyman will return to WWE TV on a regular basis after Money in the Bank.
Well, he worked the Lesnar schedule, rarely appearing without Brock. But it was enough that I will count this as correct. (1/1)
Samoa Joe’s new deal doesn’t mean he will be called up to the main roster but instead be a focal point of NXT.
That is the case. Though Marc Normandin suggested on Rudo Radio that it may be a good idea bringing him up after TakeOver if he doesn’t win the title to freshen up Raw a bit. Not a bad idea at all. (1/1)
It is believed that Austin Aries’ contract with TNA is up in June and he’ll be done with TNA after then.
That’s true, despite the fact he was seen on TNA TV through November. (1/1)
It would appear at least possible that WWE is going to go all out for WrestleMania this year. That could include:
- Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar
- Sting vs. Undertaker
- The Rock vs. Triple H
- A Hulk Hogan match
- A Shield Triple Threat for the title
While this will need to go outstanding, I don’t think any of those matches are going to happen. Rollins is hurt, Hogan is still on the outs, Sting got hurt pretty badly at Night of Champions, and Austin has been adamant that he’s not wrestling. That only leaves the Rock/Triple H as the most possible of those matches.
What about you? Do you think one or two of these will? Which would you like to see if any? Drop it in the comments.
The New Day vs. the Prime Time Players for the tag titles, Ryback vs. Big Show vs. Miz for the IC title, and Nikki Bella vs. Paige for the Divas’ title are all likely for the Money in the Bank PPV.
The tag team match and the Divas’ match is correct. However Miz was not involved in the IC match. It was just Ryback vs. Big Show. (2/3)
For now and for the foreseeable, Kevin Owens will be booked as the #2 heel behind Seth Rollins.
Maybe this is correct? With Rusev tied up in the horrible Ziggler story at the time, Sheamus feuding with Orton forever, the only person that you can argue is Wyatt. While Owens feuded with Cena, he was definitely the #2 heel. But then he went and feuded with Cesaro and Ryback as Wyatt feuded with Roman. While Wyatt feuded with Roman, I’d argue he’s the #2 heel.
For the first time ever, I’m going to wait until next week to grade this one and take votes in the comments to decide. Most votes take it. If not one suggests anything, I’ll decide myself next week.
Speaking of Owens, the plan is not surprisingly to have Balor win the NXT title on July 4 in Tokyo.
That is correct. (1/1)
According to the Observer, Tyson Kidd suffered an injury with a match with Samoa Joe, with one WWE performer calling it a "spinal injury." WWE is being very quiet.
Unfortunately (most unfortunately) this rumor is true. Tyson suffered a rather severe neck injury that has kept him out indefinitely. (1/1)
While the original plan was for Rollins to face Lesnar at SummerSlam, the Observer notes that could have changed.
It did. Instead he faced Brock at Battleground. (1/1)
The bromance between Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns originally was seen as a tease for a Reigns heel turn but instead could be an Ambrose turn.
Neither man ever turned on the other. Because they are brothers. (0/2)
According to the Observer, there are those within creative that know that John Cena shouldn’t beat Kevin Owens at Money in the Bank, but it may not matter.
We don’t know if people actually thought that or not. It didn’t matter in the end because Owens lost the next two to Cena.
It is not expected that AJ Styles will be going to WWE any time soon.
I’ll give this rumor a year (so another 6 months) before grading it as correct.
Because of their deal with Destination America, Ring of Honor will have a greater production value for TV tapings.
It certainly didn’t come across as any different. (0/1)
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This Week: 21/31 - 68%
Overall: 553/1,057 - 52%
Have a great week, everyone.