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Welcome to the Rumor Look Back, where we look at the rumors from six months ago and see how they played out. I have a ton of Goldberg rumors likely outstanding, but I’m decided to wait until the match officially happens to grade them all. Let’s get right to this week.
- Although he’s working European tour dates with Dean Ambrose, Triple H isn’t expected to wrestle another TV match until SummerSlam at the earliest.
- Triple H hasn’t wrestled a televised match since WrestleMania. He’s only been seen on TV (outside NXT/Cruiserweight Classic) twice. (1/1)
- There's some word going around that Bray Wyatt has been pulled from the remainder of the WWE tour of Europe, and he may have also been sent home for further testing.
- Bray did get hurt and didn’t wrestle the rest of the tour. (1/1)
- Lana is expected to work matches on a regular basis soon.
- Lana has not wrestled a match since WrestleMania. (0/1)
- King Cuerno wanted to come to WWE but Lucha Underground apparently blocked it and there may be an issue between the two sides.
- The way Cuerno is booked on LU, I can see why he wants out.
- There should be an announcement regarding the future of TNA coming within the next few weeks. That could just be the previously rumored investors.
- There was no such announcement. (0/1)
- The Wrestling Observer says there are issues backstage related to the dismissal of MVP from his Lucha Underground contract, where unnamed employees think it was petty to fire him for podcasting interviews with performers that gave out character details before they were revealed on television.
- Personally, I thought it was lame to straight up for him for it. But contracts are just that.
- Also from the Observer, the sale of/new investment into TNA is down to two parties. The internal favorites have two people already attached to the company in their group. Dixie Carter is still trying to work a deal that would see her remain the majority owner.
- Sigh. This crap is never ending.
- WWE has relaxed their business casual dress code for wrestlers - provided they wear TapOut brand fitness gear instead. The apparel partnership is a major priority for the company this year.
- Kevin Owens said on Jericho’s podcast that he loved that rule. KO said he disliked wearing suits and took advantage of the TapOut rule immediately. He did say that he wore a suit the day that he won the title (prior to knowing he was going to win) and has since he won it.
- Looks like The Authority will be back soon, but Triple H & Stephanie McMahon's return will start the end of the gimmick. A feud with Shane is expected to start by next Monday's Raw.
- The Authority has not returned. (0/1)
- The usual rumors about NXT champ Finn Bálor went around before Raw in London yesterday. There aren't plans for an immediate call-up, but his social media silence is designed to create speculation since it is expected hell be on the main roster some time this year.
- He was called up in July, which is some time this year. (1/1)
- Bray Wyatt’s injury has put things into flux, since a Wyatt Family/League of Nations program was planned for Payback. It is expected that Braun Strowman and Erick Rowan will be kept off TV until his return.
- Strowman and Rowan were off TV until Bray’s return, when they feuded with the New Day. (1/1)
- Emma vs. Becky Lynch is still planned for Payback, possibly as the Kickoff match.
- That match was not on the card. (0/1)
- Shane McMahon is expected to continue his role in WWE for a while, meaning we can expect more of his running Raw in the weeks to come, even if The Authority returns soon for a program as expected.
- He’s still around. He ran Raw for a couple months until he became the SmackDown commissioner. (1/1)
- Cesaro’s recent success in on WWE TV is apparently due to a renewed push that could lead to bigger or better things.
- Maybe one of these days, I’ll grade these Cesaro push rumors correct. He is featured on Raw weekly and he’s getting a storyline, but “bigger or better”? I wouldn’t say so. (0/1)
- Although it's unclear who, there may be another NXT call up by SummerSlam. That could be in reference to recent rumors surrounding Finn Balor and Samoa Joe.
- There were 6 with the WWE draft, including Finn Bálor. (1/1)
- Speaking of NXT call-ups, there already seem to be some souring on the Vaudevillains.
- They certainly fell off in the booking department. (1/1)
- Bullet Club or not, it doesn’t look like there’s any plans for Roman Reigns to lose his title soon.
- He lost it within two months to Seth Rollins, likely due to his suspension. (0/1)
- NXT actually promoted a house show on its TV this week announcing a title match between Finn Bálor and Samoa Joe while also saying you never know who might show up. That's led to obvious speculation that they may have something planned.
- So no one new showed up (Dana Brooke did return), but Finn Bálor lost his NXT title. So something was surely planned. (1/1)
- Christy Hemme is apparently done with TNA.
- She has not been back asides from one night for Gail Kim’s Hall of Fame induction. (1/1)
- There's still no concrete word on Bray Wyatt's status after suffering a leg injury but the Observer has reported the word going around is he'll be out for just over a month.
- He returned on June 20, so he was out for about 2 months. (0/1)
- Naturally, there's plenty of speculation going around that Finn Bálor will be debuting on the main roster soon now that he lost the NXT title to Samoa Joe at a house show. The reason it was done there could be because they have big plans for him right away in WWE.
- It was after the draft. The idea that it was done quickly because they wanted to bring him up to WWE really quickly is wrong. He had a rematch with Joe in a cage and then an on screen Nakamura feud before main stage fans saw him. (0/1)
- The not surprising word on TNA is Dixie Carter is doing everything she can to find financial partners while maintaining a controlling interest in the company.
- Fast forward 6 months and Billy Corgan is taking her to court trying to take all that control.
This week: 9/16 - 56%
Overall: 1,146/2,138 - 53.6%
Have a great week, everyone!