Rumor Look Back: May 27 - June 3, 2016

Welcome to the weekly Rumor Look Back, where we look at the rumors from six months ago and see which played out as originally predicted. Let’s get right to it.

May 27, 2016

• The early favorite to win Money in the Bank this year looks to be Kevin Owens but of all unpredictable matches, this one is the most unpredictable.
• It ended up being Dean Ambrose. But Kevin Owens ended up being champion without it. (0/1)
• There has been no contact between Ryback and WWE, according to the Observer, and while he may still be released, the expectation is they'll simply let his contract run out and he'll go work somewhere else.
• That’s the case. (1/1)
• According to the Observer, WWE is still considering bringing back Ric Flair to TV in some sort of program.
• So word recently came out that they re-signed him so we’ll wait and see for a bit if he has a TV role.
• Sheamus vs. Apollo Crews and Rusev vs. Titus O'Neil look like future feuds going forward.
• While neither was a necessarily long or good feud, both had small programs together. (2/2)

May 28, 2016

• According to the Miami Herald, a bid has been submitted for Miami to host WrestleMania 34, 35, or 36.
• They last hosted WrestleMania 28. I was there and unfortunately the canopy under the ring blocked the huge screen where you could really follow the action from where I was sitting.
• Although she's back now, the Observer reports Summer Rae suffered an injury at the end of the European tour, believed to be a concussion.
• There isn’t word about what that injury was. Unfortunately, she’s now dealing with another injury that’s kept her out for a few months.
• Apparently the plan is for Bayley to get another women's title match at the NXT Takeover show planned for August.
• Bayley faced Asuka in her rematch for the Women’s title at TakeOver: Brooklyn but was unsuccessful. (1/1)

May 30, 2016

• The tease for something "hatching" on Raw tonight is speculated to be about The Wyatt Family but even that appears to be shaky.
• It was actually the Goldberg WWE 2K17 advert where he’s in the hatch. Who would have thunk at the time that this would have lead to him squashing Brock Lesnar. (0/1)
• Corey Graves tease of working SmackDown with Mauro Ranallo after the brand split was apparently just a tease but it does appear they'll be deciding on announce teams exclusive to each show.
• It was just a tease since Corey went to Raw. (They are calling 205 Live together.) There are unique brand commentary teams. (2/2)
• Lana has been working NXT house shows and training at the Performance Center apparently because WWE still has plans to push her as a top star in the women's division.
• Still with this rumor? I have at least 5 of these already outstanding.

May 31, 2016

• The plan is to move John Cena to Tuesdays. The proven draw is one of the only names who have a destination penciled in for the brand split.
• He is a SmackDown talent, though he’s not around too often. (1/1)
• The Observer also reports that the final Money in the Bank ladder match spot will not go to Cena.
• He faced AJ Styles on that pay-per-view card instead. That seventh spot was never filled. (1/1)
• While the Barclays Center still lists the 2016 TakeOver: Brooklyn on their website, both TicketMaster and WWE.com removed it from their schedules as of yesterday - adding fuel to the rumors that TakeOver: The End... might be the end of the brand or NXT live specials all together.
• Yeah, this was nonsense. It was just the end... of the beginning. Or something. Whatever. There are still TakeOvers (0/1)

June 1, 2016

• The relationship between Goldberg and WWE is still shaky but the two sides may very well make a deal for one more major match in the future. Right now, however, the Observer notes the two sides haven't started negotiations but that could happen anytime.
• That match happened and there will be more. (1/1)
• PWInsider reports Bray Wyatt is scheduled to return to WWE next week.
• He did not return until Raw on June 20. (0/1)
• With the brand split upcoming, it could mean multiple NXT call ups here soon.
• Six people got called up in the draft: Finn Bálor, Nia Jax, American Alpha, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, and Mojo Rawley. (1/1)
• According to the Observer, the NXT Brooklyn show over SummerSlam weekend is still on despite Ticketmaster pulling it from listings. WWE will be updating it with new logos and information.
• Yeah, it was obviously still on. (1/1)

June 2, 2016

• There's a weird rumor going around that Vince McMahon wants Undertaker to wrestle at SummerSlam but The Phenom doesn't want to.
• He seems to back to wrestle a bit now though.
• Although she returned on Main Event this past week, it's expected Sasha Banks will be back on WWE television in time for a match at Money in the Bank.
• She was back on TV prior to Money in the Bank, but didn’t have a match at Money in the Bank. (0/1)
• It's expected that "The End..." is just a reference to the Finn Bálor vs. Samoa Joe feud, although it's possible NXT changes its look for live specials.
• There’s two possibilities here and they can’t both be right. The End... was pretty much just the end of the feud. The live specials pretty much have the same look. (1/2)
• Fandango and Tyler Breeze are apparently impressing people within WWE working as a tag team.
• Too damn bad they don’t get more time.
• At least one or two recently released WWE stars are likely going to show up in TNA.
• Aron Rex (formerly Damien Sandow) turned up as did Cody (who had asked for his release). (1/1)

June 3, 2016

• The preliminary idea for the WWE brand split is for Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins to lead Raw while John Cena and AJ Styles lead SmackDown, according to the Observer.
• That’s how it went. (1/1)
• It's also apparently still in the plans for there to be two world titles, so it's possible a Cena vs. Styles match will introduce the SmackDown championship.
• There are two titles, but Cena and Styles didn’t have anything to do with it. Dean Ambrose brought the WWE title to the brand. (1/2)
• The Money in the Bank ladder match may only include six participants instead of the previously announced seven. Some advertising has changed, but that could change again.
• There were only six. (1/1)
• The Observer notes WWE may also split the referee crew once they do the brand extension.
• I had to check with my man ReverendKain to confirm, but it sounds like that was the case. (1/1)
• American Alpha might be called up to the WWE main roster as soon as next month.
• They were part of the draft. (1/1)

This Week: 17/25 - 68%

May 2016: 36/76 – 47%

Overall: 1,206/2,252 - 53.6%

Have a great week, everyone!