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Welcome to the Rumor Look Back, where we dig up the rumors from six months ago and see if they played out like predicted. Let’s jump to it.
- WWE apparently has a big angle regarding Roman Reigns and the Authority planned for next week.
- I’m starting to think their definition of “big angle” is much different than mine because there was nothing at all close to a big angle on that show. Roman had a promo against Steph in the beginning and... that was it. The main event was Ambrose vs. Sheamus in a cage. (0/1)
- Expect to see both Kane and Big Show back on TV in the new year, though the days of them being consistent characters on a full time basis is over.
- That’s true. They’ve been around. Kane and Show were both in the Andre at Mania. But neither is around full time. Show is giving Apollo Crews advise backstage. Kane tried be allowed to run SmackDown. (2/2)
- While it’s clear that Charlotte vs. Becky Lynch is the plan, it doesn’t look like the Divas title program for WrestleMania.
- I’m going to give this true on two points. Charlotte/Becky was their big Royal Rumble program. While they were both involved in the Mania feud, Sasha was as well, making this a triple threat at Mania. (2/2)
- The Shane McMahon DVD was likely scrapped because Shane wouldn’t be involved with it.
- He’s back now so I wouldn’t be surprise if that becomes a 2017 DVD.
- Paul Heyman, Ric Flair, and Santino Marella are all scheduled for Raw tonight.
- That’s true. They all presented a Slammy award. (3/3)
- The Wyatt Family vs. ECW Originals appears to be over. We’ll know the next direction for the Wyatts by the end of Raw tonight.
- At the time of this rumor, the feud was not over because they had another match on Raw (which the Wyatts won). We didn’t know their direction either. In fact, they really didn’t have any from this point through Mania and up to now. (0/1)
- According to PW Insider Maria Kanellis and Mike Bennett are done with Ring of Honor and word is they’ll be joining TNA soon.
- Correct on both accounts. They debuted on TNA early January. (2/2)
- On top of Kanellis/Bennett, TNA is expected to make a few more free agent signings.
- I suppose we can count James Storm, can’t we? I’m going to count that as yes because of that. (1/1)
- Stardust, who some reports have off the road due to injury, is expected to appear at the Slammys tonight.
- Stardust was not on the show. (0/1)
- The same goes for Bad News Barrett, who’s neck injury is allegedly manageable.
- Also not on the show. (0/1)
- Tommy Dreamer and Blue Meanie have an autograph signing across the street from the Staples Center. There’s no confirmed WWE appearance but the proximity is interesting.
- I’m not counting this as a rumor because it’s just information about the locale of two people. Dreamer did show up as part of the ECW Originals vs. Wyatt Family match but Blue Meanie was predictably not on the show.
- Angelico and Jack Evans claim to have been offered WWE deals but say they are sticking with LU as long as it exists.
- I’m going to put this as an outstanding rumor to look back on down the road.
- In addition to the departure of Michael Bennett and Maria Kanellis, Ring of Honor is apparently nowhere in contract negotiations with Jay Lethal, Kyle O’Reilly, & Bobby Fish.
- They ended up being able to lock them all back up. All three men won their matches at Best in the World on Friday.
- Kevin Owens vs. Brock Lesnar is a match that may actually be in the cards for WrestleMania 32.
- It didn’t happen. (0/1)
- The Observer notes that WWE is thinking of tweaking the format of the Slammy Awards, including doing the voting in advance so those who can’t show up can film acceptance spots.
- We shall see if it’s any different. The Slammys are something that really could be a full on Network special. The actual Slammy bit destroys the flow of the Raw itself.
- PW Insider reports that WrestleMania 33 may not be held in Minnesota after all.
- It’s not. It’s in Orlando. (1/1)
- The Stephanie McMahon beat down on Tom Phillips has been turned into an angle so expect them to address it on Raw next week.
- I don’t know if they replayed it, but it certainly wasn’t mentioned to any degree in the live blog. I’m going to mark this as incorrect unless someone has a link/video otherwise. (0/1)
- Although it’s unclear if the team of Enzo and Cass will be called up in Brooklyn next week, it’s certainly possible. They will be called up sooner than later.
- They weren’t brought up in Brooklyn. And it was another 4 months until they were, which isn’t really soon. It felt like it took them forever. (0/2)
- According to the Observer, some of the proposed changes for the Slammys are voting the week before the event or moving the show to WrestleMania Week.
- It wasn’t this year’s WrestleMania, but I’ll give until next year. One needs to wonder if how this fake award show will be represented after the brand split.
- Despite how successful his return to Raw was, Vince McMahon is apparently still against being a regular character on WWE TV.
- He was a regular character for months going up to WrestleMania. That being said, this was prior to Cena getting hurt again so he probably didn’t think he’d have to be on TV. Because he didn’t think Shane vs. Undertaker was going to be a thing. (0/1)
- The Observer notes that Neville winning “Breakout Star of the Year” was a legit surprise to WWE and they went forward with the angle with Kevin Owens they had planned because they were sure he would win.
- That’s a major problem with the Slammys. The fans never vote who should win (i.e. the friggin’ Usos winning Tag Team of the Year over the New Day.) But with pure fan voting, the heels who deserve it will never win. So that leaves faces walking out with this ridiculous award statue (which X-Pac rightfully derides on Twitter) when it’s a perfect prop for heels.
- The Observer notes that Tom Phillips was legitimately shaken up by the Stephanie McMahon beat down last week. Apparently it’s become an issue within the company.
- I always had a theory that they put him back on NXT to appease him after this. Or you could believe Rich Bocchini’s (formerly Brennan) wife that he just politicked himself there.
- According to the Observer, there’s talk of Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn “peaking” at TakeOver: Dallas.
- This never ended up being a feud. Balor continued fighting Joe for a year and Zayn had his last NXT match against Shinsuke Nakamura. (0/1)
- It’s at least possible Cesaro will be able to return for WrestleMania.
- He wasn’t on the show. He did return the next night however. (0/1)
- Konnan may not be used in Season 2 of Lucha Underground.
- He hasn’t been on screen at all. Prince Puma has been on his own. (1/1)
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This Week: 12/23 - 52%
Overall: 880/1665 - 52.9%
Have a great week, everybody.