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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. But first we tackle some outstanding rumors.
- Apparently the plan is for Taker to work WrestleMania this year and have his retirement at WrestleMania 32 next year.
- I sat on “Undertaker retires at Mania 32” rumors because even though it was never announced, I wanted to make sure it didn’t end up just working out that way. While legends can retire and show up in the Royal Rumble, I don’t consider that what Taker did last week. I looked back at the Look Back from Feb 25. (Look Back-ception!) and didn’t grade him working Mania 31, which wasn’t confirmed at that time. (1/2)
- Backstage chatter has Undertaker continuing on as a part timer past WrestleMania 32. What he was able to do and how he felt at SummerSlam has the Dead Man thinking he may have a couple more years left in the tank at this pace.
- This I will mark as correct. (1/1)
- Although it’s possible, there’s no indication that this WrestleMania (32) will be Undertakers last match.
- It wasn’t. (1/1)
OK, now we’ll move onto this week. Next week I’ll probably tackle those Kurt Angle rumors.
- Although he hasn't signed a new deal with WWE yet, Paul Heyman could still be appearing with Lesnar on Raw next week.
- He did appear. (1/1)
- The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has an update on the fight between Sin Cara and Simon Gotch. Apparently Sin Cara got upset at Gotch and either threw an unopened soda at his face or a punch but either way Gotch went down in a heap. Apparently Gotch has heat with multiple wrestlers.
- Gotch has heat is a rumor that will pop up from time to time, but it was Sin Cara who threw a soda can in his face. Or a punch. Which are totally different things.
- According to the Observer, Jinder Mahal will likely be on Raw when he returns and Curt Hawkins will likely be on SmackDown. MVP and Stevie Richards are other names expected to return at some point.
- Mahal and Hawkins, when they are around, are on those brands mentioned. MVP and Richards never returned. (2/4)
- Zack Sabre Jr. Noam Dar, and TJ Perkins have all been offered deals by WWE, according to the Observer.
- Offered deals is a tough one. Obviously we know Perkins and Dar were offered deals because they are signed. Sabre we don’t know because he’s not in the WWE. While I should probably mark Perkins and Dar correct since they are in WWE, it’s the kind of rumor that pads the stats because the one that can be wrong can’t be graded. (2/2)
- Don't be surprised if Brock Lesnar's UFC drug test failures is again used as storyline fodder for his match against Randy Orton at SummerSlam.
- It was brought up once, but that was the biggest thing from the Orton promo on the Highlight Reel that kicked off this feud. (1/1)
- It looks like John Cena will be working an even more infrequent schedule than originally thought, as he continues to book projects outside WWE.
- This is true. (1/1)
- The Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte feud is expected to stretch out for a couple more months
- It was a long feud. A couple implies two and it was even more than that. (1/1)
- PW Insider is reporting that Paul Heyman will be with Brock Lesnar at Raw tonight. It's expected that he'll be with Brock for all of his appearances going forward, contract resolved or not.
- This is true. Brock is never there alone. (2/2)
- There's been more talk of Alberto Del Rio having an out clause in his contract, according to the Observer. He may be able to leave in September but the thought is he will stay.
- He most definitely did not stay. How the hell is he going to beat up a Ninja Turtle if he’s on the road touring all the time? (0/1)
- It looks like Braun Strowman may continue to win squash matches to build him up in the coming weeks.
- Braun was a squash machine for awhile. (1/1)
- According to Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Roderick Strong is almost certainly going to WWE.
- He did. It hasn’t been that exciting. (1/1)
- Plans don’t call for SmackDown Live to introduce women’s and tag championships until after SummerSlam. WWE doesn’t want to feel forced into working those new title bouts onto the show, even at four hours.
- This is true. They were settled on the brand exclusive BackLash PPV. (1/1)
- Sasha Banks & Charlotte’s title match on the July 25th Raw went over really well with WWE higher-ups. Dave Meltzer says key management people thought the women "really delivered".
- Maybe that’s why we got it 20 more times.
- There’s been some talk of bringing Ric Flair back, possibly to manage someone who would feud with Charlotte after she’s done with the Banks’ program.
- While he made a couple quick appearances, he hasn’t managed anyone or been full time. (0/1)
- WWE applied to trademark "King of the Ring" as an event name late last month, according to PW Insider, so they may be bringing that back.
- We haven’t seen it yet, but we’ll give it another six months.
- The Eva Marie injury on SmackDown last night was storyline and she's not really hurt.
- True story. This was all part of her avoiding matches. (1/1)
- Although it hasn't been confirmed by anyone at WWE, Dave Meltzer has noted they will add tag team titles to SmackDown soon.
- They did. Not that the SDLive tag scene is blowing the roof off of anything. (1/1)
- Current plans call for Finn Bálor to upset Seth Rollins at SummerSlam to become the first WWE Universal champion. Both Vince McMahon & Triple H are backing him for the spot.
- That happened. Unfortunately he injured his shoulder and had to relinquish it the next night. (1/1)
- Unsurprisingly, the same reports predicting a Bálor win say they'll be making Raw's Universal belt the top prize in the company, with SmackDown's WWE World title losing some luster.
- I would say this is incorrect. Maybe it’s because Bálor got hurt, but at best, they are equal. At worst, the WWE is stronger. (0/1)
- A PWInsider report also says Paul Heyman and WWE were pretty far apart on money, but Brock Lesnar wanted him there and instructed WWE to make it happen.
- Brock’s got that pull.
- Pro Wrestling Sheet clarifies that Nikki Bella has not been cleared for a return, only to train - and that is being closely monitored to see how much wrestling she can do in the future.
- She returned at SummerSlam so if she wasn’t cleared here, it was pretty soon.
This week: 16/21 - 76%
July 2016: 61/94 – 65%
Overall: 1,339/2,460 - 54.4%
Have a great week, everyone!