Rumor Look Back: Oct. 16 - 22, 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. Before we get started, there are some more outstanding rumors we can check off the list.

January 27, 2016

• Despite Jeff Hardy signing with TNA, Jeff Hardy is still looking to return to WWE at one point.
• He’s back alongside Matt as tag champs. They may be Broken soon. (1/1)

January 29, 2016

• Austin Aries may never be called up to the main roster and only work NXT.
• Since they decided to relaunch the cruiserweight division, they brought him up to be a major player there. (0/1)
• Shinsuke Nakamura will be working NXT for awhile before getting called up.
• He worked exactly a year. (1/1)

August 26, 2016

• A gossip magazine is reporting that the Vin Diesel/Dwayne Johnson beef from the set of Fast 8 was played up as a publicity stunt and could end in a match or angle for The Rock at WrestleMania 33 - which happens right before the movie comes out.
• That didn’t happen. Rock wasn’t at Mania at all. (0/1)

Now onto this week’s rumors.

October 17, 2016

• It's likely Goldberg will lay down the challenge for a match with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series on Raw tonight but it's also possible WWE lets him get physical with a lower card wrestler.
• He did lay down the challenge. It was just a promo. There was no contact with any wrestler. (1/2)
• WWE apparently had some plans in place with Trish Stratus to possibly work some matches this year and in 2017 but her pregnancy changed that.
• Would still be into seeing that one day.
• That could be why Mickie James was brought back to wrestle Asuka at TakeOver: Toronto. For the moment, it looks like she's only in for the one match but that could always change.
• These rumors are annoying for me. “This could happen, but it may not.” I’ll just leave it. Mickie is on the Raw roster now.
• Enzo & Big Cass vs. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows and Bayley vs. Dana Brooke are matches expected for Hell in a Cell.
• Both matches happened. (2/2)

October 18, 2016

• Been a while since we’ve heard this one, but Forbes posted a column speculating on a John Cena heel turn - and it includes “sources” saying WWE is seriously considering it as a way to boost ratings now that he’s a part-timer.
• Six months and it hasn’t happened. He’s got a bit more of an edge but he’s surely no heel. (0/1)
• Eagle-eyed observers noted TJ Perkins replaced Paige in the Raw open, another sign WWE is hunkering down for a long fight with the former Divas champ.
• Very curious to see how this all ends.
• We might have another veteran coming back to Raw or SmackDown... reports say the Boogeyman has stopped taking indie bookings because he’s headed back to the ‘E.
• That hasn’t happened. I’m not too upset. (0/1)
• Bubba Ray Dudley has only been gone a couple months, but he’s already teasing another comeback. He’s recently mentioned SmackDown and next January’s Royal Rumble on Twitter, and some think neither is out of the question.
• Bully Ray is in Ring of Honor now and one of their trios champions alongside the Briscoes. (0/1)

October 19, 2016

• According to PW Insider, Undertaker was seen on crutches in pictures recently because he was recovering from hip surgery.
• If I recall correctly, the dude still needs a total hip replacement.
• Brock Lesnar has always been planned to beat Goldberg at Survivor Series and there's almost nothing that will change that.
• This rumor seems pretty pretty sure of itself, doesn’t it? Brock Lesnar didn’t just lose. Dude was squashed. (0/1)
• As it stands now, it doesn't look like there will be any title changes at Hell in a Cell. That could mean WWE has more angles planned for the matches themselves.
• Charlotte won her title back from Sasha in the main event. (0/1)
• The Spirit Squad are in WWE for a short run and aren't expected to stick around into 2017.
• Yeah, they’re not around. I hope Kenny was able to get that job back. (1/1)

October 20, 2016

• With pressure to fill the Alamodome, WWE is considering speeding up the Seth Rollins vs. Triple H feud in order for them to have a match at Royal Rumble. They’re still penciled in for WrestleMania, so a January bout would set up a rematch.
• Triple H hadn’t even returned to TV by the Rumble. Instead they went to Undertaker, Goldberg, and Lesnar to help fill seats. (0/1)
• Based on the response to and ratings for Raw, there’s already talk of keeping Goldberg around for at least one more match - possibly at WrestleMania.
• They did that. It was actually 4 total matches if you include the Rumble. Those 4 total matches were 4 total minutes. (1/1)
• Triple H & Stephanie McMahon are trying to film a women’s tournament show for WWE Network, tentatively titled the World Women’s Classic, in January or February 2017.
• The tournament is happening but nothing has filmed. The UK tournament was in January instead. (1/2)
• The romance between Paige and Alberto Del Rio is set to be the main storyline for the first several episodes of Total Divas season six, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet.
• It was for a bit so I’ll mark it correct. However when ADR left, he didn’t allow his likeness to be used. (1/1)
• Those episodes were edited before the drama between Paige and WWE really flared up and Del Rio left the company. It’s not clear how later episodes will present the couple - if at all.
• This nailed it. At this point on Totes Deeves, ADR is still with the company. We’ll see how is release is handled.

October 21, 2016

• John Cena could be coming back to wrestle for SmackDown Live in one of the elimination matches at Survivor Series.
• He didn’t come back for this show. (0/1)
• CM Punk is not expected to get another fight in the UFC.
• We’ll see, but I doubt it.
• Ryback could still get into MMA with Bellator but there likely won't be anything on that until sometime into 2017.
• We’ll sit on this one too.
• The word going around is that James Ellsworth's new shirt is one of the top sellers at WWE Shop.
• Nice.
• According to the Observer, Billy Corgan was apparently misled about TNA's financial situation and he may not have been in charge at the last tapings like was first thought.
• Corgan pretty much said he was misled when it came to trial soon after. Imagine how it would be if Billy ended up taking reigns of the company instead of Anthem.

October 22, 2016

• WWE has not decided officially on the Hell in a Cell main event but it's still likely Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte gets that spot.
• This is true. Though I believe there are rumors coming in the coming week that backtrack this. (1/1)
• The Observer also notes that Trish match was designed to have Asuka go strong heel and they could do the same with James.
• They played a it as a mutual respect thing. Asuka is more heelish now but still hasn’t gone full psycho heel. (0/1)
• Hideo Itami is looking at missing the next two-to-three months with his neck injury but he won't need surgery.
• This sounds about right. He didn’t show up until March but announced he was ready to get going in January. He just started a program with Bobby Roode. (1/1)
• Apparently executives within WWE are already giving high marks to Roderick Strong.
• That’s good. Hope they figure out something to do with him.

This week: 9/19 - 47%

Overall: 1,460/2,695 - 54.2%

Have a great week, everyone!