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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. Let’s get right to it.
- Apparently Sasha Banks has changed her training to add muscle so she won't get hurt as often, according to the Observer.
- I haven’t noticed an obvious difference just by looking but it doesn’t mean it’s not true
- Chris Jericho is expected to be added to the Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins Hell in a Cell match in some capacity after Raw tonight, possibly as a guest referee.
- While he interfered in the match, he wasn’t added to the match in any official capacity. (0/1)
- At this time, WWE doesn't have anything planned for James Ellsworth but that could change quickly.
- They soon signed him. He’s currently Carmella’s valet and has been Twitter feuding with Becky Lynch.
- PW Insider reports there have been some creative pitches in WWE for bringing back Halloween themed characters for the holiday show next week.
- I don’t see anything about it in the live blog. (0/1)
- The Observer notes Josh Bredl, who was the male winner of the last season of Tough Enough, has been out dealing with the effects of a severe concussion.
- There was rumor that Bredl was released this week, but that proved untrue. I wonder if the concussion signs kept him from training for awhile or if he’s healed up but they’re just not ready for him yet.
- Following up on their report yesterday of WWE looking to sign him long-term, PWInsider says James Ellsworth has been booked for tonight’s SmackDown.
- He was on the show, helping Dean Ambrose defeat AJ Styles in a match. (1/1)
- WWE may be looking to add a Monday night post-show similar to Talking Smack. They’re supposed to try the idea with the new Raw Talk this Sunday after Hell in a Cell.
- They don’t do it often, but they did run an episode after the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. But it’s not a weekly recap show like Talking Smack. (1/2)
- Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic filming is scheduled for this weekend’s Los Angeles NXT house show, according to Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet.
- That’s true. Authors of Pain defeated DIY to make their way to the finals. (1/1)
- The idea was to announce the Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg match at Survivor Series on Raw but Vince McMahon calling an early end to Lesnar's segment forced them to wait until the next day.
- No doubt that segment did NOT go well.
- Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that while some in WWE want Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte to main event Hell in a Cell other high up executives don't and it's a real conversation that hasn't been settled.
- The higher ups caved in if this is the case.
- Further, it looks like if that match doesn't go on last it will likely open the pay-per-view.
- That would have been an angry Boston crowd.
- Randy Orton may not actually be joining The Wyatt Family but it looks like a heel turn is planned.
- He joined the Family and that would be considered a heel turn. He then betrayed the Family and now he’s technically a face. (1/2)
- Goldberg is expected to headline the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2017.
- He did not go in this year. It was Kurt Angle instead. Probably soon though. (0/1)
- Vince McMahon reportedly told current talent (and any former employees who asked him) to not respond to media inquiries about WWE Hall of Famer and Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump.
- May have been a wise move given the tense atmosphere of that entire election (and the aftermath).
- Looks like Matt Hardy’s ‘Total Nonstop Deletion’ will happen, just once the Billy Corgan lawsuit ends and/or some logistical details get ironed out, according to both Pro Wrestling Sheet and PWInsider.
- It happened. It was a bit too much Broken stuff at once for my taste, but it was still enjoyable.
- Paige is distancing herself from Blackcraft Spirits, a whiskey company she was touting just this Summer. Blackcraft is partially owned by Rosa Mendes fiancé, Bobby Schubenskishe, who’s gotten some fans up in arms with subtweets about “pushing good people away”.
- I don’t remember any of this.
- There is word going around that Randy Orton might miss Survivor Series due to his wife giving birth. He's likely to miss time in late November for it.
- He was part of Survivor Series. (If you recall, he checked in on Shane’s kids when Shane knocked his head.) However he did miss an episode of SmackDown. (1/2)
- The hope right now is Finn Bálor could return in time for WrestleMania 33.
- He returned the night after. (0/1)
- Shinsuke Nakamura isn't planned to move up to the main roster anytime soon, according to the Observer, as he is "pegged to be the flagship star of the NXT brand."
- He was up within six months, which I usually use as my cut off for “soon.” (0/1)
- It looks like WWE will run its Hall of Fame ceremony on the Friday before WrestleMania 33 and NXT will run on Saturday night.
- That is accurate. (1/1)
- The Observer notes they've narrowed it down to four potential cities to host WrestleMania 34 and Minneapolis is in the running.
- Maybe 2019, Minny.
- Believe it or not, WWE still hasn't decided on what match is going on last at Hell in a Cell but while Vince McMahon is apparently against Sasha Banks and Charlotte going on last, it's still possible they get that spot.
- I bet it was decided at 7 pm that night.
- It looks like Survivor Series will be a four hour pay-per-view this year.
- It was billed as such. It ended a bit early due to the Goldberg/Brock match being a squash. (1/1)
- Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn could be a last minute addition to the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.
- It wasn’t. They eventually met up at Roadblock. (0/1)
- Hideo Itami could return as early as December.
- He didn’t even return to house shows until March. (0/1)
This Week: 7/17 - 41%
Overall: 1,467/2,712 - 54.1%
Have a great week, everyone!