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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.
- Expect big things for Neville - and other “known” names like Austin Aries and even the 46 year old Tajiri - moving forward on Raw and 205 Live.
- Neville is the champ. Aries is a big deal. Tajiri, however, didn’t stick around. (2/3)
- Mick Foley’s upcoming time off is so he can get hip replacement surgery, according to Wrestling Observer, and it will entail his being gone for more than just December.
- Foley didn’t leave for awhile and his hip replacement was put off I believe. He left around March officially. (0/1)
- Chris Hero told a PWG crowd this weekend that nothing is definite regarding his returning to WWE.
- Eventually it was definite as he’s in NXT currently.
- WWE has reportedly signed former TNA Knockout Rosie Lottalove, who’s dropped over a hundred pounds and now wrestles as Andrea.
- This is true. She acted as muscle for Lana for a bit on the house shows. (1/1)
- Interest in single brand pay-per-view (PPV) shows like TLC and Roadblock is low, based on internet searches and social media scores, and WWE may already be looking at returning to using both rosters on all shows in 2017.
- They’re still running split shows and look to be all year. It’s definitely fatiguing. (0/1)
- There’s talk of the Slammys being part of WrestleMania week, possibly as a Network special.
- It wasn’t. There were no Slammys at all last year. (0/1)
- Michael Cole name-dropping Hulk Hogan during the Women’s title match at Roadblock was seen by some as the last test balloon for his return to WWE.
- I’m curious when the Hulkster will make it back, if ever.
- Lucha Underground may be producing more episodes (possibly as many as 60) for season four when it films next year.
- It hasn’t filmed yet. There’s rumor it may not. But we’ll sit on it.
- Roman Reigns is not scheduled to be in the Royal Rumble match as of right now.
- He was. He eliminated the Undertaker. He was second to last, being eliminated by Randy Orton. He main evented WrestleMania anyway. (0/1)
- It's unlikely Finn Bálor is going to return to WWE in time for the Royal Rumble, even as a surprise entrant for just a short run through the match.
- He didn’t return until after WrestleMania. (1/1)
- It looks like the plan is still for Bayley to win her first women's championship on the main WWE roster at WrestleMania 33.
- She retained it at WrestleMania 33. She won it in controversial fashion at Raw and retained it at the Fast Lane. (0/1)
- According to Dave Meltzer, Sasha Banks is currently scheduled for a big match at WrestleMania 33.
- She was part of the fatal 4-way title match. That’s big enough. (1/1)
- Dana Brooke will be in the Fitness International competition at the 2017 Arnold Sports Festival.
- She was. She didn’t do too well, finishing at the bottom. But I would think training for that and also training to wrestle would require different regiments that would kind of butt heads with each other. (1/1)
- In answering fans on Twitter regarding the “big match” for Sasha Banks in Orlando on April 2nd, Dave Meltzer seemed to indicate that Charlotte vs. Bayley is not currently written in stone for WrestleMania 33.
- It wasn’t the match. Of course we don’t know if it was ever the plan.
- WWE is hoping to launch a weekly show out of the United Kingdom Championship Tournament.
- They’re still working on it. We’ll see.
- ESPN’s Ric Flair documentary is being targeted for a WrestleMania week release.
- It’s likely later this year. (0/1)
- The DVD Matt Hardy & Jeremy Borash have been teasing will be much more than the Total Nonstop Deletion epsiode of Impact, and focus on all things “House Hardy”.
- There isn’t a DVD that I can find. (0/1)
- AJ Styles vs. John Cena could be the plan for the WWE championship match at Royal Rumble.
- It was. Cena won championship #16. (1/1)
- The long term plan for Sasha Banks is to turn heel, according to the Observer, though it's likely coming after her program with Nia Jax.
- It still hasn’t happened. (0/1)
- The Observer notes Trent Seven, Pete Dunne, and Tyler Bate are names listed as those with potential as top stars for the tournament.
- I’d say this is correct. (1/1)
- The latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes Drew Galloway's contract expires in February and he turned down an offer to stay months ago.
- He’s in NXT now.
- Brock Lesnar could have another fight in the UFC, or at least there's a belief he wants another MMA fight before he retires for good.
- It’ll be awhile if he does given the suspension given after his doping.
- There's been a lot of back and forth on it but it's highly unlikely Finn Bálor returns for the Royal Rumble, as WWE feels it has enough star power in the match without him.
- Yeah, it didn’t happen. (1/1)
- The Observer notes Mick Foley will be undergoing hip replacement surgery "sometime in the next few months," so he'll be off at some point.
- He left prior to WrestleMania. (1/1)
- Apparently Talking Smack has seen a big drop in viewers since moving time slots.
- I wouldn’t be surprised. I watch it less now that it’s the end of a 3.5 hour wrestling block.
This week: 10/19 - 53%
Overall: 1,563/2,881 - 54.3%
Have a great week, everyone!