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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.
- It looks likely WWE won't use many surprises in the Royal Rumble match next year.
- There was nothing big that I recall. If I remember correctly, that was a knock on the Rumble for some. We did get Tye Dillinger at 10 though. (1/1)
- Undertaker vs. John Cena is still on the table for WrestleMania 33.
- It did not happen and it looks like it may never happen if Undertaker is retired. (0/1)
- Mickie James is apparently going to start working on the SmackDown Live brand starting as early as next month.
- She debuted during the Women’s title cage match in January. (1/1)
- Don't be surprised if Matt Hardy gets even more influence over TNA programming in 2017.
- I’d be very surprised since he’s in WWE. (0/1)
- Goldberg is believed to be signed for three matches - the Rumble, WrestleMania 33 and one other.
- And other was the title match against Kevin Owens at Fastlane. (1/1)
- Big E got a lot of heat from the higher ups for his joke on the Dec. 19 Raw about the numerous titles Charlotte’s won recently.
- If he did, it didn’t translate to TV.
- If everything goes through with his signing, Chris Hero is expected to replace Samoa Joe in NXT.
- I read this to mean as a main event man in the title scene, which he is not. (0/1)
- Vince McMahon is extremely unhappy with ITV’s World of Sport revival in the United Kingdom, and it may be impacting WWE’s relationship with Jim Ross, who is doing play-by-play.
- It didn’t negatively impact it that much since he’s back in the WWE and calling special events. (0/1)
- There is a graphic making the rounds, for whatever that's worth, that is advertising John Cena vs. AJ Styles in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match at Elimination Chamber in February.
- They were both in an Elimination Chamber match. But I’d be into that match. (0/1)
- According to the Observer, WWE still hasn't decided on what Roman Reigns will be doing at WrestleMania 33 but it's entirely possible he'll be Universal champion and that he could be winning it at Royal Rumble next month.
- He wasn’t the Universal champion. Instead he faced Undertaker. (0/1)
- Dave Meltzer also noted there has been a "big surprise" idea floated for Reigns but it probably won't happen.
- That’s very vague so I’ve opted to leave it be. Is Undertaker a big surprise? Not the way I see it but it’s so debatable.
- PW Insider notes there's been talk that an official announcement could be coming soon from Anthem Sports and Entertainment on purchasing TNA. Furthermore, Dixie Carter will be completely out of power.
- Yes, Anthem took over and Dixie is out. (2/2)
- Also noted on TNA from PW Insider: Impact this week will feature footage from the Hardy compound with "something unique" that we've never seen before in pro wrestling.
- It was the episode where they restored Jeff Hardy’s essence into his body AND the colored volcano gender reveal for the newly born Wolfgang. (1/1)
- There were plans for AJ Styles to defend his WWE World title against the Undertaker at Royal Rumble, according to PWInsider. The shift to John Cena came around the same time the Creative team was changed up with the dismissal of Managing Writer Tom Casiello.
- The way Taker looked at Mania, I’m not sure if even Styles could have gotten a hot match out of him.
- The “injury” Alexa Bliss suffered during Tuesday’s Women’s title match was possible because the champ’s elbow joints are hypermobile (aka “double jointed”); she did not break or dislocate anything.
- She was uninjured. (1/1)
- Chris Hero is working for Evolve on Royal Rumble weekend, including a show running at the same time as TakeOver: San Antonio, so if he is still coming to WWE, it won’t be until February.
- He returned and had a “dark segment” stare down with Nakamura in January. (That feud never happened on TV.) He wasn’t on TV until Feb. (0/1)
- After working the first match in 205 Live history, the Bollywood Boys were sent back to the Performance Center, as management thought they needed more work.
- They’re back as the Singh Brothers, the lackeys of Jinder Mahal.
- According to the Observer, Brock Lesnar vs. Bill Goldberg, Triple H vs. Seth Rollins, and Shaq vs. Big Show are the three matches that are "locked in" for WrestleMania 33.
- Shaq vs. Show never happened. It was this year’s “Will they or won’t they?” The other two did, though Trips/Seth nearly didn’t due to a knee injury to Rollins. (2/3)
- Other matches discussed for the show are John Cena vs. Undertaker or Roman Reigns vs. Undertaker and a multiple person women's title match for the Raw brand.
- It was Roman vs. Undertaker and a four person women’s title match. (2/2)
- Undertaker, by the way, could be a candidate to win the Royal Rumble this year and the big story at WrestleMania could be his challenging for a title, either Cena with the SmackDown title or Reigns with the Universal championship.
- He was eliminated by Roman. (0/1)
- Hulk Hogan's return to WWE could be as a surprise at WrestleMania 33.
- It still has not happened. (0/1)
- There are some screenshots going around showing Undertaker and Shawn Michaels advertised for Monday Night Raw on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.
- They both were there. This was that HBK segment that was downright brutal with Enzo, Cass, and Rusev. And it was the time that Undertaker returned because if he didn’t, Mick Foley would be fired. There was a lot of dumbness on this Raw. (2/2)
- As of now, there are no plans for Kurt Angle to return to WWE, despite what he's saying.
- He’s the current Raw GM. (0/1)
- TNA is trying to sign Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, and Drew Galloway to new deals.
- They failed to do so. All three are in WWE.
January 1 was a Sunday so there was no Roundup on that date.
This Week: 13/24 - 54%
December 2016: 55/91 - 60%
All of 2016: 629/1,100 - 57.2%
Overall: 1,576/2,905 - 54.3%
Have a great week, everyone!