Rumor Look Back: March 17 - 23, 2017

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.

March 17, 2017

• While Goldberg's WWE contract is up at WrestleMania 33, everyone in the company thought he had a good run and it's possible he could come back to work future shows in some capacity.
• We’ll sit on this for another 6 months. However, it sounded like he hated the process of getting back into shape and keeping it so we’ll see.
• Brock Lesnar will be working more shows going forward, per the Observer.
• He was rather present on the build to WrestleMania. (1/1)
• The Observer notes both Dana Brooke and Nia Jax have been talked about as being added to the Raw women's title match at WrestleMania but there has also been talk of just going ahead with the triple threat as it stands now.
• This is too all over the place to grade. But they added Nia and not Dana.
• In an update on William Regal going into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, PW Insider is now reporting there is a belief it won't be happening.
• It wasn’t last year. But hopefully soon. (1/1)

March 18, 2017

• John Cena and Chris Jericho are taking time off from WWE after WrestleMania 33.
• Yes, they both did. Cena has come back and will probably be leaving again soon. Jericho only came back for a one off. (2/2)
• It now appears Finn Bálor won't return to WWE television before WrestleMania 33, and that likely means he won't be working the show.
• He did not. (1/1)
• WWE is apparently planning multiple main roster call ups from NXT just after WrestleMania 33, with Shinsuke Nakamura and Elias Samson mentioned most. Asuka may not be in this wave, however.
• Also all correct. Asuka should be up soon as they’ve already started advertising her for Raw. Nakamura and Samson were post Mania call-ups. (3/3)
• Now that Shaq vs. Big Show is off, American Alpha vs. The Usos could now be a pre-show match at WrestleMania 33.
• It wasn’t. They were in the Andre Battle Royal. (0/1)
• Jim Ross is in talks to be the lead announcer for the ITV show, according to the Observer.
• He did the call on the original episode, which was the January prior to this. But he returned to WWE at WrestleMania. (0/1)

March 20, 2017

• As it stands now, we can expect no less than three title changes at WrestleMania 33.
• Kevin Owens won the US title, Lesnar won the Universal title, Naomi won the SmackDown women’s title, and Randy Orton won the WWE title. (1/1)
• The word going around is Naomi will likely be back in time for WrestleMania 33 as a surprise challenger for Alexa Bliss and the SmackDown women's championship.
• She was back, but she wasn’t a surprise challenger as she was revealed the SmackDown prior to the show. (1/2)
• There aren't currently any plans to do more with Southpaw Regional Wrestling.
• Wrong! (0/1)
• It still isn't known exactly why Mauro Ranallo missed SmackDown Live last week but apparently it wasn't because of weather like WWE claimed.
• It was not. Mauro was having a flare up of his mental health issues as he revealed later. Surely, this will not be the only rumor involving Mauro’s absence, issues with the company, and JBL. (1/1)
• Some contracts are coming up for some wrestlers in Ring of Honor and WWE is interested.
• While vague, this is correct in the sense that expiring contracts like Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Adam Cole are all in NXT. (1/1)

March 21, 2017

• Look for Sasha Banks to turn on Bayley at WrestleMania or the next night.
• Still hasn’t happened. And if they want to do a Horsewomen/Horsewomen feud, it won’t happen for awhile. (0/1)
• Shinsuke Nakamura’s being added to NXT’s UK tour doesn’t rule out a post-WrestleMania call-up, but it does make it unlikely he’ll be on the road with the main roster any time soon.
• This seems to be true. He called up but he worked NXT shows till late May. (1/1)
• TNA announced a partnership with Mexico’s AAA over the weekend, but no details yet. They’re expected to keep working with Konnan’s The Crash, too.
• The Crash promotion is part of their talent share and one of their recent title matches was there. (1/1)

March 22, 2017

• The Rock is expected to be a surprise at WrestleMania 33, even if just for a backstage segment.
• He was not there at all. (0/1)
• Apparently Summer Rae and even Emma are being considered for the SmackDown women's championship match at WrestleMania 33.
• Neither were part of it. (0/2)
• The latest on Impact Wrestling vs. The Hardys is they are nowhere near a settlement.
• That surely is correct. (1/1)

March 23, 2017

• It’s possible the Hardys show up at WrestleMania. Keep an eye on the angle from this week’s Talking Smack with The Usos lobbying for a match on the show.
• The Hardys did show up at Mania. I don’t know what that has to do with the Usos though. (1/1)
• Former ROH and current independent wrestler/manager Veda Scott was backstage at SmackDown this week, and could be talking about joining WWE.
• She is not in WWE. (0/1)
• Contrary to reports, former Lucha Underground champ Sexy Star told Fightful she is not retiring from wrestling.
• Maybe would have been better for her image.

This week: 16/25 - 64%

Overall: 1,739/3,184 - 54.6%

Have a great week, everyone!