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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 jump right into it.
- Per the Observer, Brock Lesnar’s new deal with WWE was reached on April 2 before Monday Night Raw, so he had signed almost a week before WrestleMania 34, and he knew he was winning on that day too.
- Which would go against the “Vince called an audible” rumor from last week. I would consider an audible a real last minute decision (like the day of WrestleMania) and not a good week prior.
- That deal is apparently for more than just one match but he may not end up doing any more than the Greatest Royal Rumble booking. Apparently he got a big raise on it and no matter what it ends before SummerSlam.
- It was for more than one match but it did not end before SummerSlam. He’s still around. (1/2)
- Final note on that: Lesnar, Vince McMahon, and Roman Reigns all agreed on Brock elbowing Reigns to get him bloody during the WrestleMania match.
- I think stories about Lesnar going rogue are often exaggerated, and they want it that way.
- Orlando is apparently trying to host another WrestleMania relatively soon.
- That was a good Mania, but I think more for the show they put on and not specifically the locale. I did spend a decent amount at Harry Potter World, though, and that’s awesome.
- There are expected to be championships that change shows in the Superstar Shakeup tonight and tomorrow.
- So the US title changed shows - twice. Meaning it never really changed in the end. Since championship is plural and in the end, there was no real change, this is getting marked as incorrect. (0/1)
- According to the Observer, Vince McMahon is still high on Baron Corbin and he could be in line for a push soon.
- While he hasn’t won any titles after this rumor, I think putting him as Raw authority can be considered a push. (1/1)
- There’s apparently been talk of Velveteen Dream getting called up sooner rather than later, per the Observer.
- Dream is still in NXT. Which I’m glad. That’s a gimmick I don’t have high hopes to succeed on the main roster. (0/1)
- The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports talk of Bam Bam Bigelow in the Hall of Fame next year with the connection to New Jersey.
- We’ll have to wait and see.
- A follow-up report in People says Nikki Bella broke off her engagement to John Cena because it was clear his heart wasn’t in being married.
- We don’t know the reasons. Though we got plenty of gossip about it.
- On the subject of the South African tour, Dean Ambrose is advertised for shows there Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, but WWE hasn’t responded to inquiries about his injury status.
- Those advertisements were incorrect. Dean Ambrose didn’t return until recently. (0/1)
- WWE is eventually going to add a woman to the Raw or SmackDown announce team, according to Wrestling Observer. Online chatter points to Beth Phoenix as a leading candidate.
- Renee Young is on the Raw team full time. Beth is calling the Mae Young Classic with Renee and Michael Cole. (1/2)
- Bodyslam.net reports the post-WrestleMania 34 Lesnar/Vince/Shane altercation was either “a complete work designed to manipulate pro wrestling news sites who they knew the news would leak to, or it was severely over hyped.”
- If it were a work, it wasn’t part of anything. It never affected any part of the story.
- The move most people were probably anticipating might be spoiled by a PWInsider report - new United States Champ Jeff Hardy is backstage in Providence, Rhode Island.
- He did make the switch to SmackDown. That one was pretty obvious after he won the US title. (1/1)
- Onto social media watch, Wrestling Inc’s tracked pictures posted from or featuring Roman Reigns, Finn Bálor, Cesaro, Sheamus, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville which show them en route to Cape Town, South Africa. Which doesn’t mean they won’t be announced in absentia, but it seems unlikely WWE wouldn’t want big names like most of those Superstars on hand for their reveal on SmackDown.
- Half that list moved to SmackDown (the Bar & Mandy/Sonya).
- On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer again said WWE officials have discussed calling up Velveteen Dream. He also mentioned SAnitY as a possible pending promotion.
- SAnitY got the call up (and is never used). Dream is still down in NXT. (1/2)
- Big Cass has been backstage with WWE recently, and should be returning to television soon. PWInsider had him at Raw last night.
- He returned on this SmackDown. (1/1)
- There’s talk that Brock Lesnar is now being paid per appearance, per PW Stream.
- That would make sense,
- Bodyslam.net claims Rusev was removed from the Undertaker match at Greatest Royal Rumble because of his comments to TMZ about Undertaker being old but was put back in the match when Undertaker didn’t get offended. Yeah.
- We never found out the real reason. Just theories, even from someone like Jericho. Jericho recently said in an interview he thinks Vince took him out of the match because he told him he’ll be winning the IGWP Intercontinental title.
- They also say Steve Austin was asked about appearing at WWE Greatest Royal Rumble and declined.
- No surprise there. They’ll bring back anyone for these Saudi shows.
- WWE appears to have removed Kane from the Greatest Royal Rumble match.
- He was not in the match. He’ll main event Crown Jewel though, if tickets ever go on sale. (1/1)
- According to sources of Pro Wrestling Sheet’s Ryan Satin, Rusev being taken out and then added back to Undertaker’s match at Greatest Royal Rumble was just a case of Vince McMahon changing his mind and had nothing to do with the TMZ interview.
- Given we have two rumors that contradict, I’ll throw the ol’ split decision out. (1/2)
- WWE Network’s sign-up page features an ad for Greatest Royal Rumble which pictures Rey Mysterio, seemingly confirming reports of his involvement. Shane McMahon, Mark Henry, and The Great Khali are also officially unannounced talent shown in the promo image.
- All four were in the Greatest Royal Rumble. (4/4)
- Big Cass is being considered for a big push in 2018, with a feud with AJ Styles possible after he works with Daniel Bryan.
- Yeah, he was released right after that Bryan feud. Now he’s going by Big C on the indies. (0/1)
- On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer speculated Nikki Cross was not called up with the rest of SAnitY because the NXT Women’s roster is lacking in experienced talent to work with Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane.
- I wonder if they’ll eventually bring her up and remember SAnitY exists. But I buy the reason Meltz is giving. The fact she’s working with a very high ceiling, but relatively new talent like Bianca Belair makes me think they value her experience in NXT.
- There are currently no plans for a Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley match although there have been rumors of as much, says the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
- They haven’t even hinted at it. (1/1)
- Dolph Ziggler still hasn’t signed a new deal and his current contract with WWE expires sometime this summer, according to PW Insider.
- He’s still kicking with the company. I don’t know if he signed another and if so, for how long.
- Per the Observer, WWE had “heavily debated” calling up Velveteen Dream but for now he’s staying in NXT to work with Ricochet.
- That’s the case. I’m glad he’s still in NXT so we can still enjoy him. (Again, not confident in that gimmick given a real chance to succeed on the main roster.) (1/1)
- Pro Wrestling Sheet is saying Davey Boy Smith Jr is wanted by police for throwing coffee in Jake Roberts’ face in New Orleans at WrestleCon.
- Wrestling is crazy, man.
This week: 14/22 - 64%
Overall: 2,424/4,395 - 55.2%
Have a great week, everyone!