Rumor Look Back: May 25 - June 1, 2018

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 in it.

May 25, 2018

• While WWE is starting pay-per-view shows an hour earlier, they aren’t expected to go a full four hours for each “B” level event. Most will likely end at 10:30 pm ET.
• This is about right for the non Big Four. (1/1)
• According to the Observer, Tommaso Ciampa vs. Johnny Gargano at TakeOver in Chicago was made a Street Fight because AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Money in the Bank is a Last Man Standing match.
• This makes sense. Many of the same fans will be watching both.
• The Wrestling Observer Newsletter says the deal FOX offered for Monday Night Raw was “in the range of $240 and $270 million” but USA made the deal to keep it.
• Fox going all in.
• Starrcast is sold out and there are now attempts being made at getting more space for the convention, per the Observer.
• This was a pretty big thing.

May 26, 2018

• The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that WWE is getting aggressive trying to sign independent wrestlers, apparently because MLW got a TV deal.
• There’s no room for any of them.
• WWE is planning to headline its Tokyo show on July 1 with AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Samoa Joe, per the Observer.
• Looks like it was a triple threat between Joe, Bryan, and Styles. Shinsuke wasn’t in the match. (0/1)
• PW Insider notes WWE started contacting wrestlers for the next Mae Young Classic within the past two weeks.
• Giving them about 3 months notice before they taped.
• They also say that they’ve reached out to wrestlers who worked the tournament last year, so we could see some repeat competitors.
• We had plenty of those. (1/1)
• According to the Observer, John Hennigan has “inquired about coming in” to New Japan Pro Wrestling.
• Johnny Mundo/Morrison/Impact is not in New Japan currently. He’s Impact champion. (0/1)

May 28, 2018

• According to Ringside News’ sources, WWE is “open to the idea” of selling the broadcast television rights to WrestleMania.
• To whom?
• Two sources have told WrestlingNews.Co John Cena and Nikki Bella “already have wedding plans” and E! execs are in the loop since it will air during season four of Total Bellas.
• This didn’t happen. John’s been living in China and doesn’t look to be in the next season of Total Bellas at all. (0/1)
• Lana is said to getting extra training at WWE’s Performance Center in preparation for working next month’s Money in the Bank ladder match, says PW Insider.
• She doesn’t get many opportunities to wrestle so when they use her, she’d need to get this extra time.
• The idea between main roster talent like The Revival and Tye Dillinger working NXT house shows is to bolster ticket sales for those events by using wrestlers who aren’t currently being used on the main roster anyway.
• And to remind people why we liked certain acts in NXT after a year or two on the main roster has us forget.
• According to ticket site LiveNation, WWE’s June 18 show in London will feature a Toni Storm vs Killer Kelly vs Jinny vs Isla Dawn #1 contenders match with the winner facing NXT Women’s champ Shayna Baszler on June 19.
• Jinny didn’t end up wrestling due to injury it looks like. So it was a triple threat instead. (0/1)

May 29, 2018

• Twitter account PWStream says their sources tell them WWE is “tentative with their plans” for Daniel Bryan because he still hasn’t signed a contract to stay past September 1.
• This makes sense. Don’t want to commit to things they can’t do,.
• Cody Rhodes is expected to win the Ring of Honor World Championship from Dalton Castle and defend it against NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis at All In.
• This didn’t happen, surprisingly enough. Cody ended up using his ROH ring as collateral to get the NWA title match instead. (0/1)
• IIconics first merchandise is selling better than expected, says WrestlingNews.Co. The site says WWE has big plans for Billie Kay and Peyton Royce.
• I wouldn’t say anything they’ve done would consist of “big plans.” (0/1)
• Chris Jericho fed the rumor mill by retweeting a fan question asking if he was headed to Impact. Speculation started after Jericho’s friend and Impact executive Don Callis told Pro Wrestling Illustrated he’d welcome Y2J to the company. But there’s virtually no chance Jericho will work for a North American company other than WWE.
• I’m curious to see if this holds true. Jericho and Impact management recently enjoyed a dinner, but Y2J is friends with those guys.
• PW Insider says Roman Reigns and AJ Styles are off this weekend while WWE tours Lousiana and Texas. Both are expected to be back on TV next week.
• They were both back on TV, though AJ Styles was just in a backstage contract signing segment. (2/2)

May 30, 2018

• The expectation is we won’t know which New Day member will wrestle in the Money in the Bank ladder match until the match itself.
• It was Kofi, and we didn’t find out until they walked out for the match. (1/1)
• Jason Jordan was backstage at Raw this week, per PW Insider, and he’s expected back at any time.
• Unfortunately, he is still out, though still working with the hope to get back. (0/1)
• This tweet from Dave Meltzer makes it sound as though the cruiserweights will no longer be appearing on Monday Night Raw.
• Pretty much, outside guys like Lio Rush and Drake Maverick. But it’s in different roles and not to represent 205. (1/1)
• Chelsea Green recently told Women’s Pro Wrestling Weekly that she hasn’t been contacted about the upcoming Mae Young Classic and apparently neither have Britt Baker and Santana Garrett.
• I can’t speak to whether or not there was any contact, but these three weren’t in it.
• Per PW Insider, Eddie Kingston is working on a day-to-day deal with Impact Wrestling.
• That deal went through Slammiversary at least.

May 31, 2018

• Current plans call for a SmackDown star to win the men’s Money in the Bank contract and a Raw star to win the women’s briefcase, per WrestleVotes.
• Half right. Alexa won for the women but Braun, also on Raw, won for the men. His win was pretty wasted. (1/2)
• Whether or not he’s the winner, PW Insider said on a recent Elite Audio show that they’ve heard Big E will be the New Day member entered in the match.
• It was Kofi. (0/1)
• Not surprising considering how much Fox is paying, but The Wrap says they’ve confirmed SmackDown will continue to air live when it moves to Fridays next year.
• It would be madness if they aired it taped after paying all that money. Friday is a tough sell for fans in general.
• Keith Lee should be reporting to WWE’s Performance Center soon. He could be introduced on camera during TakeOver: Chicago.
• He got the “in the crowd” moment. (1/1)

June 1, 2018

• The Observer says the plan as of now is for Brock Lesnar’s next title defense to headline SummerSlam in August.
• That was his next one. He lost but he’s already champion again. (1/1)
• It’s not clear yet but Seth Rollins is apparently in the running to be Lesnar’s opponent.
• It was Roman again. (0/1)
• Braun Strowman and Ember Moon are early betting favorites to win the Money in the Bank ladder matches, though previous rumors suggest the men’s winner will come from the SmackDown side.
• Braun won his. Ember did not. (1/2)
• Per PW Insider, Eli Drake is still in talks with Impact Wrestling about signing a new deal and there is an offer for him already.
• Looks like he may have signed, but I don’t see anything official from the company.

This week: 10/21 - 48%

May 2018: 45/85 - 53%

Overall: 2,485/4,510 - 55.1%