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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. First, let’s clear some out of the outstanding column.
- It’s expected Lesnar will have title defenses against the likes of Braun Strowman, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns, at the very least.
- I am only grading this as his last title reign as this what’s this rumor was referring to. Of these four men, it was only Reigns and Strowman. (2/4)
- It’s expected Brock Lesnar will have matches with most, if not all, of the men in the Extreme Rules Fatal 5Way match between now and WrestleMania 34.
- It’s in the same vein of the last one. The men in this match were Samoa Joe, Finn Balor, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins in Bryan Wyatt. Only Joe and Roman got shots. (2/5)
- If Brock Lesnar re-signs, WWE hopes to return to the feud between him and Braun Strowman after WrestleMania 34.
- Continuing with the Brock theme here. This is incorrect. He feuded with Roman even more after WrestleMania. He only started back with Strowman well after he lost the title to Roman. (0/1)
And now onto this week’s rumors:
- With SmackDown moving to FOX TV there’s already speculation that the brand extension could change in a major way to account for the larger audience.
- It’ll be interesting to see who ends up where now that competing networks have the shows.
- Per PW Insider, Alicia Fox is scheduled to be at some upcoming TV tapings but it’s unclear when she’ll be used again.
- She returned in a quick backstage segment at the end of June. She’s since found herself spots as part of the heel faction and as Jinder Mahal’s Mixed Match Challenge partner.
- Nikki Bella is telling TMZ that her and John Cena are “working on the relationship” but by all accounts it looks as though the two are back together. It may not have all been a work all along but it was definitely played up for television.
- They are not back together. (0/1)
- The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that Xia Brookside could be in the Mae Young Classic and be getting signed by WWE.
- The daughter of Robbie Brookside was in the first round, taking a loss. She has since worked the UK brand. (2/2)
- Ronda Rousey is not expected to work July’s Extreme Rules PPV.
- This comes down to your definition of “working” a show. Does that mean a match or just being part of a segment? I think it’s the latter because that’s still working on the show. That’s where Rousey fit in. She jumped the barricade from the crowd during the Nia Jax/Alexa Bliss match. (0/1)
- Speculation from Wrestling Observer and elsewhere is that Rousey’s match with Nia Jax at Money in the Bank will be kept very short.
- 7 minutes & 22 seconds. There were many matches around 8 minutes at this show, so I wouldn’t consider that “very short.” (0/1)
- There’s been no talk of a WWE women’s tag division, says PW Insider.
- They finally mentioned the idea on TV six months later, but there’s still no division. (1/1)
- According to PW Insider’s WWE sources, while Enzo Amore may be telling the truth when he says he wasn’t have been aware he was being investigated by Phoenix police until the day of Raw 25, the news coming out at all was ‘a last straw situation’ due his track record of upsetting the locker room and saying “things they didn’t want him to say”.
- They needed to let him go. Otherwise, we’d never have his sneaking into Survivor Series the night before his very sad show.
- Impact Wrestling is involved in Sami Callihan’s angle of trying to get booked on Chris Jericho’s cruise. Callihan appears to be a way for Jericho to involve his friend Don Callis’ promotion in the cruise without appearing like he’s working with another WWE competitor.
- Jericho doesn’t seem to care about working with other competitors as he has many Impact talent on his cruise and booked an “Impact vs. Ring of Honor” angle.
- Speculation from Wrestling Observer and elsewhere is that Sanity’s SmackDown television debut could be delayed due to trademark issues WWE is dealing with.
- Are they still dealing with it?
- The Observer reports Progress Women’s champ Jinny has signed a WWE contract.
- She’s part of the UK brand. (1/1)
- One of the identical twins who worked in NXT as The Ealy Brothers has been released from WWE, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet. It’s not clear why Uriel was let go, although the site speculates Gabriel could be being treated for a head injury.
- The other has since been released.
- Jonathan Coachman missed Raw for his Golf Channel job. He says this is the last WWE date he’ll miss for a while.
- Two months later he missed one and Renee Young took his spot. He soon lost that spot to her permanently. (0/1)
- Per PW Insider, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon missed Raw this week to be in Los Angeles to get ready for a WWE event centered around trying to get the show nominated for an Emmy Award.
- I wonder if that Emmy nom will ever happen.
- AAA is running Madison Square Garden in September, according to PW Insider.
- I can only find this rumor that it was going to happen but can’t find any shows that actually happened at the Garden. If AAA fans in the comments know different, let me know. (0/1)
- What’s more, there is apparently an issue between management at the Garden and WWE, who have been holding more and more events at the Barclays Center. This is opening the doors for other pro wrestling promotions, it seems.
- Ring of Honor and New Japan are holding a joint show there next April. Jericho once spoke about how while MSG is a classic arena, it’s not talent friendly when it comes to actually getting into the building. Perhaps that’s why WWE has gotten away from it.
- Seth Rollins finisher is now just “The Stomp,” says Wrestling Inc.
- I checked with our live blogger extraordinaire Rev. Claire and she reports that it’s mainly called “the stomp.” (1/1)
- WrestleVotes notes that while there’s been speculation about a Baron Corbin vs. Kurt Angle match, there doesn’t seem to be word of that going around within WWE.
- That has not happened as a one on one match. (1/1)
- Brock Lesnar is expected to lose the Universal Title at SummerSlam, according to Sports Illustrated’s WWE sources.
- He finally did. He’s since won it back though. (1/1)
- SmackDown will not air live on the west coast when it moves to Fridays on Fox next year, per PW Insider.
- That’s not how most live content works, is it? I live on the east coast so I don’t know. When does Raw air currently on the west coast?
- SummerSlam looks set to leave Barclays after this year. WrestleVotes says WWE is hoping to get a stadium to host, possibly in a “‘vacation’ city”.
- It’s on Toronto, which isn’t a stadium host. It’s a city, but is it really a “vacation city” more than any others? (0/1)
- As the Wrestling Observer notes, the idea of Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns at SummerSlam is not set in stone. Either way, there could be a Money in the Bank cash-in, no matter the result.
- There was no cash in, though there was a tease. (0/1)
- PW Insider says there’s been talk of adding Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Sin Cara to the Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
- It was not. (0/1)
- WWE could be planning a new show or event centered around the term “WWE VIP,” notes PW Insider, based on a recent trademark application.
- It’s not a new show or event that I am aware of. (0/1)
- Sky Sports is saying WWE has signed Luke Menzies, a former rugby player, to a contract.
- He is currently in NXT. (1/1)
This week: 8/17 - 47%
Overall: 2,498/4,537 - 55.1%
Have a great week, everyone!