:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58893675/011_RAW_01292018rf_0077__7292f24f9072290a891712281a35bdc6.0.jpg)
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.
- The reason Brock Lesnar pinned Roman Reigns at SummerSlam was because WWE once again has planned for the reverse to happen in the main event of WrestleMania 34.
- It’s sure looking that way. Though we’ll wait and see for sure in a little over a month... if Brock shows up. (He’ll show up.)
- It’s possible WWE goes right to making the Roman Reigns vs. John Cena match at No Mercy.
- They did. The Big Dog got the win. (1/1)
- The Observer notes that Rusev losing to Randy Orton in nine seconds wasn’t to bury Rusev or because there are issues there but to build Orton back up quickly after how he looked in programs with Bray Wyatt and Jinder Mahal.
- I’m sure fans loved this one.
- Neville losing the cruiserweight title to Akira Tozawa was a last minute decision by Vince McMahon to “shake things up,” per the Observer. Cedric Alexander and Enzo Amore are future title challengers for Neville.
- Enzo won his match so Alexander never got his shot for the title against Neville since Enzo kept the belt until being stripped of it. (1/2)
- For whatever it’s worth, the Staples Center website is currently advertising Sami Zayn for the No Mercy pay-per-view. That’s a Raw exclusive show.
- He wasn’t part of that show.
- One of the reasons The New Day lost to The Usos at SummerSlam, according to Wrestling Observer, is because WWE wants them to set the record for most title reigns. It’s part of a plan to establish the trio as the “greatest tag team of all-time”.
- What record is that? Total reigns? I believe the Dudley’s have that with seven. New Day only have four total currently, though they can make it five at Fastlane.
- Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso says he heard part of the reason Baron Corbin lost his cash-in and won’t be getting a WWE title run any time soon is because John Cena believed he wasn’t ready.
- I believe this was before rumor about him mouthing off at that meeting about CTE. There’s a rumor later straight contradicting this one so I’m going to grade this as incorrect and that as correct. (0/1)
- Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish are teamed with Adam Cole in NXT due to Cole’s size, especially since he’ll be feuding with the much larger Drew McIntyre.
- Cole does pale in size compared to McIntyre. It’d be hard to make him a heel without back up.
- Asuka will be on Raw, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet’s sources.
- That’s the case. She’s on her way to Mania for a title match. (1/1)
- What’s more, the site says her first appearance should be Oct. 22’s TLC pay-per-view in Minneapolis.
- This is also true. She defeated Emma in one of Emma’s last matches in the company. (1/1)
- On Wrestling Observer Radio, it was said there’s talk backstage of awarding Asuka’s vacated NXT title to the winner of Sept. 12’s Mae Young Classic final.
- They did not. Kairi Sane, the winner, had a title opportunity as part of a fatal 4-way. Current champion Ember Moon won that. (0/1)
- Seeing as some of the backstage heat on Enzo Amore was due to his bragging about living in Los Angeles and his life outside the business, it’s expected his boasting on Instagram about the money he spent attending Mayweather vs. McGregor this past weekend is only going to make things worse.
- That wouldn’t be surprising. Though I remember hearing Court Bauer on Steve Austin’s podcast speculating that was a WWE comped ticket and he was playing into the gimmick with that. But who knows.
- Sexy Star’s sister claims she was attacked first in the match before injuring Rosemary at Triplemania, but seeing as no one who isn’t related to Star has refuted Rosemary’s account of events, that’s being seen as another of the “excuses” Rosemary wrote about.
- What a crappy situation this was.
- Fans in attendance report Xavier Woods may have suffered a serious knee injury at the house show in Texarkana, Arkansas Monday night according to Wrestling Inc.
- Luckily it wasn’t as bad as fans (and likely Woods) initially worried. (0/1)
- Breezango’s assailants may be revealed tonight on SmackDown. That’s apparently the current plan, but Wrestling Observer Radio says that’s been true in the past and WWE has changed their minds.
- I don’t know if we ever learned, did we? I don’t think we did. (0/1)
- A big reason WWE is loading up the No Mercy card and could pull the trigger on Shane McMahon vs. Kevin Owens for Hell in a Cell is to keep interest in their programming up heading into the NFL season.
- That’s reasonable.
- Current plans call for Asuka’s dominant undefeated streak to continue on the main roster, including the possibility she’ll quickly win the Raw Women’s title.
- Has the streak continued? Yes. Has she quickly won the title? That’s subjective but I’m not going to say so since she’s been on the main roster and still hasn’t won it, though she’ll likely win it at Mania. (1/2)
- Enzo Amore was originally slated to compete in the battle royal to determine Miz’s next challenger for the Intercontinental title on Raw until plans changed, according to PWInsider, which could mean they were considering using him in multiple divisions.
- The era of Enzo was short lived.
- Donovan Dijak moved to Florida recently and should be announced as starting with WWE soon.
- He joined the company officially the next week. Hasn’t been used on TV yet but NXT is crowded so they can take their time. (1/1)
- Word is John Cena had input with writers on both his and Roman Reigns’ promos from this past Monday’s Raw.
- Honestly, these promos were too much “Hey, look! We’re shooting!” for me. There’s something to be said for nuance.
- There’s more talk of Breezango’s Fashion Files case as the way to debut NXT’s Authors of Pain on the main roster.
- The Authors are still in NXT and Breezango’s assailants are still unknown. (0/1)
- According to the Observer, Batista’s name has been floated as a possible headliner for the WWE Hall of Fame next year.
- Goldberg is the headliner this year. (0/1)
- Although there have been rumors Baron Corbin failed to win the WWE title on his Money in the Bank cash-in due to John Cena not seeing him as a top guy or issues with his Twitter, the Observer is saying neither is the case but it was something else outside the right from weeks ago, though exactly what wasn’t specified.
- This one feels like the one that’s more correct, but who the hell knows. (1/1)
- When Asuka makes her way up to the main roster after healing from her injury, she’s expected to get a big push with focus on her undefeated streak.
- I’d say this is correct. (1/1)
- There’s at least been a suggestion, per the Observer, that the winner of the Mae Young Classic be crowned new NXT women’s champion.
- Pretty much the same rumor as above, but I usually grade repeats so may as well keep the pattern. (0/1)
- PW Insider is reporting Samoa Joe was seen in Birmingham, Alabama earlier this week for treatment on his knee and his updated recovery time is 4-to-6 weeks.
- Returned Oct. 30, which is a bit longer than the time frame, but pretty close. Unfortunately, he’s back out with a different injury. (1/1)
- Beth Phoenix and Madusa will be at the Mae Young Classic Finals, per PW Insider, but WWE has pulled a planned documentary on Madusa that was set to air. She also apparently filmed material for the shows that have already aired but none of it has been used.
- I’m pretty sure the documentary aired around that time. (Even if it didn’t, I marked a rumor saying it did as correct last week.) (0/1)
- According to the Observer, current plans call for the UK show to begin before the end of 2017.
- The only UK show is NXT. (0/1)
- The Observer is reporting Dr. Wagner Jr. was paid 4.5 million pesos (roughly 255K dollars) to lose his mask at TripleMania.
- He was revealed to be a handsome man.
This Week: 9/20 - 45%
August 2017: 46/74 – 62%
Overall: 2,002/3,671 - 54.5%
Have a great week, everyone!