Rumor Look Back: Feb. 5 - 11, 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 into it.

February 5, 2018

• Wrestling Observer speculates Kane might be dealing with an injury, based on how little he worked in the Universal title match at Royal Rumble and the one-sided write-off the next night on Raw.
• That’s mayor Kane to you.
• WWE officials are “very unhappy” about the approximately 30% week-to-week drops in live audience numbers for Mixed Match Challenge on Facebook, says The Observer.
• It was enjoyable, but certainly not “must watch,” and when they mentioned Asuka’s streak was on the line, the writing was on the wall.
• An image claiming to be a local ad for Elimination Chamber making the rounds online shows the women challenging Alexa Bliss in the Chamber match as Sasha Banks, Bayley, Nia Jax, Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose.
• This is the same rumor from last week but with Mandy instead of Mickie James. Nia Jax is still wrong. (4/5)
• On a recent Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer says Tyler Bate’s recent WWE losing streak is because he has heat with management over telling them he had other plans when asked to work a tour at the last minute.
• I don’t know if this is true or not. But six months later, he’s in a hot feud alongside his Mustache Mountain mate against the Undisputed ERA.
• According to a report by Squared Circle Sirens, Impact’s Rosemary suffered a knee injury at an indie show this weekend.
• She hasn’t wrestled since. Hopefully she’ll be back as she said on Twitter, in her own unique way, that she’s moving on to rehab. (1/1)

February 6, 2018

• Wrestling Observer says Jason Jordan’s injury is worse than originally feared, as his neck issue is causing issues with his grip.
• Grip issues are a big deal. He’s still out and recent word is there are still lingering issues delaying his return. (1/1)
• Jordan is said to be trying to rest and rehab the injury to avoid surgery which keep him out for a year or more. [Editor’s note: Counter claim from JJ’s wife here; (mostly) confirmation here]
• This ended up being incorrect as JJ’s wife and later confirmation said. (0/1)
• According to Planeta Wrestling, WWE’s next Network tournament will consist of Latin and South American talent and be held in Chile this August.
• It was not. William Regal denied this pretty quickly. (0/1)
• That report also says a deal for Rey Mysterio to rejoin WWE will be announced soon, and he’ll play a prominent role in the tournament.
• Rey Mysterio is still not back in the WWE. (0/1)
• Based on house show advertisements, it looks like Samoa Joe’s return from injury is being targeted for mid-March.
• It was after WrestleMania, so more early April. (0/1)

February 7, 2018

• The word going around, including from Dave Meltzer, is that the Corey Graves-Booker T issues are not a work.
• They totally were. They were laughing about it on Book’s radio show within a week. (0/1)
• Big Show indicated on social media that his return is “coming soon.”
• Unfortunately, complications held his return back and he hasn’t returned in an in-ring role. (He has been around promoting their partnership with Special Olympics.) (0/1)
• Tyler Bate seemed to hint on Twitter that recent rumors of his having heat in WWE were made up.
• Even if they were true, wouldn’t he still deny them?
• The expectation is there will be surprise entrants in the Cruiserweight title tournament, as DRAKE MAVERICK hinted at on Raw this week.
• There were some NXT surprises such as Roderick Strong and Buddy Murphy (who is now a full time member on the 205 roster). (1/1)

February 8, 2018

• According to Sports Illustrated, the entire Corey Graves/Booker T situation is a work designed to get heel heat on Graves and publicity for Booker’s podcast.
• They were a work. The reason behind it sounded more like “for the hell of it” but they weren’t legit issues. (1/1)
• There are no definite plans on how or even if the SmackDown Top 10 list introduced this week will be used in-story.
• It was used as part of a bad feud between Jinder Mahal, Randy Orton, and Bobby Roode. Very bad.
• The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal may play a bigger role than normal in WrestleMania this year. PW Insider says WWE is looking to capitalize on and help promote the HBO documentary Bill Simmons helped produce on Andre.
• It wasn’t any bigger than prior. It was a kickoff match that didn’t have any bigger names than usual. (0/1)
• WWE quickly sold out of their initial run of Rusev Day calendars and doubled the quantity on the re-order to 5000, per Fightful.com.
• Given how hot the Rusev Day gimmick was, it’s a shame they never got a tag title run.

February 9, 2018

• Undertaker vs. John Cena was still planned as of a couple weeks ago, says the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, but obviously an angle won’t be shot until after Elimination Chamber, if it’s still the direction.
• They went that way but it was well after the Chamber that they got to it. (1/1)
• Per the Observer, there’s still talk of a Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley feud but it all depends on if Lesnar decides to stay after WrestleMania.
• Lesnar did stay after Mania but hasn’t faced Lashley. (0/1)
• Apparently the real reason Booker T was taken off commentary was only so they could make room for Jonathan Coachman, per the Observer.
• Is that really an improvement?

February 10, 2018

• In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it’s noted “the feeling” is Triple H is going to get more power within WWE due to the XFL starting up again and he’s been starting to put a team in place for NXT, which helps explain the Jeremy Borash hiring.
• Interesting rumor. The XFL is a ways away and probably won’t last long.
• The obvious speculation is Finn Balor will win the Fatal 4-Way second chance Elimination Chamber spot while Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy will continue their feud.
• So it was actually a fatal 5-way with Seth Rollins and there was never a clear winner. Both Rollins and Balor ended up in the Chamber match. (0/1)
• Mickie James was a replacement for Nia Jax in the women’s Elimination Chamber match and the plan is still for Jax to wrestle Bliss for the title at WrestleMania, per the Observer.
• That was the Raw Women’s title match at WrestleMania. (1/1)
• According to Wrestling Inc, Kane is expected back in WWE in March.
• He returned in March and had a match with John Cena while Cena was pining for Taker. (1/1)

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This week: 11/21 - 52%

Overall: 2,322/4,202 - 55.3%

Have a great week, everyone!