Rumor Look Back: Feb. 19 - 25, 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 19, 2018

• Filmmaker Jon Bravo released a clip purported to show evidence of “holes in the WWE drug policy” with Roman Reigns while saying “more is coming.”
• This was the biggest nothing story.
• Speaking of Reigns, don’t expect Roman Reigns to win the Gauntlet match on Raw tonight. He’s still expected to win at Elimination Chamber, however.
• This is accurate on both accounts. This was the Gauntlet match that started Monday Night Rollins, when Seth defeated Roman Reigns and John Cena. Braun Strowman ended up winning that match but Reigns won the Chamber. (2/2)
• There’s some new speculation that with dual brand PPVs reportedly going to four hours as the standard, the big four shows will move to five hours as the standard, and possibly longer.
• This is about right. (1/1)
• There were reports going around that Chad Lail, Wesley Blake, Steve Cutler, and Lacey Evans were working together at an NXT house show this past weekend, fueling speculation of a new stable.
• I am going to mark this as incorrect because Lacey Evans is on her own. The other three I believe work together on house shows, but haven’t been on TV yet (outside the video regarding the Aleister Black attack). (0/1)

February 20, 2018

• The decision to make Apollo WWE’s latest one-named Superstar came from Vince McMahon, according to Sportkeeda. The site says it was due to his old last name being similar to that of the confessed killer in last week’s Parkland, Florida school shooting.
• My bet is it was more that Vince likes people with one name than having to do with the shooting.
• Odds say Alexa Bliss will retain the Women’s title, but WWE may still be considering a Sasha Banks win in Sunday’s Elimination Chamber match.
• The odds were right. (1/2)
• WWE mid-card wrestlers are making approximately half what they made in 2010, indie wrestler Bin Hamin said on his podcast. He said he got the info from “mid-card guys that I know, ex-OVW talent”.
• Interesting. Probably more incentive for those not being used well to maybe take a bet on themselves and try to make it outside WWE.
• The Sportster claims WWE is interested in working with Melbourne Cricket Grounds to hold an event at the 100,000 seat venue, but it’s not been decided if that will a be a PPV or just a huge live show.
• That’s their Australia Super Show. It’s not technically a pay-per-view but it will be on the Network, a la the Greatest Royal Rumble. (1/1)

February 21, 2018

• Despite all the obvious continued build to a Daniel Bryan vs. Shane McMahon match, Dave Meltzer says Bryan still hasn’t been cleared.
• I believe he was cleared very close to when they announced it, so at this time, he wasn’t. When he was, he didn’t work against Shane but instead alongside him. (1/1)
• Per the Observer, it’s possible Triple H will be put in charge of negotiating Brock Lesnar’s next deal with WWE.
• I wonder why Aitch and not Vince.
• Titus Worldwide vs. The Bar is likely to be added to the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.
• Yes, it was a tag title match that the Bar won. (1/1)
• Rey Mysterio recently told Inside the Ropes that conversations with WWE are still open. It’s expected he’ll be back with the company at some point within the year.
• 4 months to see if it goes that way.
• That rumor about WWE changing Apollo’s name because of the Parkland, Florida school shooter? Ryan Satin said WWE PR told him they didn’t send any email to Sportskeeda saying that was why as initially claimed.
• OK, let’s give this the good ol’ (1/2)

February 22, 2018

• Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns for the Universal title is a likely direction for Raw after Wrestlemania 34, according to Observer Radio.
• It wasn’t because Reigns didn’t win the Universal championship. (0/1)
• Ronda Rousey’s contract signing doesn’t appear to have helped Elimination Chamber at the box office, with some tickets being offered at a buy one, get one free discount by T-Mobile Arena.
• I wonder what would have. Cena was already booked on the card.
• On the subject of attendance, Twitter account Wrestle News Daily shared some pics said to be from midway through Feb. 20’s SmackDown taping in Phoenix that showed a mostly empty arena.
• SmackDown was pretty bad at that point, though I don’t know if poor storytelling affects tickets sales that much.
• Paul Heyman is the leading candidate to induct Goldberg at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony on April 6 in New Orleans, says PWInsider.
• It was Paul. (1/1)

February 23, 2018

• Filmmaker Jon Bravo is now saying there are 15 current or former WWE performers who were clients of Richard Rodriguez, who is alleged to have distributed steroids. He had previously named Roman Reigns, who denied the allegations.
• Again, ended up as non-story, and then Jon Bravo said he was taking some time away.
• According to PW Insider, Vince McMahon himself is the one who suggested the Gauntlet match, then approved it going two hours and being laid out how it was. This was, apparently, a shock to people within the company.
• It was very very good.
• The Observer notes it looks like WWE is still planning The Miz vs. Braun Strowman for the Intercontinental championship at WrestleMania 34.
• It was Miz vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor for the IC title. And it was Braun and Nicholas vs. the Bar for the tag team titles. (0/1)
• The expectation is Jinder Mahal will be added to the Bobby Roode vs. Randy Orton U.S. title match at Fastlane.
• He wasn’t. But he was part of the WrestleMania match. (0/1)
• Per the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the “All In” show in September will be in Chicago.
• Hoffman Estates technically, but the Chicago area. (1/1)

February 24, 2018

• Per PW Insider, Ronda Rousey has been at the Performance Center and in Stamford this week preparing to start her run in WWE. She is not expected to wrestle until WrestleMania, however.
• WrestleMania was her first match and a very impressive debut. (1/1)
• There’s been a lot of speculation about AJ Styles moving to Raw after WrestleMania. It would give him fresh match-ups.
• SmackDown Live remains the house that AJ Styles built. (0/1)
• John Cena is still advertised for Fastlane and is expected to work a match on the show.
• He was part of the six man title match. (1/1)
• According to PW Insider, Jeff Hardy visited Alabama on Tuesday of this week to see about his progress rehabilitating his injury. He could still be back before WrestleMania 34.
• He returned the night afterwards. Unfortunately, it sounds like he’s pretty banged up still. (0/1)
• Some wrestlers from Impact Wrestling told PW Insider recently to say they haven’t been paid for January tapings in Orlando. Ed Nordholm has denied this.
• I haven’t heard anything more about this. I hope they’re paying their talent now.

This week: 12/20 - 60%

Overall: 2,342/4,236 - 55.3%

Have a great week, everyone!