Rumor Look Back: June 30 - July 5, 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 get right to it.

June 30, 2018

• Ronda Rousey’s return from suspension will be on the post-Extreme Rules episode of Monday Night Raw, according to PW Insider, and the plan is to have her return that night.
• Well, she worked Extreme Rules, doing the barricade jumping spot. Though she was technically still suspended. So I guess her “return from suspension” was that Monday. (1/1)
• Per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, not only has Jeff Hardy been working through a pinched nerve, he’s also dealing with a leg injury.
• With all he’s put his body through, I can’t imagine he ever feels 100%.
• PW Insider notes that Dolph Ziggler has been booked to replace Shawn Michaels in a Comic Con appearance in December through WWE. That’s worth noting because his contract is supposed to be up this summer, so it could indicate some kind of agreement between the two sides.
• He’s still here, though we don’t know the details of his contract currently.
• According to the Observer, NXT TakeOver events are having their start times moved up one hour, though it isn’t supposed to lead to longer shows.
• I’d say this is accurate. They start at 7 and usually run about 2:30. (2/2)
• PW Insider has said they heard AXS TV has “made overtures” about airing the Cody Rhodes & Young Bucks promoted All In event on Sept. 1.
• AXS denied this, though with their New Japan deal, of course they would. I wouldn’t be surprised if this promotion gets a better station with the backing of the Khans.

July 2, 2018

• It’s expected that Seth Rollins will get another shot at Dolph Ziggler and the Intercontinental championship at Extreme Rules, and it will have a stipulation.
• This was the Iron Man match where the crowd counted down from 10 every minute. (2/2)
• The word going around, according to Nikkan Sports, is that Shinsuke Nakamura won’t wrestle for two weeks after being bitten by a police dog.
• According to cagematch, he went from 6/24 to 7/9 without working a match. (1/1)
• During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Kaitlyn strongly hinted at a return to WWE.
• She returned for the Mae Young Classic, though isn’t working with them otherwise right now. (1/1)
• Speaking of returns, Samir Singh is training and should be back sooner rather than later.
• He returned in the middle of October, so it was still another three months. (0/1)
• NJPW President Harold Meij recently told The Mainichi that NJPW World has “some 100,000 registered members and 40,000 live outside Japan.”
• Which is actually a bit lower than I was thinking. More people were still watching Impact at 10 pm on POP than had NJPW subs. I wonder what the number is now.

July 3, 2018

• WWE is planning to make large money offers to Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks this year, according to WrestleVotes, but it’s not clear any of them will take the deals.
• I guess I can’t speak to Omega for sure just yet, but Cody and the Bucks are starting their own promotion so they didn’t take any deal. I’d be surprised to see Kenny in WWE.
• There’s still talk of a Shinsuke Nakamura/Jeff Hardy match at Extreme Rules provided the injuries both stars are dealing with allow them to work the show.
• Yes, Nakamura retained his title here. Orton attacked Jeff afterwards. (1/1)
• After a report from Backstage in WWE said Fox would be bringing back “some type of show like” Saturday Night’s Main Event as part of their new deal with WWE, Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio “people at WWE and Fox” told him there’s nothing to that at this time.
• Sounds like a split rumor here. We’ll find out if WWE airs a smaller show on Fox. (1/2)
• Meltzer also says he was told “not right now” regarding NXT being announced for FS1.
• There’s been nothing at all announced. (1/1)
• Following up on the report of NXT TakeOver shows starting earlier, PW Insider reports they’ll begin at 7PM EST starting with Brooklyn. The change was made in order to give them the same start time as main roster PPVs.
• That makes sense. Though I bet plenty of people tuned in at 8 pm surprised the show was an hour in. Luckily, you can always watch from the beginning no matter when you put it on.

July 4, 2018

• As of now, there are no planned title changes at Extreme Rules.
• The B Team won the tag team titles from Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy. (0/1)
• The new speculation is that WWE is trying to book Roman Reigns like a cool heel in the hopes fans would then cheer him like a babyface.
• That was never going to work if people suspected it was a plan.
• The latest word, per the Observer, is that Daniel Bryan’s contract expires in September but WWE has him advertised for shows after that.
• He obvious re-signed and soon won the WWE title.
• Advertising seems to indicate that Samoa Joe could be next in line for a feud with WWE Champion AJ Styles come Hell in a Cell in September.
• Yes, they had a long feud that Joe didn’t win. WENDY! (1/1)
• Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that he expects WWE to protect Drew McIntyre. That could help explain the tag team with Dolph Ziggler and how that’s panning out.
• I’d say he’s protected. He only has two main roster single’s pinfall losses, and both were had distractions in the finish. (1/1)

July 5, 2018

• Just in case he doesn’t re-sign, WWE is trying to book all the Daniel Bryan “dream matches” before his contract is up, says Wrestling Standard.
• Luckily he re-signed so they can explore them more.
• That site also says Miz will get involved in Team Hell No’s match at Extreme Rules to set-up Bryan vs. Miz at SummerSlam where if no new contract’s been signed, Miz will win a blow-off. If Bryan signs a deal to stay, they’ll have a longer feud.
• Miz did not get involved in that match. (0/1)
• On The Board at F4WOnline.com, Dave Meltzer addressed a rumor about Nia Jax’s recent social media behavior toward Alexa Bliss (unfollowing her, liking negative comments directed at Bliss) saying it’s not a work and has resulted in Jax having “real-life heat” with WWE officials.
• She’s still consistently booked well.
• According to PW Insider, WWE is considering Matt Cappotelli for the 2019 Warrior Award.
• We’ll have to wait and see.
• Insider also says Impact officials are concerned about their U.S. television viewership. They’re allegedly specifically worried fans are watching YouTube highlights and skipping the Pop TV broadcast.
• Things aren’t going to get any better now that they’re on Pursuit. They may have to do what MLW does and upload their entire episodes on YouTube.

This week: 12/16 - 75%

July 2018: 32/53 - 60%

Overall: 2,537/4,599 - 55.2%

Have a great week, everyone!