Rumor Look Back: May 17 - 23, 2019

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.

May 17, 2019

• Shane McMahon pitches ideas for himself but “they rarely get used,” says the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. They also say Stephanie McMahon has nothing to do with creative right now.
• I wonder what ideas Shane has for himself.
• According to PW Insider, Alexa Bliss was pulled from Money in the Bank due to a concussion.
• The announcement about her being out came before this. She’s had concussion issues, which she’s spoken about. (1/1)
• The Telegraph is reporting WWE is leaving Sky TV and moving to BT Sports in the UK.
• This is true. (1/1)
• The Observer says Bellator is interested in Jack Gallagher and there have been talks but no deal as of right now.
• I originally read this as Jack Swagger and thought this was right. But this itself hasn’t happened. Can’t speak to talks though.
• The WON notes that multiple ROH employees have recently quit the company to go work for AEW.
• ROH is not doing well right now.

May 18, 2019

• Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar for the Universal championship is the current plan for WWE Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia, says WrestleVotes.
• That was not the case. It was Rollins/Baron Corbin with Brock teasing a cash-in that didn’t happen. (0/1)
• PW Insider notes there were plans for Big E to be at Money in the Bank “at one point,” so he could return to television sooner rather than later.
• He returned just a few days later on SmackDown. (1/1)
• Despite other reports saying otherwise, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that Sami Zayn’s current character is one he came up with himself and not someone else.
• He’s very good at it.
• According to the Observer, Road Dogg took time off from WWE because he was feeling so much pressure but he is expected back at some point and will likely be working under Triple H when he returns.
• Precisely. He now works with NXT. (1/1)
• Jack Swagger told Ariel Helwani that he’s had talks with AEW. He could be going there in the future.
• He debuted as a member of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle.

May 20, 2019

• Stephanie McMahon led a talent meeting before Money in the Bank yesterday, according to Wrestling Observer. It was similar to past speeches of its type WWE management gives from time to time, but Steph listed AEW as a competitor. This was said to be the first time they ever mentioned a competing wrestling company by name.
• I mean they can’t just ignore their existence.
• The Samoa Joe/Rey Mysterio match at Money in the Bank was cut short due to blood, says PW Insider. The post-match angle went as planned.
• They’re very serious about trying to stop the bleeding.
• The Observer’s Bryan Alvarez claims Mysterio was being evaluated by trainers for a possible shoulder injury, too.
• Unfortunately, Rey is often injured.
• Alvarez also says two camera people and Ali were banged up by ladders Brock Lesnar threw while entering last night’s main event.
• No one is safe out there.
• Ember Moon was considered as the winner of the women’s ladder match, per Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp.
• It ended up being Bayley. Bayley and Moon had a SummerSlam title program, which didn’t have much heat.

May 21, 2019

• On PW Insider Elite Audio, Mike Johnson said that while filling the ‘Continuity Script Supervisor’ position is a priority for WWE, they haven’t hired anyone yet. Johnson isn’t sure they’ve even started interviewing candidates.
• I haven’t noticed a change in continuity.
• There’s talk, from Dave Meltzer on Observer Radio and elsewhere, that WWE plans to get Charlotte Flair to 17 title reigns to break her father’s WWE-recognized record.
• We’re working our way there.
• Contrary to previous reports, Wrestling Observer says Ali did know Brock Lesnar would be the person running in and winning the Money in the Bank ladder match.
• I have to imagine Ali wouldn’t have been completely left in the dark in regards to the outcome of the match.
• The top matches advertised for June 23’s Stomping Grounds PPV are Kevin Owens vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE title, Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin for the Universal championship, and Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns.
• It was Kofi vs. Dolph Ziggler but the other two are right. (2/3)
• Sources told The Observer that Vince McMahon “loved the idea” of the 24/7 Championship when it was brought up in creative.
• It was really hot for a while. It’s cooled off, but it was the most entertaining thing going there for a bit.

May 22, 2019

• Dave Meltzer mentioned on Wrestling Observer Radio that backstage at Raw this week was “extremely disorganized” and things were getting changed a lot as the show was going.
• That doesn’t sound like a very uncommon occurrence.
• He also seemed to indicate Drew McIntyre will take Elias’ spot in the program Roman Reigns is running with Shane McMahon.
• He did. (1/1)
• AEW is still interested in signing Dean Ambrose, says the Observer, but it’s not likely he’ll appear at Double or Nothing.
• He did debut at Double or Nothing. (1/2)
• Per PW Insider, Rey Mysterio was spotted in Birmingham, Alabama, and that’s likely to get his shoulder looked at. Word is he separated it in his match against Samoa Joe at Money in the Bank.
• He’s back now and has himself a title shot tonight!
• They also say WWE will continue trying things to give the third hour of Raw a distinct look and feel going forward. This is an attempt to keep viewers from tuning out after the first two hours.
• This died after a week or so. (0/1)

May 23, 2019

• Probably obvious after Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler was booked, but it’s expected Brock Lesnar will cash-in his Money in the Bank shot next Monday for a Universal championship match against Seth Rollins at Super ShowDown.
• He waited until Extreme Rules. (0/1)
• On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer also said AJ Styles “may be” wrestling Baron Corbin in Saudi Arabia.
• It was Seth vs. Corbin. (0/1)
• Booking Ziggler for Super ShowDown was apparently a last minute decision, as WWE will have to send a replacement for an appearance he already had set that weekend in Australia.
• His feud with Kofi was good, but probably a bit too long.
• The Wild Card Rule isn’t popular backstage, according to sources of Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp. Several he spoke to feel creative is using the roster flexibility as a crutch.
• It sucked as a whole.
• Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center is advertising the following matches for July’s Extreme Rules PPV: Kofi Kingston vs. Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE title, Seth Rollins vs. Baron Corbin in a Tables Match for the Universal title, Roman Reigns vs. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre, and AJ Styles vs. a mystery opponent.
• Event advertising is often on point, but this one was off. It was Kofi vs. Samoa Joe, the Mixed tag for both the Universal and Women’s title, and Roman teamed with the Undertaker. I’m leaving the AJ Styles one off because he had a match but it wasn’t billed as a mystery opponent. (0/3)

This week: 8/17 - 47%

Overall: 3,009/5,416 - 55.6%

Have a great week, everyone!