Rumor Look Back: June 29 - July 4, 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.

June 29, 2019

• Bryan Alvarez noted on Wrestling Observer Live that a lot of people in WWE saw the email advertisements for Eric Bischoff on SmackDown Live next week and didn’t know what was going on, as the show wasn’t even pitched yet.
• He was never on TV. And was fired in October.
• Dave Meltzer followed up to say it wasn’t supposed to be released like that and it’s at least possible Vince McMahon gets Bischoff for the show.
• Bischoff was not on the show. (0/1)
• WWE canceled some shows in November, and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes it could be to account for the next show in Saudi Arabia.
• Crown Jewel ran in November. Though some shows were canceled that were to take place a week later, so we can’t say for sure that was for Crown Jewel or an overall plan change.
• It’s almost a lock at this point that AEW’s television show will air on Wednesday nights from 8-10 pm, per the Observer.
• That’s accurate. (1/1)
• With LAX’s contracts coming up soon, the word going around is both AEW and WWE are interested in signing them to deals.
• We know for sure AEW was interested. I assume WWE was as well. (1/1)

July 1, 2019

• Expect more Undertaker on television for WWE.
• Not really. After Extreme Rules, he was rarely around. (0/1)
• Per the Observer, as of right now there are no plans for Paul Heyman or Eric Bischoff to appear on WWE television this week under their new roles. Heyman could show up on Raw as Brock Lesnar’s advocate, but nothing more.
• That’s true. Heyman kept his role as advocate but isn’t an authority figure. And Bischoff wasn’t around long enough to be on TV. (1/1)
• Rey Mysterio told the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling he hopes to be back by early July and PW Insider notes July 8 is a date that could be targeted for his return.
• That’s the date. (1/1)
• The word going around is that there is no heat on anyone for the chair shot gone wrong on Cody Rhodes at Fyter Fest, as the chair was gimmicked and it was just a freak accident that cut Cody open.
• They eventually said no more chair shots to the head after that.
• Colby Corino told Wrestling Inc that Eric Young is working as a Producer for WWE now.
• He’s still an active talent, though is barely on TV. It’s possible he dabbles in producing.

July 2, 2019

• “There was no real discernible difference” backstage at Raw with Paul Heyman as Executive Director, per PW Insider’s sources.
• It’s still Vince’s show and will be run his way. Word was Heyman and Vince work together well currently.
• Insider continues to say Heyman’s new ideas and direction for Raw will be implemented slowly.
• It’s tough to say. The shows felt pretty different pretty quickly.
• That said, the feeling on Twitter from people experienced working with Heyman like Taz, Lance Storm and Mick Foley was that Paul’s fingerprints were already on the show.
• He definitely has a specific style.
• According to WrestleVotes, WWE is in the process of designing and introducing a new stage. The account speculated that Raw’s opening match may be a way to debut the new look.
• They got a new stage around the time SmackDown got theirs, so the angle with Lashley and Strowman wasn’t the catalyst. (1/2)
• AXS TV might be the new television home for Impact, says Voices of Wrestling. The two sides are said to be close to signing a deal, but it’s not final.
• That’s their current home. Anthem bought the entire station. (1/1)

July 3, 2019

• PW Insider notes that Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows have agreed to new deals with WWE but they have yet to sign contracts to make it official.
• I don’t think we ever got confirmation that they re-signed, but we know they did since their contracts were set to expire awhile ago. (1/1)
• It’s been noted in multiple places that Corey Graves use of “holy shit” on Raw this week was planned and not something he’s getting in trouble for.
• Corey’s not dumb. Plus they would have but it with the delay if it was unintentional.
• Per the Observer, it looks like Ricochet is in line for a big push.
• I hate these “big push” rumors. He had a feud with AJ, but right now he’s kind of in the background. I’m gonna say nay since it didn’t feel like it stuck. (0/1)
• Post Wrestling notes that the AJ Styles heel turn was not a spur of the moment decision and wasn’t part of Paul Heyman taking over. It was already planned.
• I enjoy AJ as a heel.
• Insider says Rhyno’s deal with WWE expires on July 17, and that’s when he will be departing the company.
• He may have showed up to Impact a week prior. (0/1)

July 4, 2019

• WWE wrestlers who spoke to Fightful about the hiring of Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff weren’t suddenly optimistic about the future.
• Bischoff didn’t last long. Heyman has been hit or miss, but he definitely tries to craft stories to push younger talent.
• While some did think Heyman’s familiarity with the roster would be a plus, reactions ranged from faint praise like “it couldn’t possibly get worse” to pessimism such as “Vince is still in charge, so that’s all you really need to know”.
• Not the highest of praise.
• There was some confusion among talent about why Triple H didn’t get either job. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer indicated part of the reason why Trips wasn’t given SmackDown was so it wouldn’t reflect poorly on him in the future if the numbers don’t turn around.
• It’s also possible they were already planning the NXT to USA move and needed Trips to helm that.
• Post Wrestling reports Eric Bischoff was not on hand for SmackDown in San Antonio on Tuesday.
• He wasn’t on hand often if reports are true.
• Regarding WWE’s efforts to win back teen viewers, Meltzer says that one reason Heyman plans to push Ricochet is he thinks he appeals to that demographic.
• He is like a cool super hero.

This week: 7/12 - 58%

June 2019: 55/77 - 71%

Overall: 3,080/5,520 - 55.8%

Have a great week, everyone!