What is the story about?
Welcome
to the weekly Rumor Look Back, where we look at the rumors from six months ago and see which played out as originally stated. Let’s jump right in it.
- When it comes to the American Gladiators reboot, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter heard about “issues from one side over Miz being on the show and AEW talent being on the same show that I’m sure the folks at Gladiators never considered.”
- I believe they moved forward anyway. They must have worked it out or WWE just couldn’t stop them.
- Per WON, “there are seven WWE performers earning well over $5 million per year and two others who may also hit that figure this year.” The Rock is the only one who makes more money than Roman Reigns.
- I wonder how much Cody makes compared to Roman.
- The Observer adds that, “Whatever stories that went around from Jonathan Coachman that TKO asked Reigns to take a pay cut or restructure his deal are false.”
- Will split the rumor between Observer and Coachman. (1/2)
- WrestleVotes claims that WWE Hall of Fame star Trish Stratus is “coming to SmackDown next week.”
- She did not. (0/1)
- An event poster in NJPW’s Tokon Shop indicates that Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino, Ren Narita, and AEW star Konosuke Takeshita are expected to compete in this summer’s NJPW G1 Climax 35 tournament. It will be promoted as Tanahashi’s final G1 tournament before he retires.
- It was a promotional poster so not really a rumor. It was accurate.
- F4WOnline’s Dave Meltzer mentioned that Private Party’s AEW contracts are set to expire “very soon.” For whatever it’s worth, his colleague Bryan Alvarez said, “I don’t think it’s looking good” with respect to AEW renewing them.
- They haven’t wrestled in AEW since last January.
- Fightful Select says Mr. Iguana is “finalizing a deal with WWE.”
- Would that be different from reworking his AAA contract now that they’re owned by WWE? Does he have a separate WWE contract?
- There’s been some confusion about Iguana’s status with WWE after an interview with Línea Directa TV where he said WWE told him that he’s skipping NXT and going straight to the main roster. Meltzer says Iguana “got heat for that immediately.” The interview was later edited to remove that part.
- He spends time in NXT here and there but it seems like he’s mainly a AAA talent.
- WrestleVotes notes that Ron Killings will be referred to by his real name on television but also still be known as R-Truth, so that name is not going away altogether. That’s why commentary was using both names on SmackDown this past week.
- Ron Killings is pretty much gone. Just R-Truth. (0/1)
- For whatever it’s worth, Nikki Bella claimed on her podcast that she turned down a private locker room from WWE when she returned to Raw last week.
- Do a bunch of high end talents get their own locker room? I guess it’s easier to be a locker room leader if you have your own.
- According to Fightful Select, Damage CTRL was quietly disbanded back in May and commentators have been told not to refer to any of the members as part of a faction.
- We haven’t heard them as that in awhile. (1/1)
- They also say WWE has some interest in signing Private Party once they’ve finished up with AEW.
- They haven’t been in either company. (0/1)
- Per Wrestling Observer Live, Komander is “going to be out for a long time.”
- It was a bit over 3 months. (1/1)
- Sources close to WWE told Cory Hays of Bodyslam.net there are no plans to bring back Alberto Del Rio. WWE has not contacted him about a return, and they are adamant about not using him. There are no signs this decision will change in the future.
- Nothing in six months.
- PW Insider says talent backstage in WWE are under the impression that Giulia will get a big spotlight on SmackDown going forward.
- I would not say that has been the case. (0/1)
- The odds at BetOnline indicate that Mercedes Moné is a heavy favorite to win the CMLL world women’s championship from Zeuxis at AEW Grand Slam Mexico on Wednesday. The numbers also suggest MJF will beat Mistico.
- Mercedes won but Mistico technically beat MJF by DQ. (1/2)
- According to Fightful Select, AEW’s plan is to promote the new AEW Unified Championship as a second top title, rather than a mid or upper card belt.
- I would not consider this the case. Okada is booked well but nothing they do tells me the Unified is near the level of the AEW world title. I’d still argue that this title doesn’t even make sense as it is tied to the Continental Classic, which should have more associated with winning it than just another AEW midcard title, even if it is one that is booked a bit better than the other ones – and that’s only because of who is currently holding it. (0/1)
- The outlet also mentioned that Jamie Hayter was banged up following her match against Mercedes Moné at Double or Nothing, and she is not medically cleared to compete. AEW producers had to “get creative” with writing her off TV during Thekla’s debut on the May 28 episode of Dynamite. The timetable for Hayter’s return is unknown.
- She had one match outside AEW in July, one in August in AEW, and then worked more regularly.
- Wrestling Observer Radio’s Bryan Alvarez heard there’s a chance AEW might broadcast another live four hour show on Wednesday, June 25, so that Collision doesn’t air on the same date (Sat., June 28) as WWE Night of Champions.
- They ran a Thursday Collision the day after. (0/1)
- On his Keepin’ It 100 podcast, Konnan claimed Undertaker was involved with creative for Money in the Bank and he thinks he’s interested in being a part of the creative team full time.
- I don’t think we have more word on him working weekly creative. He is certainly involve with WWE with the LFG show, and his podcast is an extension of their podcast network.
- Konnan also said Rey Mysterio is expected back from his injury in August.
- He didn’t return until November. (0/1)
- Jonathan Coachman claimed on Behind The Turnbuckle he has a source who told him Britt Baker is close to being gone from AEW and signing with WWE.
- Not that close as she’s still under contract with AEW. (0/1)
- Wrestling Observer Radio’s Bryan Alvarez speculated that Nikki Bella didn’t appear on Raw, despite being advertised, because her creative plans were probably scrapped after Liv Morgan’s match was stopped early due to injury.
- I still think they were setting up a Bellas tag match against Liv & Raquel Rodriguez.
- PW Insider says Morgan’s injury on Raw is viewed by WWE as a freak accident, and there’s no heat on anybody for it.
- That’s good – not the injury but that it wasn’t someone’s fault.
- They also say Corey Graves was well received on Monday Night Raw this week and he is back to being in good standing with the company after his NXT commentary issues.
- It seems that way.
- WrestleVotes Radio was told that WWE ripped up its plans for Evolution 2 and is essentially starting from scratch due to Liv Morgan’s shoulder injury. Liv was planned for an important tag team match at the event, and there will be “ripple effects” on the rest of the card as WWE adjusts its creative plans.
- Outside moving Nikki to the battle royal, I would be the rest of the card was rather static.
- As far as Vince McMahon’s potential return to pro wrestling is concerned, Undisputed’s Justin Barrasso mentioned the following: “Speaking with wrestlers off-the-record, there is a great deal of support for McMahon, as many note that McMahon is still held in high regard.”
- That’s unfortunate.
- Multiple sources also told Barrasso that “a team of executives who largely began leaving WWE in February of 2024” are with McMahon for his new company 14th & I.
- No real word on that company in a bit.
- F4WOnline’s Bryan Alvarez noted that TNA star Elijah (fka Elias) was injured doing his version of The Undertaker’s old school rope walk spot during his match on NXT this week. It appears to be an “elbow injury or maybe torn triceps.”
- It was a torn triceps. (2/2)
- Fightful Select debunked Jonathan Coachman’s rumor about Britt Baker being on the cusp of leaving AEW to go to WWE. The outlet says she signed a five year deal with AEW in late 2021, and there’s a chance AEW could also add injury time to the end of her contract.
- She’s surely still in AEW right now. (1/1)
- Yahoo Finance’s Brian Sozzi told AEW President Tony Khan, “There’s been some chatter in the wrestling circles that WWE may be up for sale, TKO may want to take it out of portfolio.” Khan responded by saying, “That’s the first I’ve heard of that. I’m not sure about that.”
- I don’t think that’s the case.
- Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer expects that Liv Morgan will be out of action for “six months or more” as a result of the shoulder surgery she needs after being injured on Raw.
- She returned in about 5 months. (0/1)
- According to BodySlam.net, there have been pitches in WWE to add Ethan Page and Ricky Saints to Seth Rollins’ new stable on Raw.
- That has not happened. Austin Theory did though…
- WrestleVotes Radio was told that “more than a handful of people” in WWE are pushing for LA Knight to be moved over to the Raw roster, where his presence on Netflix could be seen as a “refreshing change.”
- He was eventually moved and he needed to be off SmackDown. Felt like he just continued to feud with some version of the Bloodline. Now he just seems to continue to feud the Vision (until they wrote him off for a bit).
- The outlet also mentioned that WWE has “significant interest in making Psycho Clown a prominent part of the main roster.”
- He has not been. (0/1)
- Fightful Select noted that Gail Kim was backstage at this week’s NXT taping and some other recent ones. However, she’s not officially signed with WWE as of right now.
- She had her issues when she worked there years ago, but that was a while ago.
- Regarding Jordynne Grace’s new theme song in NXT, Fightful says one reason why the change was made is because WWE was concerned that the opening siren in her music sounded too similar to Bron Breakker’s.
- I kind of understand that.
- Another factor is that Grace owned the rights to the original song. Fightful was told that “in recent months, WWE has been adamant again about owning theme songs that are used” on its programming.
- Do they own Cody’s Kingdom or is that an exception?
This week: 7/19 – 37%
Overall: 6,016/10,295 – 58.4%
Have a great holiday week, everyone!
