Rumor Look Back: May 1

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 to it.

May 1, 2026

PW Insider offers one possible reason behind some of WWE’s major roster cuts last week. It sounds like someone important in TKO might not be a fan of dark and/or supernatural gimmicks. There’s been a story bouncing around among talents that someone in the TKO realm isn’t a fan of the darker characters and that’s been the blame placed on why The Wyatts, Aleister Black, Zelina, etc. were all cut.
They have Danhausen, but he’s more of a comedy act. They don’t really have anyone supernatural right now that I can think of.
One person even told Insider that “Undertaker being The American Badass and not The Deadman” in his recent WWE appearances is further evidence of TKO’s negative view on these kinds of gimmicks.
I think the Undertaker is so engrained that he can come how however he wants, but for his current ambassador role, the American Badass works a lot better.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp said, “People I talked to in TNA seem to think that Wyatt Sicks would end up in AEW.” Despite that being the case, Sapp strongly believes that AEW won’t sign them.
They’re showing up in TNA and not AEW. (1/2)
Meanwhile, WrestleVotes mentioned the belief in AEW is that Aleister Black won’t be returning “anytime soon.”
It’s been six months and he hasn’t not shown up there. I don’t think he will. (0/1)
Sapp says it’s almost certain that AEW will sign the Motor City Machine Guns. He speculates that Kairi Sane will do some work in AEW too, even if she signs with Stardom.
MCMG did sign with AEW. We’re waiting on Kairi. (1/1)
Sapp hinted at growing unhappiness in the WWE locker room while making this claim about the roster cuts: “I know at least one person that was released had been thinking about asking for their release.”
Yeah, I think people would be generally unhappy when their colleagues are released.
According to F4WOnline’s Bryan Alvarez, SmackDown will go back to being a two hour show at the start of July, just like last year. This is part of WWE’s multi-year contract with the USA Network, which says SmackDown is a three hour show for the first half of each year, and a two hour show for the second half of each year.
That’s the case. It probably would be best at 2:30, but USA isn’t going to want a show that’s not an even number of hours.
WrestleVotes was told that Stephanie Vaquer is legitimately injured, and it will keep her out of action for the “foreseeable future” with no timetable. One source heard she will be out a minimum of six weeks, but there is hope she will return by SummerSlam.
She returned just after SummerSlam. (1/1)
Sources also told Votes that AJ Lee has “wrapped up” her current run with WWE, and there is nothing planned for her right now. Her return to WWE isn’t over, but it could be a while before she is back.
We still haven’t seen her. The rumors were she signed for multiple years but part of me wonders if we don’t see her again – that she really just wanted to get a proper final run. (1/1)
The outlet indicates that talks are “at the finish line” as far as WWE bringing WrestleMania 44 to Nashville in 2028 are concerned.
We’ll have to wait and see on that. No announcements yet.
Per Fightful Select, the new AEW Redemption pay-per-view will take place in Montreal. It will likely be scheduled for July.
That’s the case. (2/2)
Earlier this week, former WWE star Nikki Cross filed to trademark the terms “Nikki Storm” and “Best In The Galaxy.”
It looks like she is going by Nikki Storm.
For whatever it’s worth, Nick LoPiccolo claims that Warner Bros. Discovery told Tony Khan in August that “they would not be renewing AEW.”
We’ll wait and see, but gotta take this source with a lump of salt.

May 2, 2026

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter was told that the recent rumor about the Wyatt Sicks, Zelina Vega, and Aleister Black being released by WWE because TKO doesn’t like darker characters is “bullshit.”
This makes the most sense as I don’t think TKO would care if it makes money. But I can also buy it because they also have UFC under their umbrella so may want to make them feel more related. Either way, we split the rumors. (1/2)
According to The Observer, the Wyatts were cut because “It was just felt that the group had run its course. Even at first there were those who saw it as a short-term idea.”
It always felt like it was going to have a shorter shelf life and more served to honor Bray Wyatt, which they did.
As far as releasing Black and Vega is concerned, it was “just a decision made on who they weren’t going to do anything more with.”
They like signing folks back from AEW to do nothing with them. It’s rare that one person goes to the other company and finds themselves markedly better. It surely happens though (see: Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm).
WON gives a reason to think Zelina might not be heading to AEW: “[Tony Khan] did negotiate with Zelina when she was let go the last time, but she pretty much ghosted him and signed back [with WWE].”
I would bet she and Black are a package deal.
F4WOnline’s Dave Meltzer was told that Kairi Sane’s WWE release was at least partially related to “the belief she wanted to move back to Japan at some point.”
That makes sense. Though they should have let her finish out the storyline with Iyo and Asuka. Though maybe she didn’t want to if she knew they were letting her go.
Meltzer also mentioned that WWE SmackDown is actually moving back to two hours on the June 5 episode, rather than waiting until July.
It wasJuly 3. (0/1)
According to Fightful Select, Hulk Hogan’s son Nick has received training offers from several wrestling schools after he recently teased a future career in the ring.
Nick Hogan is 36. I can’t imagine he’s got a real career ahead of him, though if he did pursue it, he’d get bookings off the Hogan name.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp speculated that Bayley signing with AEW is possible in 2027, but not before then. He thinks she will “probably explore” the option if AEW makes her an offer at that time.
We’ll probably learn this sooner than later.
Sapp had this to say about the use of AI in WWE, while discussing the Sol Ruca / Zaria video on this week’s NXT: “The AI slop that they’re posting with the videos…that’s a TKO thing. TKO loves using that AI. Anyway they can cut costs they’re gonna do.”
Le sigh.
On Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, Trick Williams indicated that Lil Yachty wants to have a match in WWE, and he’s getting in shape to make it happen.
Trick wasn’t lying.

May 4, 2026

John McMullen, a journalist with deep ties in the NFL, posted an entire article to X talking openly about AEW’s situation. The article has denials from AEW and WBD that the company was told in 2025 that WBD would be sold and others would be in charge of programming from there. It was simply stating this was more or less a heads up from a business partner that changes were coming and that may very well affect AEW.
There have been big changes with the merger and we won’t don’t how it will affect AEW, but we will lear it next year.
McMullen states AEW will have just over a year to find a new TV deal, and that allegedly Khan has told associates he is prepared to move to YouTube if that becomes necessary. However, the goal is to “leverage the Khan Family’s power with the NFL and their prior relationship with (Paramount Chief David) Ellison to gain an extension.”
I don’t think they’ll end up on YouTube.
The Wrestling Observer, meanwhile, calls the entire McMullen story a “non-story” that he “completely re-wrote” and the “only accurate thing is that the contract expires at the end of 2027 and whatever decisions will likely be made that year by whomever at Paramount/Skydance on either the sports side or entertainment side (and we don’t even know yet which side it will fall under) makes those decisions.”
They’ll likely start negotiating in early 2027 then.
According to Fightful Select, WWE has no plans to slow down on celebrity involvement with the company, and there are plans into the summer. No word on exactly who but more are coming.
Is that really the case? If we don’t count Yachty, who was already rather involved, I can’t think of a celeb angle. But I could be forgetting one so feel free to remind me if that’s the case. (0/1)
Per the Observer, Roman Reigns was pulled from June television dates because he won’t be working the next Saudi Arabia show so there would be no reason for him to appear in the build up to it.
That makes sense.
Despite speculation, Ted DiBiase Jr. was never seriously considered for involvement in the Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes WrestleMania program, says Fightful.
He just finished up his fraud trial so he’d hav been free.
Blake Avignon claims WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia dates all the way back to the deal Vince McMahon made back in 2018.
You could consider in an albatross, but I’m 100% confident that TKO would make that deal right now if they could.
Shedding more light on roster cuts that hit the NXT roster, Bryan Alvarez said it was more talent evaluation than budgetary in nature.
But cost is always the main driver of these things.
Per Bodyslam, Karmen Petrovic is scheduled for a match against Nikita Lyons on EVOLVE in the next few weeks and there have apparently been talks of her doing some work in AAA before she is slowly transitioned back to NXT television.
She already had an EVOLVE match with Nikita prior to this but I think it was probably taped ahead of time. She did not work any AAA. (0/1)

May 5, 2026

PW Insider is bringing word that The New Day aren’t the only ones being asked to do as much. And the cut is a big one.
I wonder how many people felt the best play was to take the cut.
Indeed, they bring word that even before news broke of Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston’s decision, a “pretty majorly pushed talent” was asked by TKO to take a “50-percent pay cut.” They apparently chose to do so. They are careful to say they can’t confirm as much so they wouldn’t drop the name but the timing of it sure makes it sound credible.
I remember speculation it was someone like LA Knight. Who knows, but someone who fits the WWE mold better than the other options, taking the deal could make the most sense.
They also speculated that more are being asked to take pay cuts. WrestleVotes seconded that, saying it’s something that is “absolutely” going on and “it will continue to go on.” They claim it’s likely those making bigger money but being featured on TV less who will be approached.
Knight is someone who is on TV pretty frequently. Then you had guys like Johnny Gargano who were planking backstage for a year.
PW Insider is now claiming that Roman Reigns being removed from advertising for all dates in June was only because he was initially listed via a clerical error. There are no deeper issues, and they were simply fixing a mistake.
Sucks for anyone who planned to be a show because he was initially advertised.
According to Bryan Alvarez, folks within WWE believe there is a “better than 50-percent chance” that Kairi Sane could show up at Backlash to finish out her story with Asuka and Iyo Sky.
She did not. (0/1)
He also said that not all the names he heard were being released by WWE have gotten out yet, so more cuts could very well be on the way.
Not that I recall. (0/1)
Per WrestleVotes, there are no plans for WWE to bring back NXT UK due to TKO doing everything it can to save money right now.
Triple H’s world dominion plannever came to fruition. (1/1)

May 6, 2026

Fightful Select brings word now that when talent were asked to take pay cuts, which was the same day as the releases, they were given very little time to decide on as much. “Several of them” were given “just two days.” They also said several talent were approached during overseas tours for contract extensions, leading to questions from those involved regarding why it was done that way.
That’s a tough situation to put talent in. “Take it or leave it” within a matter of days.
he Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez claims TKO sees the pay cuts as simply adjusting to the changing schedule, which is to say the wrestlers are being asked to do much less — such as a severely reduced house show schedule — and therefore it makes sense to reduce their pay.
I get that to a degree, but they signed many of these deals after the dialed back drastically on house shows. These aren’t 10 year deals going back to prior to the pandemic.
Dave Meltzer brought word that several talent asked to take pay cuts did in fact take them and many more are likely to do the same. It is not known how many or who took them, however.
It likely does make sense for certain talent – to make less at WWE than to enter a wrestling scene they may not fit as well. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck.
Self Made Pro claims there were no less than three wrestlers in WWE who have contemplated asking for their release after all this.
Understandable.
According to Bodyslam.net, LA Knight was going to have a short feud with Gunther before WWE decided to have Gunther target Cody Rhodes and the Undisputed WWE Championship, instead. No word on what, if anything, WWE Creative has for Knight now.
A lot of nothing until the Roman feud.
Self Made Pro claims WWE is still “trying to figure out how to format shows on ESPN Unlimited” and there is expected to continue to be presence on regular ESPN TV because subscriptions aren’t where they need to be right now.
Danhausen was during the Knicks run but otherwise not really. But I’ll count that. (1/1)
They also say CM Punk is not expected at Backlash.
He was not there. (1/1)
Lucha Underground’s recent teasers are for syndication of old episodes, says Justin Harvey to Lucha Central’s MMMshow.
I don’t even know if that came to be.

May 7, 2026

SEScoops’ Mike Reichlin’s reports that Tom Budgen (Aleister Black’s legal name) “is in active negotiations with All Elite Wrestling” yesterday.
If that’s the case, it didn’t go anywhere.
Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp got a denial from AEW, which was followed by f4wonline’s Bryan Alvarez telling his X subscribers, “I know people in AEW who saw the report that AEW was negotiating with Aleister Black and I can tell you that they were absolutely astounded.”
It could be true, but I’d be surprised if they really considered it if the rumors are to be believed on how Black was in AEW and how folks felt about him.
While Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer and Fightful’s Sapp have reported there’s a lot of hard feeling about Black at AEW after he was alleged to have refused to take losses to many opponents and generally looked down on the promotion after his years in WWE, both stopped short of saying that Black had burned any bridges.
It’s a never say never business. I just don’t see a spot for Black in AEW, even if that’s the case.
WWE currently plans to debut Blake Monroe on SmackDown by the end of May, according to PWInsider. But the site reminds us that plans change all the time in pro wrestling.
Technically this is correct, though it was a backstage segment and she didn’t have a match until October. (1/1)
Chelsea Green posted that she’ll be back in WWE “very soon” after undergoing a medical procedure to correct a heart issue.
Damn.
WWE filed to trademark on “Naraku”, EVIL’s new WWE name. Regarding Fightful’s report it would be be something else, Sapp posted that “there were internal materials for EVIL with the trademarked name Nox Raijin as recently as Sunday, so it seems like the name adjustment was recent.”
That name is out there for the taking.
Jim Rodriguez, a former producer at DAZN, Univision, and ESPN who’s also done some television hosting in English and Spanish, announced he’s joined Team WWE: “Bucket list job! I’ve joined the WWE as a Senior Associate Producer. Gonna be involved with Raw, SmackDown, NXT productions and making trips to Mexico for AAA. Beyond excited.”
Cool.
Earlier this week Emmy-nominated production designer Hunter Selby shared that he’d “accepted a new position as Director of Show Production and Design at WWE.” Selby was recognized for his work on American Idol, and SNL’s 50th anniversary special.
Also cool.
Mike Santana filed to trademark that name himself (his real name is Mark Sanchez Jr.), which comes a month after a PWInsider report that Santana’s TNA contract is up this summer.
He’s Cruz Montana now anyway, proud member of the 946.