WWE Rumor Roundup: Injured Superstar close to returning, big change in SummerSlam plans and more - August 19, 2020

In today's edition of the WWE Rumor Roundup, we take a look at two Superstars who had a lot of heat backstage while Seth Rollins talks about how his relationship with Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose) has changed recently.

We also take a look at why WWE is holding two pay-per-views in eight days' time and also the two biggest headline-makers of the day. Before we begin, you can check out the round-up of the biggest WWE rumors of the past week.

#5 Injured WWE Superstar close to returning?

Lars Sullivan has not been on WWE TV for over a year now and there has been no update on his return. He sustained a knee injury on Monday Night RAW while he was up against the Lucha House Party.

Lars Sullivan was expected to be out for six to nine months but that timeline has passed. He has now posted videos of his recovery and he has started hitting the gym.

More of Lars working out, from his IG pic.twitter.com/z8lpRsI8Di

— Daily Wrestling News (@DailyWWENews) August 18, 2020

Dave Meltzer noted in February that Sullivan is back fit and is raring to go but his future with WWE was hanging in the balance. The WWE Superstar has been the subject of several controversies and was also fined by the company for his comments on a bodybuilding forum.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported:

Another name who should be ready but whose future is uncertain is Lars Sullivan. Sullivan underwent knee reconstruction surgery in June, so should be ready fairly soon. His name hasn’t been mentioned at all of late.

Things got worse for Lars Sullivan when a few videos of him surfaced online. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported at the time:

"We don't have any insight on that, but several wrestlers told Fightful that Lars was incredibly apologetic when message board posts from him emerged. Lars also allegedly sought out family members that were around backstage or on the roster of those he commented on or could have affected and apologized to them, too. Those we spoke to said that when he apologized, he attributed it to him "being stupid and trolling on the internet," noting that he didn't believe the things he wrote."

#4 Big change in WWE's SummerSlam plans?

Nothing like a little father-son bonding.#WWERaw @reymysterio @35_Dominik pic.twitter.com/kReiuRGelA

— WWE (@WWE) August 18, 2020

WWE wanted Dominik Mysterio to be involved in a tag team match at SummerSlam, but Rey Mysterio made sure it was a singles match, according to Tom Colohue. The WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was reportedly not convinced that it was the right step as Dominik is going to make his debut.

However, Rey reportedly made sure that it was a sealed deal before putting pen to paper on a new contract. He got the singles match for his son against Seth Rollins, and the two are now set to face off in a Street Fight at SummerSlam this Sunday.

Tom Colohue reported on Sportskeeda's Dropkick DiSKussions podcast:

"I really can't see this as anything but a message from Vince McMahon to Rey Mysterio. Something like, if you're son gets hurt that's on you for pushing us to get him involved too early because the WWE did not want Dominik debuting in a solo match at this point, but that's what Rey wanted, and Rey wanted to make sure they did what he wanted before he would look at signing a new contract."

#3 Why WWE's Payback PPV is just a week after SummerSlam

Payback

SummerSlam takes place this Sunday while Payback takes place just a week later. This is the first time WWE is holding two pay-per-views back-to-back in a long while.

Dave Meltzer has suggested that the main reason for this is an experiment WWE is attempting. They are reportedly just trying this out and it could be just for an angle coming out of SummerSlam. Said Meltzer, per NoDQ:

Just an experiment to see how it works. They must have an idea for a hot angle coming off SummerSlam that they felt needed an immediate follow-up. That or, it was just an idea they are trying.

Dave Meltzer does not have further information on which bout might need an immediate rematch but it could involve one of the Championship matches as per his report:

The key will be an angle at Summerslam’s gonna lead to needing an immediate rematch. So it’ll be whatever that angle is, whether it’s Drew and Randy Orton... it’s gonna be one of the two major championship matches is gonna have to have an angle to build for an immediate return.” (H/T NoDQ)

#2 WWE's Seth Rollins on his relationship with Jon Moxley

After #RAW went off the air,Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns gave DeanAmbrose a proper send off in the same building where they had their first match together in 2012! #TheShield #RomanReigns #SethRollins #DeanAmbrose #WWE pic.twitter.com/cWtYnx3lHc

— Roman Empire 👊 (@Roman_Empire_76) April 9, 2019

Seth Rollins has revealed that he and Jon Moxley are on better terms now after a slight dip in their relationship last year. Dean Ambrose has shot on WWE on the Chris Jericho podcast and Rollins had not taken things lightly. He said:

"He put his heart and soul into the travel, into the schedule, into the injuries, into the work in the ring and all that stuff. But at the end of the day, he took his ball and he went home, or he went elsewhere at least. And I think it's a little presumptuous of him to get on a podcast and talk down about the company that gave him such an opportunity."

They are back on talking terms now and Rollins told Bleacher Report that the two talk from time to time. The WWE Superstar said:

"We still talk from time to time. I would love to see what he's doing or how he's doing or whatever. When his wife [Renee Young] got sick, obviously I checked in on him to make sure he was doing OK and the dogs were good and all that good stuff."

#1 Arn Anderson talks about WWE letting go of Enzo and Cass

Arn Anderson spoke about Enzo Amore and Big Cass on his podcast recently and revealed that the former WWE tag-team had a lot of heat backstage. He claims that the two did not listen to advice, and their backstage behaviour led to their release from the company.

Talking about Big Cass, Arn said (H/T: Fightful):

“I think the fact that you don't take the guidance from the producers that are there to help you and know a little bit better than you do [about] what's going to get over -- and when you quit listening and you just decide [that] you're a bigger star than they are an assist to your success and you're going to do it your way, that's where you get started heading downhill.

Arn added that Enzo used to humiliate the WWE babyfaces and the Lucha guys did not even understand it. He said:

"They made some mistakes and it didn't take very, very long before they had heat in the locker room and then they started to fall apart in the ring as far as production, and then they started to get heat with the office and that's what happened. They self-destructed.”