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Welcome back to another exciting edition of AEW rumors that we hope are true and those we hope aren't. Tony Khan has sparked massive discussions on social media since making a forbidden door announcement last week.
We've also come across reports suggesting a potential name who could be making his AEW debut very soon. And speaking of potential debuts, Matt Hardy has dropped another hint regarding Jeff Hardy's pro wrestling return.
Lastly, with Goldberg's WWE contract set to expire, there are rumors that Mr. Khan could reach out to the legend.
Now, let's quickly dive into the top rumors of the week.
#5. Hopefully not true: AEW President Tony Khan interested in signing Goldberg
Goldberg recently made a stunning return to WWE Smackdown this week, where he challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber in Saudi Arabia later this month.
It's worth noting that the 55-year-old legend has only one match left on his contract, and his upcoming title bout against The Tribal Chief could very well be his last in Vince McMahon's company.
In regards to the situation, Dave Meltzer recently reported that Tony Khan could be gunning to sign Goldberg once his current deal expires. However, the wrestling journalist believes WWE will renew the former Universal Champion's contract:
"But Tony may, you know, and they know that Tony very much will go after Goldberg, and that may be a reason to keep Goldberg because in their minds, you gotta remember they're all 20 years behind. So in their minds, Bill Goldberg is like a superstar, you know, like when the guys now aren't. So Goldberg is a guy they would probably not let go, and they will probably let the current guys go, you know, so we'll have to watch how all this plays out," Meltzer said.
We hope this rumor has no credibility. Tony Khan shouldn't be thinking about investing in someone well past his prime. Goldberg may still be a box-office attraction today, but he wouldn't fit on the type of roster All Elite Wrestling seems intent on developing.
Besides, WWE wouldn't let The Myth go just like that. The company might need the WCW legend to perform in Saudi Arabia events for the foreseeable future.
#4. Hopefully true: Keith Lee could soon make his AEW debut
If the amount of rumors circulating on social media is anything to go by, Keith Lee could become AEW's next signee.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter recently reported that The Limitless One has at least held talks with Tony Khan about a potential contract, if not agreed to a deal yet.
We hope this rumor is true because Keith Lee could add even more star power to the AEW men's division. The 37-year-old has also finished his 90-day non-compete clause after being released by WWE, meaning he's eligible to sign with any promotion, be it All Elite Wrestling or anywhere else he desires.
#3. Hopefully True: Matt Hardy teasing The Hardy Boyz reunion in AEW
It's no secret that Matt Hardy wants his brother Jeff Hardy in AEW and has been teasing his arrival for quite a while. Big Money Matt dropped yet another hint on Friday night this week after Isiah Kassidy failed to dethrone Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship on Rampage.
As shown above, Matt took to Twitter to address the failures of Private Party and the AHFO. The AEW veteran concluded his statement by saying that if AFHO doesn't excel, then maybe it's time for him to make an "Xtreme" change, teasing The Hardy Boyz reunion:
"I'm gonna bust my a**. I'm gonna do everything I possibly can to take my dilapidated vessel, after all the wear and tear on my body, after my age, and get into the best shape that I can possibly be in, because I don't like the direction of Matt Hardy's currently headed in AEW. If something doesn't happen with the AHFO, something has to change. And maybe it's time for Matt Hardy to make an "Xtreme" change," Hardy added.
We hope Matt Hardy's hint leads to the arrival of Jeff Hardy in AEW. The Hardy Boyz reunion is something fans have been clamoring for ever since The Charismatic Enigma was released from his WWE contract a few months ago.
The Brothers can easily bolster the tag team division of All Elite Wrestling and provide some dream matchups. With Jeff's 90-day non-compete clause set to expire in early March, it's almost a forgone conclusion that he will follow in the footsteps of his older brother.
#2. Hopefully true: AEW star Riho expected to stay on the sidelines for three months
Former AEW Women's Champion Riho has been away from AEW television since losing to Dr. Britt Baker at the Battle of the Belts last month.
Later on, it was revealed that the Japanese star suffered a broken collarbone during her women's title match. She provided an update on her injury by posting a picture of herself on Twitter where she can be seen wearing an arm sling.
Dave Meltzer recently reported that Riho could be out of action for three months.
We hope this report is true because a broken collar bone injury usually takes 10 to 12 weeks of recovery time. Riho should take as much time as her body requires to regain her full strength before returning to in-ring action.
#1. Hopefully not true: WWE to put Tony Khan on notice if he looks to sign Shane McMahon
Ever since Shane McMahon was quietly let go by WWE following a backstage altercation with his father at the Royal Rumble, there has been rampant speculation regarding Tony Khan potentially reaching out to Shane O'Mac.
Wade Keller of PWTorch.com recently disclosed some intriguing revelations about the situation. He said people within WWE have been trying to warn Mr. Khan "what he's in for" if he thinks about signing Shane McMahon to AEW:
"Yes, the [fake meme] graphics are out [saying] Shane is All Elite,” Keller said. “Tony Khan may or may not reach out to Shane. People in WWE are letting me know that someone should warn Tony Khan what he’s in for if he brings Shane in, because the sense of entitlement. ” [H/T PWTorch.com]
We hope this report is not true, and it is unlikely that WWE or Vince McMahon are truly worried about potentially losing Shane to All Elite Wrestling. It isn't the first time Shane O'Mac has fallen out with his father's company.
Given Shane's ties with the McMahon family and the fact that he holds close to 2.5 million equity shares of WWE's stock, we can assume he won't be turning his back on the company anytime soon.
