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On-screen, this week’s WWE shows featured lots of storyline developments ahead of SummerSlam, with Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton (WWE Championship) and The Street Profits vs. Andrade & Angel Garza (WWE RAW Tag Team titles) being confirmed for the event.
Elsewhere, Sonya Deville revived her rivalry with Mandy Rose on Friday Night SmackDown before “The Fiend” emerged at the end of the episode to launch a shocking attack on Alexa Bliss.
Behind the scenes this week, it was revealed that Vince McMahon was unaware that one of his recently released WWE Superstars previously worked for the company under a different name.
We also found out what Chris Jericho thinks about a possible return to WWE, while a 12-time Champion said he wants to face Brock Lesnar.
In this article, let’s take a look at the full details behind those stories, plus seven others, as we count down 10 of the most interesting real-life stories that have been revealed about WWE Superstars and storylines this week.
#10 Chris Jericho on possible WWE return
A master at reinventing himself in pro wrestling, Chris Jericho is currently enjoying one of the best spells of his 30-year career as a member of the AEW roster.
Speaking on his Saturday Night Special show on YouTube, the nine-time WWE Intercontinental Champion responded to somebody asking him about a WWE return by saying he loved his time in WWE but he wanted to join AEW to avoid becoming stagnant as a performer.
He clarified that he still loves Vince McMahon but he wanted to push himself by trying something new.
#9 Big E’s dream WWE opponent
Big E got his latest WWE singles run off to a good start with a submission victory over The Miz on WWE SmackDown.
Speaking on Table Talk, the New Day member said he would choose to face Brock Lesnar in a one-on-one match if he could select anybody from the current WWE roster.
The 12-time Champion also mentioned that he is not impressed by the number of title reigns that some WWE Superstars have, as he believes the number of days that Superstars hold titles is more important.
#8 Vince McMahon had ‘no clue’ EC3 previously worked for WWE
In one of the most surprising stories of the week, EC3 revealed in an interview with Wrestle Talk that Vince McMahon had “no clue” that he had previously worked for WWE.
The recently released WWE Superstar said McMahon was watching an episode of IMPACT Wrestling one time during a meeting and he told people in the room that WWE should sign EC3.
A member of the creative team told the WWE Chairman that the company used to have EC3 on the roster under the name Derrick Bateman, but McMahon did not know who he was.
#7 Eric Bischoff’s one negative moment with John Cena
Former WCW and WWE executive Eric Bischoff joined Sportskeeda’s Chris Featherstone on this week’s episode of UnSKripted.
Asked about his experience working with John Cena in 2005, Bischoff told an amusing story about the time he challenged “Big Match John” for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on WWE RAW.
Bischoff recalled that there was a spot in the match where he was supposed to hit Cena in the face on the ring apron, but he was unsure how hard he should strike one of WWE’s top Superstars.
In the end, he decided to punch Cena’s “brick wall” jaw as hard as he could, causing his little finger to go numb.
#6 Cesaro’s ultimate WWE goal
Many WWE Superstars say in media interviews that their goal in WWE is to win a World Championship or main-event WrestleMania, and Cesaro is no different.
Although he has had most of his success in tag teams over the last seven years, Cesaro told Newsweek that his aim will always be to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
The Swiss Superstar said he wants to win a major singles title not just for himself, but also for WWE’s fans in Europe and all around the world.
#5 MVP wants to be WWE’s next Paul Heyman
Right now, MVP is involved in one of the most prominent storylines on WWE RAW as part of The Hurt Business with Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin.
The United States Champion said on the Gorilla Position podcast this week that he believes he has another couple of years left in him as an in-ring talent with WWE. Beyond that, he hopes to transition into a role similar to Paul Heyman by working as an on-screen advocate.
#4 Seth Rollins played a joke on Big Swole before her WWE debut
Nowadays, Big Swole is a featured wrestler in AEW’s women’s division. Back in 2016, however, she was still trying to make a name for herself as Aerial Monroe when she was booked to be squashed by Nia Jax on an episode of WWE RAW.
She revealed on AEW’s Unrestricted podcast that Seth Rollins played a joke before her WWE debut by telling her that the lighting is so dark in the arena that she will only be able to see Jax.
Once she got out there, Swole realized that he was only joking and she could see everyone in the crowd.
#3 Mark Henry’s view on the Adam Cole-Pat McAfee incident
Adam Cole recently walked off the set of The Pat McAfee Show after the WWE NXT kickoff show analyst mentioned that he was small compared to his fellow WWE Superstars.
The video prompted lots of debates on social media about whether it was real or part of a future WWE NXT storyline.
It appeared as though the latter theory was correct after the video featured on this week’s episode of NXT, but WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry gave his opinion on Busted Open that the incident was not scripted and it is “being turned into business because it is too good not to”.
#2 Why Vince McMahon changes WWE names
It is often speculated why certain WWE Superstars lose part of their name after moving from Triple H’s NXT brand to Vince McMahon’s main roster.
Over a dozen name changes have been made over the last decade, including (Alexander) Rusev, (Antonio) Cesaro, Andrade (“Cien” Almas), Big E (Langston), (Buddy) Murphy, (Luke) Harper, and (Erick) Rowan.
The logic behind the WWE name alterations has now been revealed by Jim Ross, who said McMahon prefers one-word names because he believes it is easier for people to remember one name instead of two.
#1 AJ Styles apologized to Luke Gallows after WWE release
Regular readers of this weekly article might remember that AJ Styles recently said he did not look after Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson properly before they were released by WWE in April 2020.
Well, during an interview this week with WrestleTalk In The D with Martez, Gallows clarified that, while Styles was among those who convinced them to stay with WWE in 2019, the two-time WWE Champion was not at fault for their exits earlier this year.
Styles phoned Gallows and apologized to him 20 minutes after news of his departure was announced, but the new IMPACT Wrestling star felt that his friend had nothing to apologize for.
