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Welcome to this week's edition of WWE/wrestling rumors we hope are true and those we hope aren't. It's been a week filled with news and rumors in the world of wrestling, and this week's edition includes future plans for Roman Reigns, the future of Aleister Black, and Braun Strowman, WWE releases, SummerSlam plans for Edge, and backstage notes as always.
Let's jump right into it:
#4. Hope is true: WWE's potentially big plans for Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 38
Roman Reigns has been the most dominant superstar in WWE ever since he returned at SummerSlam 2020. It's been close to a year, and there's little doubt about who the company's best star has been since then.
WrestleMania 37 was another big feather in his cap, as he headlined WWE's biggest show for the fifth time in his career (with four consecutive main events from 2015 to 2018). This year, he beat two more legends in Daniel Bryan and Edge.
The big difference between then and now is that Roman Reigns is a heel, and he is currently enjoying the best run of his decade-long WWE career. Reigns gets the best matches at WrestleMania, and that trend is expected to continue.
According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is hoping to make a big splash at Survivor Series 2021, planning for the return of The Rock.
And what will be the reason behind the return? To set up a WrestleMania 38 match against Roman Reigns. On WOR, Meltzer elaborated:
“Obviously The Rock & Roman Reigns is something that they’re building towards and it would be — every year gets tougher and tougher because Dwayne gets a year older and, you know, but I think he really wants to do a match against Roman Reigns. I think for sure it’ll be in next two WrestleManias, and if he can pull it off, the next WrestleMania,” said Dave Meltzer.
We hope this is true because the AT&T Stadium is the perfect venue to have a WrestleMania main event of that caliber. Although Hollywood and SoFi Stadium would be ideal, The Rock's age makes it a match that's best done sooner rather than later.
#4. Hope isn't true: WWE not planning a blockbuster match for Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam?
Bobby Lashley's WWE Championship reign has led everyone to believe that it will culminate at SummerSlam with a match against Brock Lesnar. That's the most logical step to take, especially since they went with Drew McIntyre vs Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 37.
Given that Lashley came back to WWE three years ago just to face Lesnar, it would be a shame if it didn't happen. According to Dave Meltzer on WOR, WWE isn't planning to bring Brock Lesnar back to face Bobby Lashley as of this writing:
"There have been rumors about Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar but as of one week ago that was not happening, even though Lashley has wanted that match. Lesnar’s name was definitely talked about for the show by some but it was said that it doesn’t look like it will work out,'' said Dave Meltzer.
We hope this isn't true because Bobby Lashley deserves a match against Brock Lesnar, even if he is to lose to him. SummerSlam is the perfect time and the perfect place for it.
#3. Hope is true: Aleister Black's future post-WWE
It felt like Aleister Black had his legs cut from underneath when WWE released him recently. Although Braun Strowman's WWE release was a shock, it came as less of a surprise after news about the lucrative contract he signed.
With Black, it was different. He was all set for a full-time return to SmackDown after he altered his character. He was even set to return with a new theme song, but it was all canned.
The question is as to where Aleister Black will go next after his 90-day non-compete clause from WWE expires. All Elite Wrestling seems to be the most obvious destination. A report from Dave Meltzer of WON stated that Black is "expected" to sign with AEW. Sportskeeda Wrestling's Kishan Prasad wrote:
The report also notes that while Black's move to AEW is not a done deal, it is strongly believed that he will be joining the promotion when his 90-day non-compete clause ends.
We hope this is true because AEW is likely to utilize Aleister Black/Tommy End better than WWE. It's an obvious destination, but the right one.
#3. Hope isn't true: Braun Strowman's booking demands after his WWE release
Braun Strowman's release from WWE was less of a surprise when news about his lucrative contract came out, but it was still a shock because of his stature with the company.
In the eyes of many WWE fans, Strowman is a star who should have become World Champion by 2017 or 2018 at the latest. Instead, it was only two years later when it finally happened, and even that was due to Roman Reigns pulling out of WrestleMania 36.
Either way, he's no longer a WWE star now. Past comments about never competing outside of WWE have come back to haunt him, and Braun Strowman has reportedly asked for enormous demands should he compete in the independent scene. PWInsider reported:
"Strowman's manager Nick Antocelli has quoted "20-25K" for a three hour appearance to multiple promoters that have reached out with their interest in Strowman appearing for them. Antocelli is also asking for first class airfare, two nights of hotel plus all meals and ground transportation covered. Our initial reporting of "Braun Strowman" would have obviously covered anyone who was representing him and we stand by our report. If he's claiming that he didn't speak to "anyone", he may not have personally, but his representation is certainly speaking for him."
We hope this isn't true, because it's an exorbitant sum to ask from independent promotions, especially right as the United States of America is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Smaller promotions won't be able to offer that, and even if they can, it's a risk considering the potential return on investment.
#2. Hope is true: WWE's long term plans for Roman Reigns' character
Roman Reigns' heel turn happened five years later than it should have, but WWE still made the right move. Rather than repeating the mistakes, they made with John Cena, WWE pulled the trigger on a Reigns heel turn, and the decision has paid off in a big way.
With crowds set to return to WWE in a month, it will be interesting to see how his heel character is perceived in front of a weekly crowd. According to Dave Meltzer, Roman Reigns and Kenny Omega are on a similar trajectory. The long-term plan is reportedly to make both the top babyfaces of the company down the line.
“Roman Reigns and Kenny Omega are essentially the same character in the sense that they are heels who are being groomed to be the top babyface star down the line of the promotion," said Meltzer. "AEW is at least trying to book in a way to make the matches exciting and WWE is trying to book Roman Reigns and tell you ‘eh it doesn’t matter, he’s gonna kill the guy.'” [H/T WrestlingNews.co]
We hope this is true because when Roman Reigns eventually turns babyface (and hopefully it's a long time away), he can finally come into his own and have an organic rise.
#2. Hope isn't true: More releases being planned by WWE?
While WWE's "summer clean-ups" happened before where they fired multiple superstars, the 2020 set of firings set a whole new standard. Exactly a year later, the company began with mass releases, and it has continued up until recently.
Braun Strowman's release from WWE was an indication that very few stars are safe from being laid off by the promotion. As if April 15th and the recent set of releases weren't enough, Andrew Zarain of The Mat Men podcast reported that there are more releases set to happen in WWE this year:
“I do know that they want to cut back on these contracts and there are more releases," said Andrew Zarian. "There will be more. I don’t know when, but I was told, ‘Yeah, this isn’t the final cut.’ So, we’ll see.”
We hope this isn't true because it will be one of the most brutal roster cuts in wrestling history. WWE may have been overloaded with top talent, but the nature of the releases sets a bad precedent.
#1. Hope is true: WWE's plans for Edge at SummerSlam 2021
Edge has been away from WWE since WrestleMania 37, where he lost in the main event to Roman Reigns in a match that also involved Daniel Bryan. His return date is no surprise. Perhaps to draw audiences and boost ratings, Edge and Sasha Banks have been announced for a return to SmackDown in Houston, where WWE will officially resume live touring.
There isn't any news about who he will rival with, but the assumption is that he will be returning for a SummerSlam program. Interestingly, he is set to revert to being a babyface.
As per Jon Alba (via LTG Podcast Patreon), Edge is set to return to WWE for a SummerSlam program, and he could be a babyface on SmackDown again.
We hope this is true because the heel turn that happened wasn't necessary, and only seemed to happen because of Daniel Bryan's involvement. It will be interesting to see what WWE has planned for The Rated-R Superstar on SmackDown.
#1. Hope isn't true: Details behind Bray Wyatt's absence from WWE TV
It's unfortunate to think that Bray Wyatt is the only Wyatt family member left in WWE. But even his last appearance left a lot to be desired. WWE has kept The Fiend character away from TV for a long time, with Fastlane to WrestleMania 37 being the only period he was present in 2021.
WWE chose to make Alexa Bliss carry the feud with Randy Orton, and it ended with the former turning on The Fiend and costing him at WrestleMania 37. Bray Wyatt has been absent from WWE TV since then, and it led to some speculation that there was heat on him, thus the odd result of the underwhelming WrestleMania match.
PWInsider reported that there's no heat on Wyatt and that the match at WrestleMania played out exactly how WWE intended it to:
"We are told Wyatt has purposely been kept off TV. It is not a case of he has heat for anything as he is well liked. The Randy Orton match, we are told, went 100% exactly as planned."
We hope this isn't true, because it's ridiculous to think that the finish was justified for a five-month-long storyline. It was an injustice to all three characters involved, and hopefully Bray Wyatt has a good return to WWE.
To stay updated with the latest news, rumors, and controversies in WWE every day, subscribe to Sportskeeda Wrestling’s YouTube channel.
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