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Welcome to this week (or last week's) edition of WWE/wrestling rumors we hope are true and those we hope aren't. We're a bit late this week due to the WWE schedule but we're here to present another edition before returning on Sunday. Without wasting much time, let's jump right into it.
#5. Hope is true: WWE's plans for the Survivor Series main event
Three of the four Big Four WWE pay-per-views are now done in 2020, with the final one set to happen in November. Survivor Series is the next major pay-per-view and the only one in between is Hell in a Cell - which should be a fun pay-per-view in its own right.
According to PWInsider, RETRIBUTION could be in WWE's plans for a Survivor Series main event slot. This would see a team representing WWE go up against RETRIBUTION:
PWInsider reports that the word making the rounds during the weekend backstage in the WWE was that the company is targeting a big Survivor Series main event for the RETRIBUTION.
We hope this is true because it would be a solid way to pay off the storyline. Either that, or if WWE chooses not to go in the Nexus direction, then it would enhance RETRIBUTION's impact in WWE. The storyline certainly hasn't gotten the best reception as compared to previous invasion stories, but there has been a lot of buzz around it when looking at the numbers on social media and YouTube.
It would, of course, take a bit of a build and a bigger push and approach when presenting RETRIBUTION on WWE television. We're only getting started with it, so it'll be interesting to see how RETRIBUTION fares and whether WWE will give them a chance to sink or swim.
If done right, RETRIBUTION can make a big impact.
#5. Hope isn't true: Backstage frustration among a few WWE stars at Clash of Champions 2020?
Two major matches were removed from WWE Clash of Champions 2020 - the SmackDown Women's title match between Bayley and Nikki Cross and the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match between Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler against Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott.
Dave Meltzer gave an insight into the situation and stated that Nia Jax was mad about the wording WWE used to justify her absence at Clash of Champions 2020:
"Ok so, Nikki Cross and Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax were all called medically, they weren't medically cleared. That was the wording. Nia Jax got really mad about that by the way."
He then explained what WWE's situation was like with COVID-19 and how it played into this match:
"The actual issue is that you know it's the COVID situation. I believe that I know at least one of the three, and I think two of the three do not have COVID, but they were in contact with someone who does. So, it might even be all three, but I know for sure one, and I think two. But, it's still part of the COVID, they were afraid of the COVID spread as they were in contact, so they were not allowed on the show. I don't know how all their healths are, but at least two of three are not unhealthy as we speak. Hopefully they do not get unhealthy. So that's the situation there."
We hope that none of this is true because it sounds like a frustrating situation, but it seems like WWE was forced to take a lot of precautionary measures.
#4. Hope is true: WWE Superstar returning to NXT to be the mystery person?
In the last episode of WWE NXT, there was a mystery figure seen in a warehouse with various old NXT memorabilia scattered on the floor. He had a distorted voiceover where he said:
"I’m not sure what happened. I help create something out of my own blood. Years and years of dedication only to be taken over by favourite champions. These NXT Championships have been in isolation for far too long. Now I’ve come back to take way is mine.”
Bo Dallas is a name that has been floating around, especially because it's been years since he's been a regular feature on WWE programming on either RAW or SmackDown. It would make sense for him to go back to NXT, but a Reddit user named Bsantoro10 pointed out a subtle detail that may have given it away.
There was a poster of NXT TakeOver: Orlando from 2017, and Andrade's face was shown, indicating that he could be going back. He seems to be done with Zelina Vega and possibly Angel Garza as well.
After suffering a heavy defeat to Keith Lee on RAW, it could be a way of WWE writing him off. The only reason we hope this speculation is true is that if the rumors of Vince McMahon's lack of interest is true, it would probably be best for him to spend some time in NXT. He's still young with many years ahead of him.
#4. Hope isn't true: Reason why WWE pulled RETRIBUTION from Clash of Champions 2020
RETRIBUTION's absence on WWE Clash of Champions 2020 was notable, and it also happened to be the third pay-per-view in a row since their formation that they haven't appeared.
They've been more present on RAW and have seemingly stopped appearing on SmackDown as well. While it seemed all but guaranteed that we would see the faction at Clash of Champions in a big role, they were notably absent.
According to Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet, their absence was COVID-related. While none of the members tested positive for COVID-19, WWE made them quarantine since they were in close proximity to someone who had tested positive:
We hope this isn't true because it's a big momentum halter for RETRIBUTION and its members Mia Yim, Mercedes Martinez, Dio Maddin, Shane Thorne, and Donovan Dijakovic. But the fact that WWE ensured that they didn't appear on RAW is a big sign that it is true. We may have to expect RETRIBUTION's absence from WWE programming for another week.
It will be interesting to see how WWE gets around it.
#3. Hope is true: Melina to WWE rumors are true despite her denial
Melina to WWE was first reported by Mike Johnson of PWInsider. Melina was very quick to rubbish the rumors herself, stating on a Facebook post that she isn't signed to WWE but she didn't rule it out as a possibility either.
It's similar to the John Morrison situation, where it was reported that he re-signed with WWE after nearly a decade. While he was quick to deny it, the rumors soon turned out to be true.
Dave Meltzer gave more clarity on the situation, seemingly confirming the rumor to be true. Sportskeeda's Lennard Surrao wrote:
Meltzer noted that people backstage in the WWE - who should ideally know about the story - were clueless about Melina's return. However, as Johnson reported it, Meltzer also added that the odds of the story being true are high, and many people in the company who were in the dark about the return also might have figured that it's legitimate. Mike Johnson, after all, has an exemplary track record.
We hope this is true because it would be good to have another veteran name like Melina back in a completely different WWE women's division.
#3. Hope isn't true: Reason why WWE didn't air RAW Underground this week
RAW Underground has been an essential part of WWE's flagship show over the last month. While there are differing opinions about it, the consensus seems to be that RAW Underground is something different and a breath of fresh air.
The fact that the setting and style are different alone adds to RAW and there have been some clear-cut improvements made. Fightful.com reported that while RAW Underground is usually taped, that practice wasn't followed on the September 28th episode. They expanded, saying:
Sources within the company told Fightful that WWE was short on talent due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the fact that several Superstars were exposed to the virus made matters worse. Many Superstars were told to go into quarantine, and it was added that the RAW Underground segment 'was deemed unnecessary' due to the existing circumstances. Braun Strowman handed Dabba-Kato his first loss on RAW Underground last week, and there was some considerable amount of anticipation for WWE's follow-up angle for the former Universal Champion.
We hope this isn't true but all signs seem to indicate that there has been a mass quarantine happening within WWE and AEW. We hope to see Shane McMahon, Braun Strowman, Dabba Kato, and the rest of the RAW Underground crew back in action next week.
#2. Hope is true: Two female WWE stars on Vince McMahon's "to-be-pushed" list
In WWE, in order to get a push, Vince McMahon needs to be a fan of you. The reality is that the locker room is so competitive and loaded with talent that it's simply not possible for every star to get pushed to a high level.
Vince McMahon appears to have a list of Superstars he wants to push and makes sure that they get regular television time. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Vince McMahon carries the list and two names on that list include Peyton Royce and Bianca Belair:
Meltzer noted that Vince McMahon carries the list with him to meetings, telling officials to push them on the show. The two female Superstars on Vince McMahon's list are Peyton Royce and Bianca Belair.
We hope this is true because both women need to be pushed in a time where the roster is fairly thin. Since WWE decided to break-up The IIconics anyway, they might as well push one member.
#2. Hope isn't true: WWE's potential plans for the Aalyah Mysterio storyline
Aalyah Mysterio has been appearing increasingly on WWE TV and for the first time, has gotten directly involved in a storyline. The story seems to be one where she has sympathy for Murphy, who she considers to be completely different from Seth Rollins.
Seth Rollins, of course, has been manipulating the Mysterio family and causing rifts from within. On the 28th September episode of RAW, Dominik Mysterio lost to Murphy thanks to an inadvertent distraction from his sister Aalyah.
Dave Meltzer mentioned on the Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE is potentially setting up Aalyah to turn on her family:
"They are trying to do something obviously to set up Aalyah being the one who turns on the family. Well, this is the start of it evidently. But she is going to have to carry this, and we'll see. That's asking a lot for someone who has never been in the business because her role is going to be as an actress not like as a wrestler. So she has to carry it. And I saw when she did a little bit of talking that she did and it's not like she was comfortable doing it."
He also seemed to confirm that the 19-year old Aalyah will end up with the 32-year old Murphy.
"Well, they are going to end up together (Murphy and Aalyah)."
While we're not against drama, having the inexperienced Aalyah as a regularly-featured star on TV takes away from Dominik Mysterio's impact. Moreover, it just doesn't feel like the right move to make. But we're open to seeing where it goes.
#1. Hope is true: Jeff Hardy's WWE contract status
There were a lot of rumors about Jeff Hardy's contract status with WWE, from the company possibly not pushing him since he didn't sign a contract and then rewarding him with an Intercontinental title for signing a contract.
The other rumor was that Jeff Hardy signed a five-year contract with WWE. PWInsider confirmed that this isn't true and that it's closer to a two-three year contract:
PWInsider.com is told that while there have been rumblings that Hardy signed a five year deal making the rounds, that is actually incorrect. We have been told by multiple sources that the new contract, including that was added to Hardy's previous contract due to injury-related inactivity, is closer to 2-3 years total in length.
We hope this is true because five years is a long commitment to lock in for Jeff Hardy, even if he plans to wrestle for longer. But at his age, a two-three year contract makes more sense. We aren't even sure if his intention is to retire in WWE or not.
#1. Hope isn't true: Backstage reaction in WWE to the RETRIBUTION storyline
From the way it sounds, the backstage reaction in WWE to the RETRIBUTION unveiling hasn't been great by any means. Fightful Select reported that after speaking to several Superstars backstage, there was a largely negative reaction and perception to the RETRIBUTION storyline. Sportskeeda's Lennard Surrao wrote:
An unnamed female Superstar from RAW said that she felt bad for Mia Yim and Mercedes Martinez. While she admitted that it was a good spot for Yim and Martinez, it was still a massive battle for the duo to try and make the angle look less dumb than it is. Yim and Martinez had worked really hard to warrant an opportunity at the top, and the RETRIBUTION angle wasn't what they might have expected.
As mentioned, RETRIBUTION's presence has been on RAW and backstage talent on SmackDown were curious as to why the faction was shifted exclusively to RAW without an explanation. The report continued:
The wrestlers Fightful spoke to said that they hadn't heard of WWE having any long-term plans for RETRIBUTION from the beginning. Most of the angles were said to be 'hastily put together', and that's based on the perspective backstage.
To conclude, the report stated that almost everyone backstage felt that the new names given to the RETRIBUTION members were ridiculous. We hope that all of this isn't true because if the backstage morale in WWE for the storyline is so low, then it's a disaster waiting to happen.
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