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Welcome to this week's edition of "5 wrestling rumours we hope are true and 5 we hope aren't"! It's been a very happening week in the world of wrestling, particularly more so as we're in the midst of the build to WWE SummerSlam 2019.
There hasn't been too big a build towards the event despite the fact that they had less than a month from Extreme Rules to get to the PPV. It came as a surprise because the RAW Reunion episode that happened this past week saw minimal build to the biggest party of the summer, with only a couple of storylines being given any importance.
Other than that, it was a nostalgia show on RAW. SmackDown Live, on the other hand, was absolutely solid, even setting up a potential main event blockbuster showdown between Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton.
Either way, this week's wrestling rumour mill has been abuzz with some very interesting scoops, and we assess which we hope are true and of course, which we hope aren't.
#5. We hope is true: Charlotte Flair's SummerSlam opponent
Charlotte Flair was surprisingly beaten quickly by Ember Moon on SmackDown Live, ruling her out of contention for the SmackDown Women's title. After the match, Flair demanded someone "better" than Ember Moon, indicating that she will, in fact, be competing at SummerSlam.
According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, Charlotte Flair is set to take on WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus at SummerSlam 2019. It's a dream match-up between two of the most decorated Women's Champions in WWE history, and it would be an amazing marquee match.
It's interesting to see WWE going for the big match-up, and it's certainly going to be exciting to watch.
#5. We hope isn't true: AEW's Live Event plans
AEW have prided themselves in being different from WWE in terms of how they treat their contracted performers. While not a whole lot is known about the contracts, they do involve certain benefits that the independent contractor WWE performers don't get.
Brandi Rhodes herself stated in the recent past that the entire idea was for AEW not to burn out their roster with an excessive number of shows. Now, it's being reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW is planning to run house shows every Saturday in addition to weekly TV and PPV, meaning that there will be at least 100-120 live events per year.
The reason we hope it isn't true is because of a couple of factors: One, it makes them look like they're trying to compete with WWE right away - the same mistake that TNA/Impact made. Secondly, it makes them seem like they're backtracking from the previous comments they made about lesser shows.
#4. We hope is true: The OC not going to NXT
AJ Styles reformed The Club with Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson after his recent heel turn against Ricochet. They rebranded as The OC and on the latest episode of RAW, they had a confrontation with DX, who chased them out of the arena.
Rumours were popping up around the time that there were plans for The OC to go to NXT for a feud. With Tyler Breeze moving back to NXT and Apollo Crews making an appearance, it's clear that WWE is slowly implementing and testing the idea of "reverse call-ups", where main roster superstars go to NXT.
However, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter killed off these rumours, stating that there are no plans for AJ Styles and Gallows & Anderson to go back to NXT. We hope this is true, because it makes no sense for them to do so.
#4. We hope isn't true: Another NXT expansion
It's no secret that Triple H seems to be doing internationally what Vince McMahon did with the territories in the 1980s and 1990s. Triple H has been having all sorts of tie-ups with promotions outside in order to enter different countries and we've seen that with the launch of NXT: UK.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is now reporting that WWE has plans to launch NXT in Canada as well, even holding tryouts at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, from August 7th to 9th.
The word going around is that Santino Marrella (a native Canadian) could be the head coach over there. While it's nice to see NXT expanding, we hope it isn't true because it feels like WWE is being too quick and aggressive and rushing the expansion.
There are reportedly even talks of WWE meeting with Stardom and trying to enter Japan.
#3. We hope is true: Mickie James' return date
Mickie James is one of the rare instance of a wrestler who has gone nearly two decades in the ring without ever having suffered a major injury. All of that changed in June 2019 at a live event when she ruptured her ACL in a match against Carmella.
James recently underwent surgery and according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, James is going to be out of action until April 2020. This will slot her in perfectly for a post-WrestleMania return. Moreover, it may not be all bad for her. Everyone's luck eventually runs out and James will finally be able to get a extended period of time away from wrestling. That means that when she eventually does return, she'll be fresh and will fit in better.
We wish her a speedy recovery.
#3. We hope isn't true: WWE botches Daniel Bryan's "career-altering" announcement
At WWE Extreme Rules 2019, Daniel Bryan and Rowan were defeated in a triple threat match and lost the SmackDown Tag Team Championship to 2/3rds of The New Day - Xavier Woods and Big E.
Since then, Bryan has seemingly been on a frenzy and has teased a career-altering announcement that WWE even teased for a couple of weeks straight. Then, there was no mention of it that week and the following week, Bryan wasn't even mentioned on TV.
According to Post Wrestling, the reason for this is that there was a miscommunication on WWE's part. Daniel Bryan is on vacation now and there are, in fact, plans in place for him, but it was a botch on WWE's side with regards to the announcement.
We hope it isn't true, but in all likeliness, it probably is.
#2. We hope is true: Finn Balor not injured
It's no secret that Finn Balor is taking a hiatus from WWE post-SummerSlam. He requested time off and was granted it, according to Pro Wrestling Sheet. He is set to take on "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam 2019 after issuing a challenge on the latest episode of SmackDown.
This weekend in the SmackVille Live Event, Finn Balor was scheduled to face Shinsuke Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship. However, WWE tweeted before the event that Balor had suffered an undisclosed injury and wouldn't be competing at the event.
Balor was replaced Ali. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported that Finn Balor isn't injured, but he is out with an illness and Balor is expected to be present for the July 30th episode of SmackDown Live.
We hope this is true and we're confident that we'll see Balor fulfill his duties before taking a hiatus after SummerSlam.
#2. We hope isn't true: NXT on FS1
If you're not aware, AEW announced that their weekly television show will begin on October 2nd, two days before SmackDown Live debuts on FOX. Their show will air weekly on Wednesday Nights, the very same as NXT.
However, NXT has primarily been a WWE Network show and with the SmackDown move to FOX, there are reportedly talks to get NXT to air on FS1 on Wednesday nights, according to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
This means that AEW will be going head-to-head with NXT, if true. We do admit that NXT is the closest product that we can draw comparison to AEW and while it would be nice to see Wednesday night wars, we hope it isn't true because NXT should remain a part of the WWE Network.
It's one of the biggest selling points of the Network and in the long-run, it would be better to keep it off free TV.
#1. We hope is true: WWE wants The Rock for the FOX debut
WWE is making huge preparations for the transition to FOX this coming October 4th. They're trying to get as many big names as possible and understandably, The Rock is a priority on that list.
It doesn't make sense for The Rock not to show up because he's literally the reason why the show got its name in the first place. He didn't appear for SmackDown 1000, but this is still a huge deal and FOX could splurge big money to get The Great One to come over.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirmed in a report that WWE is, in fact, interested in getting The Rock over for SmackDown's big FOX debut. While we obviously can't expect The Brahma Bull to get physical in the ring, it would be entertaining to see him return again.
#1. We hope isn't true: Goldberg has backstage heat in WWE
We're approaching close to two months since the disastrous main event at WWE Super ShowDown 2019, where Goldberg lost to The Undertaker in a rather disastrous and embarassing match.
WWE reportedly hasn't contacted Goldberg since and he was blamed for the major botch that happened. WWE has made no secret to hide their disdain towards Goldberg, even having Dolph Ziggler mention how bad Goldberg is in the ring in his promo on SmackDown Live.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that this was intentional and that Goldberg does, in fact, have backstage heat in WWE. We hope that it isn't true because Goldberg may have been pressured into taking the match in the first place. It's upto WWE to make a match where the safety of neither performer is at risk and Goldberg was quick to apologize for his performance.
Goldberg is still a veteran and doesn't deserve the backstage heat. WWE should realize not to put him in the ring far past his prime.
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