'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE is a busy place, and with the company preparing for its second-biggest pay-per-view of the year, SummerSlam, it's hard to keep track of everything that is happening in the sports entertainment juggernaut.
The show, which is scheduled to take place tonight, has some major things planned, though has undergone some major changes over the past seven days.
Here are five WWE rumors from this week you need to know about.
Note: Like all rumors, the ones listed below are just speculation, and should be taken with a pinch of salt. Though some seem more likely than others, they should all be treated as just a bit of fun.
#5 Shrinking house shows
It's no secret that the WWE has had a rough year when it comes to viewership figures. Not only have numbers been down for both RAW and SmackDown Live, but attendance figures have also taken a tumble, both at live events, TV tapings and at pay-per-views.
With smartphones and social media being everywhere, pictures of an entire section of empty seats at arenas have been shared online, and it seems WWE is now trying to correct that. According to the Wrestling Observer, there have been talks about cutting down the number of house shows, so when one does come to a city, more people will be inclined to go.
In addition, the same report also claims the company has been thinking about hosting more Supershows (hosting both RAW and SmackDown Live talent), perhaps to get more people to attend.
#4 More matches to be added to Summerslam?
WWE SummerSlam 2019 will take place this evening, and the card is stacked, to say the least. As of writing, the show has ten matches announced, six of which being title matches, as well as a retirement match for Trish Stratus and a shocking appearance by former Universal Champion Bill Goldberg.
But despite the show being stacked, the Wrestling Observer has noted that an internal listing by WWE has eleven matches for the show, and expects one more to be added either before or during tonight's festivities.
Though there are several matches that could be announced, as several top stars including Roman Reigns, Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe, the rumored match planned doesn't have any of these former champions. According to the Observer, a contest between Cedric Alexander and Drew McIntyre will be added to the show, after the two waged a war against each other recently on Monday Night RAW.
Though we're sure the match will be fine (if it happens), we can't help but wonder WWE's reasoning for leaving the Big Dog, who closes out last year's event as Universal Champion, is off the card.
#3 Daniel Bryan announcement scrapped
A few weeks ago, Daniel Bryan and the WWE promised a "career-altering announcement" from the former World Champion that quickly got fans speculating. Some fans naturally feared the worst, as the last time Bryan made a statement that changed his career was in early 2016 when the former Yes! Man had to retire from the ring.
We didn't get a retirement this time, but we didn't get anything either. Instead, Bryan came out on SmackDown Live three times to give his announcement but left without saying a word.
According to the Observer, the entire angle has been scrapped, as it seems Bryan will instead be focussing on a budding feud with Roman Reigns instead. On this week's SmackDown Live, Buddy Murphy claimed that it was Bryan's right-hand man Erick Rowan who had caused the scaffolding to fall on the former Universal Champion on last week's SmackDown.
As Bryan has denied Rowan was involved, it could be that Bryan himself was the one committing these attacks, though it seems the WWE Universe will never find out what the former Champion's career-altering announcement was.
#2 Eric Bischoff still a non-factor backstage
When WWE decided to hire Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff as the Executive Directors of RAW and SmackDown Live respectively, many fans were intrigued by the latter. Though Heyman has been a fixture of WWE TV for the past several years, thanks to his work with stars like Brock Lesnar and CM Punk, the Executive Director role would be the first major role for Bischoff in WWE for several years.
Unfortunately, it seems that the WCW magnate has done very little during his time working with the blue brand. According to a tweet by Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet, Bischoff has not had much influence on the creative team on SmackDown Live.
This is in stark contrast to Heyman on RAW, with the red brand having made several major changes since the Advocate's rise to power, including a more edgy tone over the past month. Satin did mention though that it sounds like Bischoff has been getting familiar with the new role so far, so perhaps the former WCW and RAW General Manager will be able to get more involved down the line.
#1 Matches removed from SummerSlam
Earlier, we discussed the prospect of more matches being added to this Sunday's SummerSlam card, but it seems that the WWE hasn't shied away from removing matches from The Biggest Party of the Summer. According to the Wrestling Observer this week, several high profile matches that were rumored to take place at the event have instead been given away for free on WWE TV.
One such match was the fatal 4-way Women's Tag Team Championship match on RAW which saw Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss become the new champions, as according to the report, Paul Heyman wanted the match to be a big thing on RAW, rather than just another forgotten match at the pay per view.
Over on SmackDown Live, a match between Aleister Black and Sami Zayn that took place during this week's edition of the blue brand was originally supposed to happen at the PPV, though it was reportedly moved up because of Vince McMahon.
Reportedly tearing up this week's script just hours before the blue brand went on the air, the new script left an hour that still needed to be filled, so the decision was made for Black vs. Zayn to be moved to the show.
