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This past week of WWE was all about the Fastlane pay-per-view which is going to take place tonight. Both Raw and SmackDown were go-home shows before the event. There were many more matches added to the match-card for the pay-per-view.
Another week of great moments continued this past week as we head into WrestleMania. On Raw, The Shield reunited once again, and Raw Women's Champion, Ronda Rousey, turned heel and assaulted Becky Lynch.
As for SmackDown, Samoa Joe won his first main roster title by defeating United States Champion, R-Truth, in a Fatal 4-Way match also involving Rey Mysterio and Andrade. Mustafa Ali returned and helped Kevin Owens fend off WWE Champion, Daniel Bryan, and Rowan.
But as always is the case, most of these moments are rumored before they happen. This past week had many rumors that were true and some of them were false. So, let's check out seven of the biggest WWE rumors of the past week.
#7 Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have rejected new WWE deals
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have reportedly rejected to sign multi-million dollar contracts with WWE and are expected to leave the company once their contracts expire in September 2019.
According to PWInsider's Mike Johnson, Gallows and Anderson were offered "multi-million-dollar deals," but want to go elsewhere, partly because of the lack of exposure and significant storylines they have been given by WWE since joining the company as a duo in 2016.
A source also told Johnson that Gallows and Anderson have been off WWE live events in recent weeks because of the lack of progress in contract talks.
Johnson noted that the deals Gallows and Anderson turned down were for five years apiece. He also reported that while their intent is to leave WWE, things could change between now and the end of their contracts in September.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have been working with WWE for nearly three years. They left NJPW and signed their WWE contracts after WrestleMania 32 in 2016. Since joining the company, they have reunited with their best friend AJ Styles to form a successful group named The Club, they also became Raw Tag Team Champions at the Royal Rumble 2017.
But the past year hasn't been great for them in the company, and it needs to be seen whether they change their minds or not.
#6 AJ Styles still hasn't signed a new WWE contract
Even AJ Styles has reportedly not signed a new WWE contract, and his current deal is expected to expire next month. But it is believed that he will ultimately stay with the company for the foreseeable future.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, AJ Styles has not yet signed a new WWE contract, with his current deal expiring in the next few weeks. Styles is fully expected to re-sign with WWE.
Although it is expected he will re-sign with WWE, you never know, Styles could switch his decision because him pending to sign his contract for so long could mean he might be considering moving to another promotion.
AEW (All Elite Wrestling) makes a lot of sense, as even Gallows and Anderson are expected to sign with them. Also, Styles has a good relationship with the vice-presidents of the promotion, The Young Bucks. In the past, many big stars have signed their WWE deals very late just for more leverage, Styles could also be doing the same.
#5 Dean Ambrose could be staying with WWE
Dean Ambrose is rumored to re-sign with WWE after all, with the return of Roman Reigns and the reunion of The Shield, Ambrose might have changed his mind about leaving the company in April.
According to multiple reports, there is plenty of backstage talk that Ambrose will remain with the company, we heard from two WWE sources who now believe that Dean Ambrose will sign a new contract to stay with the company.
As we reported last week, Roman Reigns recently indicated to a fan at an autograph signing that he would work on keeping his friend in the company and management was hoping that Reigns could convince Ambrose to stay.
Well, the babyface turn and talk of a renewed push has apparently swayed Ambrose’s opinion. Bryan Alvarez heard similar rumors about Ambrose. 'I don’t know for sure but the rumor this weekend is that he is no longer leaving,' Alvarez said on Wrestling Observer Live.
It was reported that Ambrose was not happy with his position in the company, It was also reported that he turned down a five-year contract with the company, worth a little more than seven figures per year.
Whether Ambrose re-signs or not needs to be seen, but it is now looking more likely that he continues working for the company. There are a lot of WWE Superstars who believe that Ambrose will indeed re-sign with WWE.
#4 John Cena and Roman Reigns' WrestleMania 35 opponents
Last week, it was rumored that WWE still hasn't decided John Cena and Roman Reigns' opponents for WrestleMania 35, but this past week, rumors began circulating about who Cena and Reigns could possibly face at the show of shows.
According to Ringside News, WWE is planning to have John Cena face Samoa Joe at WrestleMania. WWE has been holding off on this match for a long time but might finally be doing it now.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, it appears Roman Reigns vs. Baron Corbin is the plan for WrestleMania.
Although Cena facing Joe for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 35 is a dream match every WWE fan wants to see, Reigns facing Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35 doesn't seem to interest any WWE fan.
The plans can change in the following weeks, but as of now these are two matches which could take place at the show of shows.
#3 Ronda Rousey Upset with Becky Lynch
This past week on Raw, Raw Women's Champion, Ronda Rousey, turned heel and assaulted Becky Lynch. Rousey had dropped her title and demanded Stephanie reinstate Lynch back to WWE on last week's show. But it is rumored that she was legitimately upset with Lynch following their Twitter battle.
According to Diva-Dirt.com, Rousey is legitimately upset with Lynch following their recent Twitter beef, which may explain her heel turn on this week's Raw.
Their Twitter battle was quite ugly, which was neither appreciated by the fans nor WWE. The company has stayed silent about the situation just because this is adding to the storyline feud between Lynch and Rousey for WrestleMania 35.
Rousey also said on her YouTube series, Ronda on the Road,
“The thing is, I love this job. I really love this job. But I don’t need it at all. Not in the least little bit.”
She is already expected to take a hiatus from the company following the show of shows, but being upset could lead her to never come back to WWE again.
#2 The Shield are advertised to compete after WrestleMania 35
This past week on Raw, The Shield reunited once again and are now scheduled to face the team of Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley at the Fastlane pay-per-view. But the group is rumored to stay together beyond WrestleMania 35.
According to LordsofPain.net, The Shield (Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins) vs. Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre and Baron Corbin is being advertised for the April 22 WWE RAW from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.
This same match will take place at Sunday’s WWE Fastlane pay-per-view, indicating The Shield’s reunion will not be a “one night only” deal.
This move would make sense from WWE's side, as it would create buzz for WrestleMania season regarding how Reigns and Ambrose will be involved in Rollins' feud against Lesnar. Also, it could convince Ambrose to stay with the company for the foreseeable future.
#1 Brock Lesnar is headed back to UFC
The current Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar, is rumored to return back to UFC following WrestleMania 35. His expected opponent in the octagon is UFC Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Cormier.
During the press conference of UFC 235, Dana White addressed when Lesnar will return to the octagon and who his opponent will be.
“I think that Brock and Cormier want that fight,” White said at the presser. “I owe Cormier a lot. Cormier wants that fight so Cormier’s going to get it.” When asked what time frame the fight might takes place during, White admitted he wasn’t sure. “I have no clue,” he said.
“I literally have not talked to Brock at all. He’s doing his WWE thing. He’s one of those guys that when he’s ready, he’ll call me. I don’t chase anybody around man, I make fights. And when people are ready to fight, they let me know. And if they’re not, we don’t talk.”
Lesnar has been expected to go back to UFC several times before, but he always ends-up signing a new deal with WWE.
The last date on his current contract is WrestleMania 35 where he will be to defending his Universal Championship against 2019 Men's Royal Rumble winner, Seth Rollins. This could be the last time Lesnar competes in a WWE ring before he heads back to the octagon.
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