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We are now just a couple of days away from Extreme Rules and it is safe to say that the card has shaped up to be an exciting one. While a few top Superstars will, unfortunately, be absent from the show, all the Title matches have been built up quite well and the multiple matches with special stipulations are sure to be captivating.
Sportskeeda is the one-stop destination for latest WWE rumors and wrestling news
The go-home shows of Raw and SmackDown Live before Extreme Rules were quite disappointing as a whole but did have a few good segments. Raw opened with an all-out brawl between Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns which did well to hype the match between the two men; fans were promised a dream match on free television between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, but as it turned out, the two were involved in a tag team match instead. Rusev gained momentum heading into his Championship match on Sunday after pinning the US Champion Jeff Hardy.
Moving on to the women's division, while it might be a good thing that WWE is open to inter-gender matches again, the lumberjack match between Ellsworth and Asuka was a disaster. Ellsworth will now be suspended in a shark cage for the match between Asuka and Carmella this Sunday.
With all that in mind, let us list out the top rumours in the world of WWE this week.
Honourable mentions:
Paul Heyman might be taking up a new role as a writer for Raw.
Bobby Roode might be heading for a heel turn, which might be the reason why he lost against Mojo Rawley this past week.
SmackDown Live might be getting a new logo/stage design after moving to Fox.
#5 Why these Superstars will miss Extreme Rules
Many top Superstars are set to miss out on this Sunday's PPV including Sasha Banks, Bayley, The Miz, just to name a few. The reason behind the Hollywood A-Lister missing the event is said to be because he is scheduled to take part in the MLB All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game on July 15th, the same day as Extreme Rules.
Coming to Sasha Banks and Bayley, they are currently involved in a storyline where they are undergoing counselling to clear out their differences (never mind that differences are supposed to be settled in the ring in WWE). The reason behind the eventual fight being held off for now might be because WWE is planning to have a match between the women at SummerSlam this year, which will air from Brooklyn - where the women had their iconic NXT match.
#4 Dean Ambrose return timeline
The Lunatic Fringe has been out of action since December last year when he suffered a serious tricep injury and was said to be out of action for around nine months. As the timeline for his return is closing in, the rumour mill has been working hard speculating about when he might return to action.
Reports emerged a few days ago that he was spotted at WWE's Performance Centre, apparently training for a return soon. While fans are expecting the former World Champion to return around SummerSlam next month, WrestleVotes reports that he might return only by September. There is also talk of him returning as a heel but at this point, we can only speculate.
#3 Matches for SummerSlam
WWE supposedly already has quite a few bouts planned for SummerSlam this year and fans are already witnessing the build to a few of these feuds.
Brock Lesnar is now apparently confirmed for the event and will take on either Bobby Lashley or Roman Reigns. However, WWE has not yet zeroed in on an opponent for the Universal Champion yet.
Nia Jax is expected to lose at Extreme Rules, as Alexa Bliss is supposedly being set up to go head to head against Ronda Rousey at the 'Biggest Party of the Summer'. Rousey might even end up winning her first Championship at the event.
Another match which has been in the pipeline for a long time has been The Miz vs Daniel Bryan. However, with Kane returning as Bryan's tag partner recently, it is not clear how WWE intends to go ahead with this dream feud.
#2 Next step in the Women's Revolution
It looks like WWE is ready to take the next step in the ongoing Women's Revolution, as Pro Wrestling Sheet reported yesterday that WWE might be planning an all-female PPV sometime in the near future. Apparently, many legends will also be making an appearance on the planned event, much like the Women's Royal Rumble earlier this year.
This is great news for the female Superstars on the roster, as many talented wrestlers in the division have been sidelined due to an overcrowding of the roster and a shortage of time despite the 5 hours of television every week.
Also, the TLC pay-per-view scheduled for later this year has been the source of speculation after the previously announced date was moved. Perhaps this was done to accommodate the new PPV.
#1 What is next for Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar made headlines this past week after he confronted Daniel Cormier after his fight at UFC 226. However, WWE surprised the world by making absolutely no mention of their Universal Champion on Raw this week.
The reason behind this is speculated to be Vince McMahon not wanting to draw attention to the fact that the Champion would be absent from Extreme Rules this Sunday, especially on the go-home episode.
However, word going around is that Lesnar is now confirmed to appear at SummerSlam later this year, though his opponent for the event is yet to be decided. It is likely that it will be either Bobby Lashley or Roman Reigns.
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Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
