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Welcome to another edition of the WWE news roundup. In this edition, we take a look at several stories including a veteran predicting that Randy Orton could turn heel soon. We also take a look at the company's plans for Bobby Lashley as well as an update on when we could see WWE back in Saudi Arabia.
We also have a look at Bray Wyatt, who has been off television since WrestleMania, and how a former WWE writer has said that The Fiend character may be "beyond repair" after how it has been handled. Read on for full details on all these stories and more.
#5 Former WWE Superstar says Brock Lesnar saved his life
Former WWE Superstar Zach Gowen was recently a guest on the Rewind Recap Relive podcast. Gowen, who had a run with WWE in the early 2000s, opened up about his experience working with a young Brock Lesnar.
Gowen also revealed how he felt that Lesnar may have saved his life once. The Beast Incarnate was set to give Gowen a series of powerbombs but felt his body go limp after the second one and decided to let him go.
"He was supposed to give me three powerbombs, like a triple powerbomb where you hold on, and then after two, he felt I got knocked out. Like he felt my body go limp for a second. I hit the back of my head on the mat. I was knocked out on the powerbomb. It was supposed to be three, but he felt that I was in danger, so he just let me go. He might’ve saved my life if we’re being 100% honest, at that point," said Gowen.
Gowen ended up only having a short run with WWE and was released in 2004. He made some appearances in Ring of Honor following his release.
#4 Randy Orton set for heel turn on WWE RAW?
Randy Orton and Riddle have been successful in their short-run together as RK-Bro but what does the future hold for the duo? According to former WWE writer Vince Russo, WWE is setting up The Viper for a heel turn.
Speaking on Sportskeeda's Legion of RAW, Vince Russo predicted that Randy Orton will turn on Riddle soon, leading to a feud between the two.
"This is what we are building to. We are building to Randy Orton giving the kid the RKO and then they are in a feud. That's what all of this is. He's going to do the pose and Orton keeps walking away and walking away, you think he's going to pose in there with the kid and he's going to hit him with the RKO and now they're in a program. That's what all this is. That's exactly what this is."
We saw RK-Bro in action last Monday on RAW as Orton and Riddle picked up an impressive win over Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, who are former tag team champions.
#3 Former writer says WWE has dropped the ball with Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt hasn't been on WWE television since losing to Randy Orton at WrestleMania. We still don't have any definitive idea about when The Fiend will be back on television.
One person who is not happy with how WWE has booked The Fiend is former writer, Vince Russo. While speaking on Sportskeeda's Legion of RAW earlier this week, Russo was highly critical of WWE's handling of Wyatt, saying that his character may be "beyond repair" at this point:
"Here's what happens with these talents - they get to a point of no return where they know that we can't fix this now. I found out something very interesting this week. I did not know this. I got smartened up. Did you know of this thing, this momo thing? This momo gimmick? A scary character that was just popping up. Bro, do you know that Bray Wyatt based that character and the Funhouse and the kids and all that stuff off of that momo crazy. And now when you look back at it, that all makes sense now. Bro, that was the idea in his head and that was his vision and look what they turned that into? Black goo. Literally bro, just clipped his wings. That's what happens with these guys. It happened with Elias. They get to this point of beyond repair. Let me just collect my cheque now because we can't fix this," said Russo.
Could we see Bray Wyatt return to WWE television before SummerSlam? Sound off your thoughts about Wyatt's possible return date in the comments section.
#2 Update on when WWE could return to Saudi Arabia
WWE has had to hold off on their Saudi Arabia shows because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The last show in the middle east was Super ShowDown in February 2020 which was main-evented by Goldberg vs The Fiend.
PWInsider recently provided an update on when we could see WWE back in Saudi Arabia for their next show. The report stated that with WWE set to return to touring, a show in the fall is a possibility.
"With the world starting to open up and World Wrestling Entertainment beginning to tour again, we have been asked by several readers if and when the company might resume doing their Saudi Arabia events. We are told by company sources that the early expectation is that they will finally return to Saudi Arabia this fall, but an official date has not been locked in yet. The expectation is that they will run one event there before the end of the year."
As stated in the report, there is no official date set for a return to Saudi Arabia.
#1 No plans for WWE Champion Bobby Lashley to take on Brock Lesnar
Bobby Lashley has been incredible as WWE Champion and is one of the strongly booked Superstars in WWE right now. A lot of fans were speculating that Lashley's current run could set him up for a match against Brock Lesnar. In fact, Lashley has previously spoken about wanting to face Lesnar but a match-up between the two still looks unlikely at this point.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, there are still no plans for a match between the WWE Champion and Brock Lesnar.
There have been rumors about Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar but as of one week ago that was not happening, even though Lashley has wanted that match. Lesnar’s name was definitely talked about for the show by some but it was said that it doesn’t look like it will work out.
Brock Lesnar is currently not signed to WWE after his contract expired last year. However, it is expected that Lesnar will return at some point.
