'%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)
We are back with another exciting WWE News Roundup. A former world champion recently expressed his wish to face Roman Reigns in a dream match.
Seth Rollins reacted to a major WWE signing not too long ago, while Paul Heyman has given his thoughts on Becky Lynch's current character.
Bray Wyatt's fans have shown a lot of support since his release from the company. He recently responded to a tweet that offended his fanbase. Additionally, another ex-WWE talent has spoken about a feud with The Undertaker that never happened.
With that in mind, let's dive straight into the latest WWE News Roundup.
#5 Jeff Hardy wants a dream WWE match against Roman Reigns
Universal Champion Roman Reigns is currently at the top of the mountain on SmackDown. Meanwhile, Jeff Hardy - who was recently involved in 24/7 title shenanigans - doesn't seem to be in a major storyline at the moment.
Speaking on the Wrestling Inside the Ropes podcast, Hardy expressed that his main goal before retirement is to become a Universal Champion. He also praised Roman Reigns and The Usos' storyline on SmackDown.
“It's just so powerful man," said Hardy. "Every time I watch SmackDown, I love the Usos and the whole Head of the Table thing. The Tribal Chief is so strong you know. That’s definitely a dream match – the dream match I have for my career. I’ve never been in the ring head-to-head with Roman Reigns. So that’s on my bucket list for sure and it can be a very beautiful encounter.”
The Tribal Chief's special counsel, Paul Heyman, has responded to Jeffy Hardy's statement via Twitter.
Although Heyman praised Hardy's accomplishments, he also noted that Reigns would "smash" the legend into a well-earned retirement. Check out the tweet below:
Would you like to see Roman Reigns vs. Jeff Hardy at some point down the road? Sound off in the comments section below.
#4 Seth Rollins reacts to Gable Steveson's WWE signing
Heavyweight freestyle wrestler Gable Steveson recently signed with WWE on an exclusive agreement. The Olympic gold medalist is all set to join Vince McMahon's company while also defending his NCAA title for the University of Minnesota.
SmackDown's Seth Rollins took to Twitter to offer his exciting reaction over the development:
Interestingly, Rollins has offered to train Steveson in the past.
The 21-year-old athlete seems to be a WWE fan, and his brother, Bobby Steveson, was recently recruited by the company too.
#3 Paul Heyman's thoughts on Becky Lynch's character transformation
Becky Lynch has displayed a more villainous side to her since returning to WWE at SummerSlam.
Paul Heyman was asked about Lynch's heel turn in a recent Q&A with the New York Post's Joseph Staszewski. He highlighted why audiences would be justified in both cheering and booing the SmackDown Women's Champion:
"If the audience wants to embrace Becky Lynch as she shows this side of her personality after taking a year and a half off, after having a baby, becoming a mother, the responsibilities and the obligations and accountabilities that go along with the role in her life then if the audience wants to embrace Becky Lynch, embrace Becky Lynch." Heyman continued, "And if the audience finds that is a saltier side of her personality that’s worthy of their contempt and disdain then they will bestow upon her a reaction that is akin to that emotion."
Paul Heyman added that he doesn't believe in strictly positioning characters as protagonists or antagonists as they often have multiple sides to them.
#2 Bray Wyatt is not in favor of his fans being called "incels"
Bray Wyatt was released by WWE on July 31, 2021. Despite the outcome, many vocal fans have continually expressed support for the former world champion.
At SummerSlam 2021, a spectator even brought a sign featuring Wyatt's alter-ego, The Fiend. However, WWE security confiscated the sign shortly after it was seen on camera.
In a recent tweet by Alfred Konuwa of Forbes, he implied that people like the fan who got his Bray Wyatt sign confiscated at SummerSlam are "incels." This led to backlash from Wyatt's supporters and even got the former WWE Superstar's attention.
Check out his reply to Konuwa's tweet below:
In your opinion, which promotion would be the perfect fit for Wyatt's post-WWE career?
#1 Kevin Fertig (aka Mordecai) mentions why WWE dropped major plans for his character
Mordecai and The Undertaker were supposed to battle it out at WrestleMania 21. So, what changed?
According to the man behind the 'Mordecai' gimmick, Kevin Fertig, a real-life bar fight brought a premature end to his SmackDown run in 2004. He said the same while appearing on the latest episode of Sportskeeda Wrestling's UnSKripted:
"I was supposed to go against The Undertaker [and] Eddie Guerrero." Fertig continued, "I was supposed to do a lot of stuff. But I ended up being an idiot and I got into a fight in a bar and it just didn't work out - just didn't work out that way, man. So, live and learn."
Fertig, who was in his 20s at the time, believes the situation could have unfolded differently if he had a better business sense back then.
Although the company's big plans for Mordecai never came to fruition, he later had a comparatively lengthier run as the Vampire, Kevin Thorn, on the ECW brand.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
