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In this edition of the news roundup, we take a look at some backstage news regarding Roman Reigns and how WWE may not have concrete WrestleMania plans for the Tribal Chief. We also look at possible plans for The Rock and when he could possibly return to WWE.
Apart from our top two stories, we also take a look at Goldberg calling out Roman Reigns, an update on Otis being sent back to the WWE Performance Center and a lot more.
Roman Reigns’ backstage status for WWE WrestleMania 37
With a few months to go until WrestleMania in April, it looks like WWE still don’t have concrete plans for an opponent for Roman Reigns at The Show of Shows.
This was revealed by Dave Meltzer on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer said the situation was “mind-boggling” given how WWE have been known in the past to have their big WrestleMania plans in place by this time of year:
"Regarding the direction of Roman Reigns for WrestleMania, as of right now, in December, there is no name on the books, which some note is mind-boggling since in the past much of the Mania card would be done and all booking on television and PPV would be based on leading to that direction. Sometimes there would be a change, but usually the top stuff has a direction. That's the key when PPV revenue doesn't ebb and flow by millions of dollars in either direction based on having the right formula for Mania, the pressure for a direction isn't there and stuff feels thrown together as opposed to stories with a natural climax."
There was talk of a potential match between The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37. However, it looks like there’s a chance that match can’t take place until 2022. More on that later.
The Rock could return to WWE for a dream match… in 2022
There was a lot of talk earlier this year of 10-time world champion The Rock returning to WWE in 2021 for a match against his cousin, current WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. However, it looks like this match may have to be put off until 2022. This was reported in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter by Dave Meltzer, who got the information from people close to the situation:
"According to those very close to the situation, Johnson has brought up the possibility of doing a match with Reigns in 2022, but that's a long way away, and he'd be 49 by that time. Obviously, this is all up to him; he wants in this year tomorrow, or next month, and he's in. But on the creative side, they've been told he's a no go."
There has recently been talk of Goldberg returning to face the WWE Universal Champion if The Rock doesn’t end up facing Reigns at WrestleMania 37
Vince Russo said that USA Network being unhappy with WWE ratings led to two RAW storylines
On last week’s edition of SK Wrestling’s Legion of RAW, former WWE writer Vince Russo revealed some inside information about USA Network being unhappy with RAW ratings and storylines. Russo said that this happened about six months ago and WWE went back to USA Network and pitched the RETRIBUTION storyline and RAW Underground:
"I gotta tell you something, I'll give you a little inside information and this isn't second, third, fourth, fifth hand information. This is Vince Russo information and I can't tell you how I got this information, okay? But I will tell you this, I've got information direct from a good source, this isn't second, third, fourth hand. About six months ago, USA Network let it be known to WWE, they were not happy. 'We're not happy with these numbers, with what we're paying for this show, we're not happy with the creative'. They were not happy about a lot of things, okay?So the WWE came back to USA and pitched the two big creative storylines that were going to boost the ratings and get them headed in the right direction, When I heard this at that time I laughed, like I laughed when I heard it. But this is what they sold USA on - the big two story ideas - bro, do you know what they were? RETRIBUTION and RAW Underground."
While the RETRIBUTION storyline is still going on, it has been a failure of sorts. There was some promise after Mustafa Ali was revealed as the leader of the group but things have not looked good for the faction recently. As for RAW Underground, the concept was cancelled a couple of months after it first aired.
Reason why Otis is back in the WWE Performance Center
It was recently reported by Dave Meltzer that Vince McMahon has ordered a number of the ‘big men’ in WWE to be sent back to the Performance Center to undergo further training. The list includes the likes of Keith Lee, Omos and former Money In The Bank briefcase holder, Otis.
A report from Fightful gave insight into why Otis was chosen for further training in the Performance Center. It looks like WWE are just looking to make sure that Otis can become an even better performer in the ring and that there is no backstage heat on him:
"The belief is that Otis can be safer in the ring. It was added that there is no heat on Otis in association with the assessment of his in-ring safety. It seems like WWE just wants to plug all the loopholes and ensure that Otis becomes a more reliable and refined in-ring performer."
Otis is currently a member of the SmackDown roster. He lost his Money In The Bank briefcase earlier this year after The Miz beat him at WWE Hell In A Cell, with a little help from Otis’ former best friend Tucker.
John Cena Sr believes that WWE needs to take Dominik off television for now
John Cena Sr was recently a guest on Boston Wrestling MWF’s Wrestling Insiders. During the show, Cena Sr spoke about the Eye for an Eye match between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio earlier this year. It was clear that John Cena Sr was not a big fan of this storyline and said that it was only done to get Dominik Mysterio on television:
When you get to the point where you gotta pull somebody’s eye out of their socket… First of all, there would have been so much blood all over that frigging mat. Secondly, if you’re gonna use a ping-pong ball, at least use a glass eye so it looks somewhere near reasonable. Patch the guy’s eye up. Make it look real. Awful… Stupidity, stupidity. So now, now Rollins, remember this, Rey Mysterio’s chasing you. Why? Because he’s got an eye out for you. Baloney. Please… They wasted it, they wasted it. And all it is is so Dominik can get over.
Dan Mirade, who interviewed John Cena Sr, said that he could see Dominik Mysterio getting over at first like Eugene did but believed that if Dominik was to have a long career without getting overexposed, he needed to head to the WWE Performance Center for further training.
John Cena Sr agreed with Mirade’s statement and gave a short answer:
“I agree with you. I’m sorry, I agree with you.”
Goldberg called out WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
Goldberg was a guest on the latest episode of WWE's The Bump. During his appearance, he was asked about possible unfinished business with Roman Reigns. Goldberg was supposed to face Reigns at WrestleMania 36 but the Tribal Chief was replaced by Braun Strowman.
On WWE's The Bump, Goldberg said that a match with Roman Reigns needs to happen:
"If the Roman Reigns match isn't the match at the top of my priority list, then I wouldn't be Goldberg. That's a match that needs to happen. It's a match that's needed to happen for a very long period of time. I wish I would've been able to have that match 10 years ago. People in hell want ice water, too. You can't have everything the way you want it, but I think I can still be a very formidable opponent for him. Georgia will always be better than Georgia Tech at the end of the day, anyway."
Goldberg has reportedly been discussed as a possible match for Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37.
Roman Reigns also posted a reply to what Goldberg said.
