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We are back with another exciting edition of WWE News and Rumor Roundup. Between the absence of top superstars and stories about a potential exit from the company, many reports have fuelled the rumor brigade over the last 24 hours. We also saw a current champion talk about a potential title feud with a celebrated legend.
Here, we look at some of the biggest news and rumors that have dominated the headlines since yesterday. So, without further ado, let's begin.
#5 Why was AJ Styles absent from RAW this week?
AJ Styles did not appear on Monday Night RAW this week. He was scheduled to compete in the only match that was advertised before the episode. The Phenomenal One and Omos were supposed to face RK-Bro for the Red brand's tag team titles. The backstage reports claim that Styles missed the show due to an unspecified injury, and the match was canceled.
Instead, we saw a triple-threat tag team match between The Street Profits, The Alpha Academy, and The Dirty Dawgs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode eventually won the match to get a title opportunity later on the same episode. They challenged RK-Bro for the tag team titles, which Orton and Riddle eventually retained.
While it was good to see a new match on RAW, fans certainly missed AJ Styles on the season premiere. They will hope to see him back in action soon, as long as he is medically cleared to compete. He had also teased a potential alliance with Finn Balor when the latter was drafted to the Monday night show.
#4 Former tag team champion Chad Gable is reportedly pushed to exit WWE
Chad Gable has allegedly been told by his close friends that he should explore other opportunities. Dave Meltzer stated that there have been talks about his potential exit but also said that there's very little chance of Gable actually leaving the company.
"It's been talked about, but I don't think it's going to happen. But it has been talked about, and he has definitely had friends tell him the same thing. I know it's been one of those things that it's been under consideration, but I don't think he's going anywhere. I don't know that. Just one of those things. Not everyone's gonna get an offer from AEW and that would really be the only place to go, and he's making a lot of money in WWE, and he's not gonna make that in IMPACT or anywhere else," said Meltzer.
Chad Gable is currently competing in the RAW Tag Team division alongside Otis. He has found momentum as part of The Alpha Academy and takes great pride in his partner's transformation into a monstrous character on the main roster.
#3 New title challenge for Edge?
WWE Superstar Damian Priest recently revealed the long list of opponents he wants to face. The United States Champion intends to compete against many exciting opponents but has a huge name in mind. Priest revealed that he would like to face Edge at some point in the future.
"I mean, we got a list, a good list of people that just came over: Dolph Ziggler, Bobby Roode, The Street Profits, Rey Mysterio. It would be weird for the United States Champion not to mention the WWE Champion, Big E, but I like to think of this rebel superstar facing The Rated-R Superstar [Edge]," Priest stated.
WWE recently changed Priest's music on RAW, which has impressed many viewers. He seemed to have borrowed elements from his Punishment Martinez gimmick from his NXT days.
Priest might engage in a title feud with T-Bar on the Red brand. On the other hand, Edge recently ended his long-term rivalry with Seth Rollins, and it will be exciting to see what's in store for him on RAW.
#2 Vince Russo pitches WWE storyline involving a real-life feud
Last week's episode of SmackDown came to a controversial end following a confusing segment involving Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. There were reports of both champions being involved in a real-life heated exchange backstage that even left Vince McMahon enraged. Vince Russo said that the writers could script a brilliant storyline involving this angle.
"If I'm writing the show, here's what I'm doing, Chris. You got that heated exchange at the beginning. It doesn't matter (Charlotte being on SmackDown). This is not TV. This is a real beef. This is a real beef. I would do it with Vince McMahon. 'You guys have your own agenda in my ring; well tonight, we're going to do things my way,'" said Russo.
"You've got a beef with each other; let's get this out right here, right now. I'm letting them get into it verbally, bro; I'm telling USA Network, bro, towards the tail end of this, Charlotte is dropping an F-bomb. When Charlotte drops the f-bomb, we're killing her mic. It's very awkward; we're going to a commercial. Now we come back with something totally different. That's how you get people hooked on the product, bro!" stated Russo.
Russo believes this rivalry will help WWE in drawing fans who recently lost interest in the product. However, the rumors also suggest that the situation between Flair and Lynch has become quite complicated.
It is being said that a lot of talents backstage are frustrated with The Queen, while there have also been reports about her inner circle pushing her to leave the company.
#1 WWE veteran criticizes Seth Rollins' current gimmick
Vince Russo has made it clear that he is not a big fan of WWE Superstar Seth Rollins' current heel gimmick. He feels that The Visionary tries to be funny that compromises his credibility as a villain. Russo compared him to famous Batman villains to further prove his point and said that he couldn't take Rollins seriously.
"I do a Batman '66 review show," said Russo. "We started with episode one, and bro, the first four villains were villains, heels. The first four heels were like Riddler, Penguin, Joker; I think those were the first three. So, bro, the problem is, you never really felt like Joker, Riddler, Penguin. You never really felt like they were threats because they were entertaining and funny. All of a sudden, bro, the Mad Hatter comes along and, like, he is the first real heel. He doesn't try to be funny."
"Bro, Rollins is trying to be funny with that ridiculous laugh. So, when you say like heat, with the character he is trying to portray, bro, I don't know how a character like that gets heat. I mean, you don't want to look at a heel and be entertained by the fake laugh. So I'm looking at Seth Rollins, and it's like, I'm sorry, bro. I'm not taking you seriously. Bro, when 'Taker was Austin's opponent, 'Taker is not acting that way. Kane is not acting that way. I mean, there is a serious threat, but when you're trying to be comedic and entertaining, it is really hard to get heat at the same time," stated Russo.
Seth Rollins was recently involved in a gruesome feud with Edge that eventually ended with The Rated-R Superstar picking up a defining victory. After moving to RAW, Rollins claimed he should get a shot at the WWE Championship. Earlier this week, he defeated Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Finn Balor in a Fatal Four-Way Ladder Match to win a championship opportunity against Big E.
While his current run has not appealed to everyone, he undeniably did a great job during his feud with Edge. He was entertaining throughout the storyline, bringing back valid comparisons between the two superstars' careers and delivering three memorable matches. He is finally back in the title picture on RAW, and fans have high expectations from his feud with Big E.
Do you agree with Vince Russo's opinion, or are you enjoying Seth Rollins' current run as a heel in WWE?
