WWE News & Rumor Roundup: Top name receives death threats, Massive return planned for WrestleMania, Brock Lesnar's next rival (22nd December 2021)

Welcome to another edition of the daily WWE News and Rumor roundup, where we try and bring the biggest news and rumors from the world of WWE. In today's jam-packed edition, we will take a look at some interesting stories related to top names like Edge, Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar.

We will also talk about WWE's plan for a massive return to take place at next year's WrestleMania. Apart from that, we will discuss the company's plans for a major character makeover for a former WWE Champion.

With Day 1 right around the corner, things have been heating up in the company and some big matches are set to take place on the show. This article will also take a look at what some of the outcomes could be and what they may lead to.

So without further ado, let's dive in and checkout some major stories:

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#5 Stone Cold to return to WWE at WrestleMania

It was reported that the company had tried their best to bring The Rock onboard for next year's WrestleMania. However, those plans did not work out.

So now the company has decided to bring in WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin back for the Show of Shows.

As per WrestleVotes, the former WWE Champion will likely be returning for WrestleMania next year. Even though he will not make an in-ring return, the plan is for him to be involved in a meaningful role:

''Talked to a few different source this weekend & heard the same thing, WWE is very interested in having Steve Austin as a part of WrestleMania this year in Dallas. Not in a wrestling role, but a meaningful part of the event outside of just appearing. Up to creative at this point,'' said WrestleVotes

Even though Steve Austin regularly makes cameo appearances for WWE, it has been a long time since he was part of a long-term storyline in WWE.

#4 Baron Corbin received death threats for his angle with Becky Lynch in WWE

Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans had been part of a rivalry with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in 2019. The two teams faced each other at Extreme Rules in a mixed tag team match. During the bout, Corbin hit the End of Days on Becky Lynch.

The act did not go down well with fans of The Man, and Corbin found himself on the receiving end of death threats. Speaking on the Out of Character podcast, Corbin explained how he had to face a hard time thanks to Becky Lynch:

“When I hit Becky with the End of Days, I was getting death threats. On a regular basis. 95% of [critics] are on the internet or safely behind somewhere they can’t be accessed. Roman said it the best one time, that he’s never met a hater in real life. That’s the same kind of thing with me," said Baron Corbin.

Corbin is one of the most despised on-screen heels in WWE, and even in the era of kayfabe, the former US Champion can manage to rile fans enough to get death threats.

#3 Brock Lesnar being set for a rematch against former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre?

At WWE Day 1 Brock Lesnar will face Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship. As per an advertisement by WWE, the winner of that match will face Drew McIntyre for the Universal title at a supershow event at the TD Garden in Boston on January 8, 2022.

"Drew McIntyre vs. The Winner of Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar at Day 1 for the Universal Championship."

This would mean that fans will get to see a rematch between Drew McIntyre and Brock Lesnar if The Beast Incarnate wins at Day 1. The Scottish Warrior is being built as the next challenger for the Universal title once Reigns and Lesnar conclude their feud.

Drew McIntyre defeated Brock Lesnar in a matter of minutes in the main event of WrestleMania 36. This is the perfect opportunity for WWE to renew the feud between the two gigantic men. It will also give Brock Lesnar the opportunity to avenge his defeat at WrestleMania and re-establish his dominance in WWE.

#2 Bobby Lashley to get a character change in WWE?

Former WWE champion Bobby Lashley could soon be getting a character makeover. The All Mighty has been a heel for a long time and WWE could be planning on making him a babyface.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio has said that Lashley's recent booking has shown a hint of a babyface turn coming soon. Be it his video package at Survivor Series or his recent tensions with his manager MVP on RAW:

“If you watch the show you certainly get the impression that Bobby Lashley is going babyface. They played a total babyface video package for him at the pay-per-view, yeah. So, I mean it’s been feeling like that’s been in the cards and then he has to beat three guys to get in [to the Day 1 WWE Title match]. I mean that’s a total babyface move,” said Meltzer.

Bobby Lashley is currently set to face Big E, Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship at Day 1. He has been built like a monster over the past few weeks and managed the herculian task of defeating all his Day 1 opponents in a single night.

#1 Vince Russo blasts Edge's segment on WWE RAW

Former WWE writer Vince Russo blasted Edge's Cutting Edge segment on RAW this week. The Rated R Superstar had Maryse on the show as a guest to ask her about ongoing tensions with her husband The Miz.

Even though Edge called Maryse out and realized that he is being set up, he still ended up getting laid out by The Miz.

Speaking on SportsKeeda's Legion of RAW, Russo questioned WWE's choice to have Edge get beaten by The Miz despite not falling for Maryse's tricks. He said it was a poor move by the company that buried The Ultimate Opportunist:

"Of all my years watching, and you can talk about my swerves, my this that and the other thing, I had never seen a babyface figure out the heel's plan, but the heel gets the plan to work anyway to totally bury the babyface and make him look like a moron. I've never seen that in my life," said Vince Russo.

The two former WWE Champions - Edge and Miz - are set to go head-to-head at the upcoming Day 1 pay-per-view.