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In today's roundup, we take a look at Booker T's surprise pick to face Brock Lesnar, Luke Harper's comments after being split from Erick Rowan, and backstage news on the future plans for the women's division on Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown.
But before all that, we look at The Fiend's possible new victim and the Hall of Famers who could be returning to RAW and SmackDown soon!
Let's kick things off with the two big headline makers of the day:
Former Intercontinental champion makes in-ring return
Finn Balor is back! The former Intercontinental champion has made his in-ring return after taking a short break. He has not been in action ever since he lost to Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam, and made his return to NXT recently.
Balor was involved in a one-on-one match against Kassius Ohno during the recent NXT live event in Portland, Oregon. The return was a victorious one and the former NXT champion is now being advertised for live events in Seattle, Vancouver, and Kelowna as well.
Stipulation added to Seth Rollins vs The Fiend
The WWE Universal title is set to be on the line once again as Seth Rollins defends it against The Fiend Bray Wyatt. The match is going to take place at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia on October 31st.
The two faced off at Hell In A Cell earlier, which ended after Rollins attacked Wyatt with a sledgehammer and the referee called off the match. Now, to avoid a similar outcome, WWE have revealed that the Falls Count Anywhere match cannot be stopped for any reason. The interesting stipulation will ensure one of the two emerges as the winner, at any cost.
Seth Rollins is expected to retain the title as he is on Monday Night RAW while Bray Wyatt was picked up by Friday Night SmackDown in the WWE Draft.
The Fiend attacks Cesaro...again!
Bray Wyatt has been attacking Seth Rollins in televised matches of late. However, in the dark matches, it's Cesaro who has become his new victim. The Fiend attacked Cesaro last week during a dark match after Monday Night RAW and then again this week during a dark match after Friday Night SmackDown.
Goldberg to return on RAW?
Goldberg could return on Monday Night RAW anytime Paul Heyman wants him to, as per Dave Meltzer. The Hall of Famer, along with John Cena and The Undertaker have been mentioned as the legends who could return to boost the ratings and add surprise elements.
They’ll (John Cena, The Undertaker and Goldberg) be used as needed, although Goldberg is a Heyman guy so RAW looks most likely.
Meltzer has also revealed that WWE might not be using The Undertaker and Goldberg at Crown Jewel as they already have Tyson Fury and Cain Velasquez. He said:
Even though Undertaker was used in the first announcement for the show and he’s been a key part of the previous shows, neither he nor Bill Goldberg at this point are slated to be on the show, likely with the idea it makes no sense to have other outside attractions when you already have Velasquez and Fury.
Backstage news on plans for the women's division
Dave Meltzer has some interesting backstage updates on the future of the women's division. He reports that the plan for Charlotte Flair on Monday Night RAW is to be a face despite starting off as a heel this week.
Meanwhile, Kairi Sane and Asuka, the women's tag-team champions, are expected to be working in singles action as well. Asuka vs Becky Lynch is reportedly the long-term plan. Natalya could also turn heel – something that was planned last year – as per the report.
On SmackDown, the shortage of faces in the women's division is reportedly set to make Sasha Banks or Lacey Evans the face of the show. Banks is currently back with her best friend and current SmackDown women's champion, Bayley – who is working as a heel.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter report read:
Even though Flair worked as a heel against Lynch, the plan is for her to be a babyface. There is a clear imbalance and heel weakness, although it won’t be if Asuka and Sane work singles, and there has been a clear set up for both to work with Lynch. There’s also the possibility of Natalya as a heel, which was the plan last year to lead to a major program with Ronda Rousey, until Vince McMahon nixed it when Jim Neidhart died and he felt Natalya shouldn’t be turned.
With Asuka and Kairi Sane on RAW, while tag champions, expect both at times to be featured in singles. Lynch vs. Asuka is a planned direction at some point, and Sane pinned Lynch in a tag match on television as well. The women’s face side on SmackDown is very weak. That could indicate either Banks turning, since Bayley vs. Banks seems like the big women’s match on SmackDown, or Evans turning, since she worked as a face this week on RAW.
Luke Harper comments after The Bludgeon Brothers are split in the draft
Luke Harper and Erick Rowan were drafted to different brands in the recently concluded WWE Draft. The former tag champions had been brought together once again at Clash of Champions when Harper made a return to attack Roman Reigns in his match against Rowan.
The former Intercontinental champion has now taken to Instagram to comment on the split:
Leave the memories alone, Larry. Until next time Big Red. Erick Rowan deserves all the success that he achieves and for some reason no one is willing to give him the credit or believe in him. Well I think he's made you all believers now. He never needed me but somehow for the last 8 years we've always found our way into each other's corners. I know he's gonna tear it up on Monday Night Rowan. Let him talk, let him kill and let him be happy. I cherish you as a friend big man despite the rough start, ha ha. I'll see you down the road.
Erick Rowan will be on Monday Night RAW from now on while Luke Harper was picked by FOX Network for Friday Night SmackDown.
Booker T wants Big E to face Brock Lesnar
Booker T has revealed that he wants New Day star Big E to face Brock Lesnar soon. The Hall of Famer believes that the former Intercontinental champion has what it takes to beat the Beast Incarnate in a fight. He said:
“I can see him competing with Brock Lesnar on a one-on-one scale, because the guy has a low center of gravity, but he's just as wide, and he probably weighs perhaps more than Brock Lesnar. And a guy like that, literally, from a fighting standpoint, it would really be hard for a guy like Brock Lesnar fighting a guy like that just because of the strength. Who you gonna give it to? In a strength match-up, I'm gonna give it to Big E.”
Lesnar is currently the WWE Champion after beating Kofi Kingston – another member of the New Day – on the Friday Night SmackDown premiere on the FOX Network.
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