'%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)
Welcome to another edition of the daily WWE Rumor Roundup where we try and bring you the biggest stories from the day.
With major speculation surrounding the fate of WrestleMania, WWE is trying its best to give the fans great weekly action. Even though RAW and SmackDown have been shifted to the Performance Center where the show takes place in front of no audience, it has not hampered the performance of the Superstars involved.
So without any further ado, let us take a look at the biggest stories of the day:
#5 Reason why Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel were not pushed
Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel are two of the most talented athletes on SmackDown. However, their career has not exactly taken off in WWE. While Axel is a former Intercontinental Champion, Bo Dallas is a former NXT Champion. Both have even held gold as the RAW Tag Team Champions.
Before joining the main roster, Bo Dallas was considered to be a big talent in NXT and is still remembered for his spectacular heel work as the Champion. Unfortunately for him, Arn Anderson revealed on his podcast that Vince McMahon never saw anything in him or Curtis Axel.
“He just didn’t see anything in them. Those guys are tremendous performers and I got to see them on the road every night with different opponents, and having twelve, fourteen, fifteen minutes to go out and tell a story.” (H/T: SportsKeeda)
Arn Anderson also stated that if Vince McMahon doesn't like a person or a team then it is the 'kiss of death' for them.
It only exists in his [McMahon’s] mind and he’s the boss. He makes the decisions. That’s it. When he looks at that room of creative guys, his creative team, and says, ‘Okay, I don’t like that performer or that team,’ then that’s it. That’s the kiss of death. It’s done. Boom. Over.”
#4 Jake Roberts blasts Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels
Former WWE Superstar Jake 'The Snake' Roberts recently spoke about a variety of topics on FlipDascript podcast. The Hall of Famer, who recently joined AEW as the manager of Lance Archer, also shed light on who he felt were the worst World Champions of all time and why he never won the big one.
Roberts stated that his character never needed the belt and that is why he never won the World Championship whereas nobody cared about Hart and Michaels so they were made Champions.
You check the books, man, check the books. Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were the worst Champions of all. They did not put money in the bank.” (H/T: SportsKeeda)
He further went on to call Bret Hart boring and stated that both him and Michaels never drew company money.
I think Shawn was a better showman than Bret, no doubt. Bret was boring. Bret was a great wrestler. To me, Bret Hart would never have been Champion. He belongs on the fifth or sixth match in a tag situation.”
#3 CM Punk wants to return to commentary?
Even though it has been years since CM Punk stepped inside a WWE ring, he has managed to maintain the buzz around him and his possible return.
The Voice of the Voiceless recently took to Twitter in order to respond to a fan who wanted to see CM Punk return to commentary along with Asuka, to which Punk replied 'Sign me up'.
Asuka was part of the announce booth during this past week on RAW where the former SmackDown Women's Champion managed to entertain everyone with her hilarious antics. Although an active competitor, Asuka took on a new role this week and managed to shine like a diamond!
CM Punk is currently an analyst on WWE's shown FS1 called WWE Backstage where he gives his opinions on the ongoings in WWE. Apart from being a former WWE Champion Punk was also part of the RAW announce team for a brief period.
Would you like to see CM Punk return to RAW or SmackDown as part of the announce team?
#2 More WrestleMania 36 matches canceled
With WrestleMania set to take place at the Performance Center this year, there is a high chance that many of the planned matches will be scrapped from the card.
As per reports, the company is not too happy with empty arena matches and so will be looking to have fewer matches on this year's WrestleMania card. Dave Meltzer has stated that apart from Randy Orton vs Edge and other matches that have officially been announced, all other matches are 'up in the air'.
I was told basically, anything that is not announced other than, Randy Orton and Edge are having a Last Man Standing match, but aside from the stuff that's already announced, everything else is up in the air, whether they will have the match because the card's so long. What form and this is not just SmackDown, this is also RAW. There are certainly many suggestions going around but nothing is official. You would think it would be, at this late a date, and it's not. I know they had a complete card February 17th, and now they don't but there you go. (H/T: SportsKeeda)
#1 Hilarious story involving R-Truth and Brock Lesnar
There is no denying that R-Truth is one of the funniest and most entertaining WWE Superstar's today. The veteran performer even made the Beast Incarnate break character and lose control over his laughter on an episode of RAW.
R-Truth revealed to The Mixed Show tag wrestling podcast that there was a backstage bet to see if Truth would be able to make the WWE Champion laugh on-screen.
“It was just like, ‘We got to see if you can make Brock laugh. He’s not gonna laugh. He never laughs. See if you can make him laugh,’ and Paul [Heyman] was like, ‘Bet! I bet you he can do it,’ and then I’m trying not to laugh, because I know Brock’s about to laugh when I say this.” [H/T POST Wrestling]
R-Truth's name has become synonymous with the 24/7 Champion as the Superstar has held the championship a record 34-times already.
While R-Truth continues his path to reclaim the 24/7 Championship, Brock Lesnar will be defending his WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36.
