WWE Rumor Roundup: Former Superstar ready to return on one condition, Paul Heyman uses banned word and more - 19 May 2020

In today's edition of the WWE Rumor Roundup, we have a lot of interesting news and rumors. With Monday Night RAW airing last night, there is a lot of news and rumors to be covered and we have done our best to cover the best and most important ones.

Bobby Lashley squashes a big rumor about his WWE return, WWE stunned by the departure of Triple H's ally and more. Before we get to all that, let us take a look a the top two headline-makers of the day:

Former WWE Superstar ready to return on one condition

Drew Gulak left WWE after his contract expired with the company last week. The former 205 Live star reportedly left as he and WWE could not agree on a deal.

However, things are not dead between the two and Wrestling Observer Radio reports that the contract negotiations could still take place. Bryan Alvarez on the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Live reported:

We have an update as of a moment ago. Gulak's contract expired after Friday's show, both sides had not reached a deal on the money. The belief is he is gone but it has been hinted to Dave that it's not a dead issue. He is being represented by Barry Bloom in his negotiation. So it does appear that Drew Gulak is interested in returning if he gets a good deal.

Earlier, WON reportedly that Gulak had left only because he was not getting a pay raise from WWE. The company are currently not handing any Superstar a pay raise and thus Gulak did not agree to the terms.

The story going around is essentially that he asked for a raise, they said no, and they pulled the offer that they had originally offered. It was something along those lines. It was definitely a money situation where, you know, the basic situation is that they are not giving any raises right now, which I guess understandable because they cut so many people.

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Paul Heyman uses banned word

Paul Heyman

Vince McMahon has certain rules that are to be followed without fail. One such rule was the ban on the word 'wrestling' despite WWE being World Wrestling Entertainment. The WWE Chairman reportedly did not want the term to be used on air but Paul Heyman has convinced him to change his mind.

Wrestling Observer report that Heyman has managed to get permission to use that term and that is why it is being used in the Randy Orton vs Edge feud. Here's what Dave Meltzer said:

Meltzer: The one thing is that they have to use the term wrestling which Vince used to hate, it used to be a banned term, which it is not anymore.

Alvarez: Well, now it's like a weird stipulation. So they get to use it throughout this feud but then never again.

Meltzer: Yeah but Paul Heyman loves the term wrestling.

Alvarez: Like everyone else who is a wrestling fan? Like every single f****** person on the planet is a wrestling fan except the one guy?

Meltzer: Yeah, so it's like Paul convinced him, 'Hey, for this one let's use the world wrestling but its part of the stipulation'.

Otis' plan with the MITB briefcase

AJ Styles is still not happy that he was not crowned the Money in the Bank winner and WWE is not addressing it. Wade Keller of PWTorch reports that it is an NFL like rule about sole possession of the briefcase that is being applied here.

Otis is paying no heed to the background issues and is focused on cashing in the briefcase. Despite teasing a cash in on SmackDown last week, but that might not be the only title he is eyeing.

While speaking on WWE's The Bump, Otis talked about what he plans to do now that he has become the MITB holder.

There is not much to bask in. It’s just, in my personality, sooner the better. Sooner or later, this bad boy is getting cashed in. I don’t care if the opponent sees me coming, or sees it from the side, see me coming from behind, which I usually never do.

I don’t know what title yet, I haven’t decided yet but my brain just does this [motions his finger around his head]. So it is basically whatever comes next but I am going to say sooner [rather] than later. Oh yeah! I ain’t waiting, never been a patient man!”

WWE hit by 'huge' departure of backstage Triple H ally

Triple H

Michael Mansury has left WWE, according to PWInsider. They report that backstage personalities are stunned by the exit of Mansury, as he was very close to Triple H.

He was described as the next Kevin Dunn and was supposed to be the part of Triple H's regime. Mansury was the Vice President of Global Television Production. PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports:

"Mansury was seen as a big part of the Triple H regime and some in the company had dubbed him unofficially as the "next" Kevin Dunn, as in the idea was that he would one day fill Dunn's role down the line...

"....[He's] been the Director of record for many of the WWE PPV and TV productions in recent years. He was well-liked among those we spoke to today, many of whom seemed shocked by his departure..."

PWInsider also report that this is not a part of the releases by WWE. Mansury had reportedly given notice several months ago to the company and this was a departure they were ready for.

Bobby Lashley breaks silence on WrestleMania 34 rumor

Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley has revealed that he was never in contention to return at WrestleMania 34 and team up with Braun Strowman. The Monster Among Men picked a 10-year-old Nicholas to team up and win the RAW tag-team titles from The Bar- Sheamus and Cesaro.

There were rumors that Lashley was going to be the mystery partner but the former MMA star has rebuffed them. Talking to Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT, he said:

I didn’t know anything to tell you the truth. At the beginning when we first negotiated and started talking, I was supposed to be coming back around WrestleMania time. There was talks of before, during and after. I didn’t hear about after.

I heard about doing something before to set up an angle for WrestleMania, or doing something at WrestleMania.... "I really didn’t know anything about the Braun tagging thing. If they would have told me that, I would have been all for it. That’s an incredible opportunity. I mean to come back as the tag team champions!"