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We're back with another star-studded edition of the WWE Rumor Roundup. Major stories featuring some of the biggest names in the business have been covered in today's line-up.
We begin with details of Triple H being in contact with a former WWE Superstar. Another former WWE wrestler revealed an incident when John Cena accused him of stealing a move.
A wrestler also revealed that he received backstage heat in WWE for rejecting Vince McMahon's idea. Additionally, we have a significant update regarding the long-rumored match between Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley.
We end the roundup with all the latest developments regarding Andrade's status following his request for a release from the company.
#5. PJ Black, fka Justin Gabriel, reveals Triple H contacted him recently, talks leaving WWE in 2015
PJ Black, better known as Justin Gabriel to the WWE faithful, sat down for an interview with So Catch by Hal, and the former WWE Superstar opened up on various topics.
Black explained that he experienced a range of emotions during his final days in WWE. The three-time WWE Tag Team Champion was frustrated at the time and decided to quit the company back in 2015.
Black admitted that he wished he had spoken to a few people before making the call to leave. Black also revealed that Triple H wasn't pleased with the way he managed his WWE exit.
"I just remember going through the emotions. You know, just being frustrated with life and, you know, maybe a lot of it was my fault. I could've done things a lot differently. I probably should've spoken to a few people before I made this crazy decision, but I've always made crazy decisions, whether it's in the ring, out of the ring, sky diving. That's just how I live my life."
Black also revealed that Triple H texted him recently, but he didn't divulge more details about his conversation with the NXT boss.
"Life is a video game, and I will never change no matter what happens. But yes, we're good now. He (Triple H) actually sent me a text the other day. I can't say too much about that, but we're good."
PJ Black confirmed WWE's nixed plans to have a Nexus reunion at WrestleMania 36. The former WWE star concluded by sharing his optimism regarding a future reunion of the Nexus in WWE.
"It's hard to get all seven of us on the same page. But never say never. It's going to be hard, but I think it might happen one day."
Is Triple H trying to get the 40-year-old former WWE Superstar back to the company? Would you like to see him return to NXT?
#4. John Cena accused a former WWE Superstar of stealing his move
Michael Morales Torres of Lucha Libre Online interviewed Mike Bennett recently. The former WWE Superstar recalled an incident when he was given a stern warning backstage by John Cena.
Mike Bennett appeared for WWE in 2007 on the company's Sunday Night Heat show in a tag team match against Cryme Tyme.
One spot in the match looked very similar to John Cena's "You can't see me" taunt. Unfortunately for Bennett, an unidentified person alerted the Cenation leader.
"We were wrestling Cryme Tyme... I remember calling this spot with JTG, and at the time, he had gold teeth in that he would put in and call it a grill. So every time he did like a move, he would he would take his fingers like this and kind of show his grill. And so we came up with this idea, or he came up with this idea that I would do this spot [mimicking teeth grinding] and I would get up over on him, and then I would mimic him."
Mike Bennett revealed that John Cena confronted him after the match. The 16-time WWE Champion told Bennett that he could not use the move in any shape or form. Bennett added that the message was put across to him in a hostile manner.
"Unfortunately, what happened was, this ended up looking too close to this ["You can't see me" taunt]... I think someone told Mr. Cena that I had gone out there and I had done this ["You can't see me" taunt] on Sunday Night Heat. So when I got to the back, on my very first match, John Cena was there to inform me that I should not be doing this (taunt) in any way, shape, or form. It was put to me not so nicely."
Bennett also added that he had pleasant interactions with John Cena after returning to WWE several years later.
"When I went back to WWE, I never got to tell him that story which I wanted to. I actually really enjoyed seeing him when I went back. He was a very down-to-earth and a very cool guy. I really enjoyed interacting with him. He was super helpful with everything."
Milke Bennett and his wife Maria Kanellis were released from the WWE in April last year, and the couple currently competes in Ring of Honor.
#3. WWE had promised Bobby Lashley a match against Brock Lesnar when he re-signed in 2018
Bobby Lashley is finally a world champion in WWE, and the deserved title victory could not have come at a better time for the 44-year-old veteran. The company is heading towards WrestleMania 37, and there is a lot of speculation about WWE's plans for the top championship of RAW.
Lashley is scheduled to face Drew McIntyre on The Show of Shows. However, many fans and pundits feel that now could have been the best time to pull the trigger for Lashley's dream match with Brock Lesnar.
During the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Bobby Lashley was promised a dream match with Lesnar when he returned to the company in 2018.
Meltzer added that WWE officials never got around to booking the match, even when there were several opportunities to make it a reality.
"You know when Bobby Lashley came in, he was told that he was going to get Brock, and that was years ago, and it just never materialized. They just never got around to it. It's not that they couldn't do it; they just never got around to it."
Bobby Lashley has always been vocal about his desire to face Brock Lesnar, but when will the match happen? Will it even happen at all? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
#2. Former WWE Superstar Elijah Burke on attracting backstage heat for turning down Vince McMahon
"Da Pope", formerly known as Elijah Burke from his WWE days, spoke to Lucha Libre Online and revealed that he received backstage heat from the WWE locker room for rejecting Vince McMahon's proposal.
The WWE Chairman offered Burke the chance to join the Spirit Squad. However, the former WWE Superstar turned down Vince McMahon's proposal as he felt that he would not have been able to do justice to the role.
McMahon came up with the idea of having a faction of over-the-top male cheerleaders, and the WWE boss was confident that the plan would make WWE a lot of money.
Burke explained that "some of the boys" took his rejection the wrong way and felt that the wrestler was squandering an excellent chance. Vince McMahon appreciated Burke's honesty, and there were no hard feelings between the boss and the wrestler.
"It was a great redemption, redeeming moment, so to speak, in not taking the Spirit Squad and getting a bunch of heat for turning it down from some of the boys, who saw it as squandering an opportunity for telling Vince McMahon no. But Vince McMahon appreciated the fact that I was open and honest. I was man enough to say it's not for me."
Burke left WWE in 2008, and the former OVW Heavyweight Champion has since worked for TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, NWA, and various other independent promotions. He is currently the NWA World Television Champion.
#1. Backstage update on Andrade's WWE status, Booker T on what held the superstar back in the company
As first reported by Wrestling Inc, Andrade asked for his WWE release during the RAW tapings on March 8th. Dave Meltzer would later report that WWE had rejected Andrade's request for a release from the company.
The latest update from PWInsider noted that Andrade was not present backstage at this week's RAW tapings despite not being granted his release.
Despite WWE turning down Andrade's request, many fans believe the former U.S. Champion will leave the company once his contract expires. So, where did it all go wrong for Andrade?
During the latest episode of the Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T explained that Andrade's difficulty in cutting English promos had held the superstar back in WWE. Booker T called Andrade a phenomenal talent who would have been a big star in WWE if he had worked on his English.
"If he worked on his English as much as he worked on his work in the ring, he'd be a star right now. I think that's the one thing that holds him back, not saying that's a negative in a sense. But from trying to make him a mainstream star in America, it's something that, you know, he needs that."
Booker T said that many non-American boxers learned fluent English after arriving in the United States and tasted a lot of success.
"I say that because most boxers that came to America and succeeded to that next level, all of those guys learnt English. Just so they can come out and cut a promo, be able to answer questions, and I don't know, the one guy, Julio César Chávez, I think he's the most famous boxer that never thought about speaking English. But when you are 100-0... (laughs)." (H/t: Nishant Jayaram of Sportskeeda Wrestling)
Do you agree with Booker T's explanation for Andrade's failures on WWE's main roster?
