WWE Rumor Roundup: Vince McMahon dislikes popular Superstar, Company to prevent former World Champion from wrestling - 7th February 2020

Welcome to another edition of Sportskeeda's daily WWE Rumor Roundup.

Today's lineup is as stacked as ever with the best rumors from the bustling world of the WWE.

This week was mostly dominated by takeaways from WWE's Q4 earnings conference call but beyond the business side of the product, there were many other movers and shakers across the company.

We have a contract dispute, possible departures, reports of backstage heat on a Superstar, a shocking in-ring return, and new WWE signings. Oh yes, packed to the brim!

So, let's not waste any more time and take a look at biggest speculation coming out of the rumor mill.

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#8. Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon dislike a Superstar

Brock Lesnar's animosity towards Matt Riddle was brought to light after the two Superstars had a backstage altercation at the recently concluded Royal Rumble PPV.

Dave Meltzer revealed in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that even Vince McMahon is not a big fan of Riddle. The WWE boss doesn't like the fact that the King of Bros disrespects the hierarchy by challenging Brock Lesnar and Goldberg on social media.

Meltzer noted the following:

Regarding social media, the issues with Vince McMahon and Matt Riddle are due to his social media posts and challenges. Brock Lesnar doesn’t like him for it and Lesnar has tremendous pull with Vince. Vince also sees him as an outside guy and feels Riddle has no respect for the hierarchy of the business by challenging Goldberg and Lesnar.

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#7. Contract updates on The Revival

The Revival want out and the tag team are firm on their stand. Dave Meltzer stated that Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson asked for their releases again this week and the WWE offered them another improved deal, which was turned down by the Superstars.

Meltzer noted that the contracts of the Superstars expired months ago and the company tacked on extra time on their deals as they were both out of action due to injuries. Meltzer added that they could be free agents in April.

The Revival asked for their release again this past week. WWE greatly increased their offer for a new five-year deal and after getting the offer, they turned it down and asked for their release. At this point, they haven’t been released. Their deals would have expired some months back but they’ve had time tacked on due to each member being out with injuries, but I believe they would be clear around April.

Fightful provided an update stating that while Dawson's contract will end in April, Wilder will still have a few more months to see out as he spent more time on the sidelines.

Read about: Latest Rumors from WWE here

#6. WWE doesn't want Hulk Hogan to make his in-ring return

The last time Hulk Hogan wrestled a match in the WWE was in 2006 against Randy Orton. His last official match happened in 2012 in TNA and the Hulkster has maintained his retired status since then.

However, the 6-time WWE Champion has gotten the itch to wrestle again. Hogan has made it clear that he's training for one final WWE match and he wants to face Vince McMahon at WrestleMania. However, WWE officials may not be on the same page as Hogan.

On the latest edition of Sportskeeda's Dropkick DiSKussions with Tom Colohue and Korey Gunz, Tom revealed that the company isn't clamouring for the Hulkster to return to the ring.

He also added that a section of the roster is still not happy with Hogan over the racist scandal that led to him getting banished from the WWE.

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Colohue: I’m not aware that doctors refused to let him wrestle. I’m not aware if that was ever a thing, it just was a case that he was never of benefit to WWE in that regard. WWE doctors have not assessed him because they don’t want to see Hulk Hogan wrestle.

Gunz: Who does?

Colohue: That’s a very fair question (laughs). I don’t think anyone goes over in any way in a ring with Hulk Hogan and there are still some issues. There are people who do not forgive Hulk Hogan. His apology was unpopular, shall we say, and some people in that locker room did not believe it to be legitimate in any way and they feel entitled to feel that.

So I don’t believe we’ll see Hulk Hogan ever wrestle again. I don’t believe he needed to be cleared because he was never uncleared, but I don’t think WWE doctors would say, ‘Yeah, get him into the ring,’ because WWE isn’t clamouring to get him into the ring. Where this comes from seems like nonsense and we’ll leave it at that.

While Hogan will push for a return, the company should ideally prevent him from actually going ahead and having one final match inside a WWE ring.

#5. Rusev removed from WWE TV due to a contract dispute

Rusev has not been seen on RAW for the past couple of weeks and we now know the reason behind his absence.

As revealed in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter by Dave Meltzer, Rusev was taken off TV as he is currently engaged in a contract dispute with the company.

It was also revealed that we may not see a conclusion to the Rusev/Bobby Lashley storyline until the Bulgarian Brute's contract situation is sorted out.

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#4. Paul Heyman trying to convince Rusev to stay

While Rusev is yet to sign a contract extension, Paul Heyman is on a mission to prevent the popular Superstar from leaving the company.

WWE Insider Tom Colohue revealed on Sportskeeda's Dropkick DiSKussions podcast with host Korey Gunz that the Executive Director of RAW doesn't want Rusev to quit for obvious reasons.

Tom had the following to say:

Rusev has been very honest. He’s worn down his contract, if he’s unhappy, he has the option to go, and there would be nothing stopping him from doing that. He’s been very professional throughout the whole process.

Since Paul Heyman took over on RAW, it’s been a mission of his to convince Rusev that it is worth staying with the WWE. Whether he’s been successful or not, we’ll find out soon. But when it comes to how much RAW has improved, if anyone could convince someone, it’s Paul Heyman.

#3. WWE made a big promise to Lana

Lana signed a new 5-year deal with the WWE in November last year and as revealed by Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue, the Ravishing Russian was promised a big storyline and a star-making turn during the contract negotiations.

Here's what Tom revealed on the latest Dropkick DiSKussions podcast episode:

Lana in contract negotiations was promised this storyline. Was promised a star-making turn and she’s used it and she’s taken it. Rusev was promised the same, he hasn’t signed.

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#2. Brock Lesnar wants to work with R-Truth again

Brock Lesnar and R-Truth were involved in a hilarious angle a few weeks ago and The Beast Incarnate loved every second of it, so much so that he wants to work with most prolific 24/7 Champion of all time again.

Truth told "With Spandex" that Lesnar has been pitching ideas for another segment or two.

Here's what he revealed:

“Brock actually has been pitching ideas. He wants to work with me doing something because of that segment. He pitched a couple ideas. He and I talked afterwards. The sky’s the limit. This business is always changing, and I’m always changing with things.”

#1. Wrestler finally accepts WWE's open offer

WWE announced the long-awaited signings of Timothy Thatcher and Killer Kross this week and the highly-rated talents are expected to make their NXT debuts soon.

Regarding Thatcher, Dave Meltzer revealed in the WON that the wrestler had an open offer to join the WWE that stood for years. The company first saw him wrestle Kassius Ohno in 2015 and were impressed by what he brought to the table.

The wrestler, however, turned down the offer at that time as he wanted to focus on other things in life. Thatcher most recently attempted to make a career in Japan, however, he chose to finally come to the WWE as nothing worked out.

Meltzer revealed:

Timothy Thatcher, 36, who has had an open offer to come to WWE for years, has agreed to come and will likely be part of Imperium. He was at the Performance Center this past week. Basically, I was told after the years of being recruited he finally decided it was time to give it a shot. Things have changed for him in the past year and he had tried to get a regular Japan gig, but none came through.

Better late than never, Thatcher is finally here.