WWE Rumor Roundup: Big return set for WrestleMania 36, AJ Styles' big match cancelled and more – 1 February 2020

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Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon

In today's roundup, we take a look at the former US Champion who wants to return in a backstage role, the shocking next opponent for Edge and more! But before we get into all that, let's get past the headline-makers.

John Cena wants to return at WrestleMania 36

John Cena has been hinting at a WrestleMania 36 return for some time and now he has made it clear that he absolutely wants to be at the pay-per-view. This year's PPV is happening at Tampa, Florida – the place where Cena stays right now.

Cena has confirmed that he will not be working on any movie at that time and is willing to return. Talking to Sports Illustrated, he said:

"I've expressed that I'm off [to WrestleMania]. But I've also expressed that I live in Tampa. I will for sure be at the event and I have great trust in the process and I have great faith in Vince McMahon not only as a boss, but as so much more than that. As a friend, as a mentor.
"If he were to tell me that he needs me, I would absolutely be active in whatever capacity, whether it would be like last year in New York rapping my way to the ring or the year before being a fan in the stands. There is no job too small."

A return at WrestleMania 36 will be his first WWE appearance since he returned as Doctor Of Thuganomics at WrestleMania 35.

AJ Styles' big match cancelled

AJ Styles suffered a shoulder injury at Royal Rumble while trying to sell a spear by Edge. Now, Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue is reporting that he could end up missing WrestleMania 36!

The former WWE Champion was reportedly supposed to be in a feud with Randy Orton after the Rumble but that plan has been shelved now. Colohue reports that it could have been the filler till Edge returned from his injury.

The feud could have led to a match at the Elimination Chamber or the Saudi Arabian pay-per-view as per Colohue.

Why Drew McIntyre's push was delayed

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Drew McIntyre is finally getting a big push and will be challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 36. The Scottish Psychopath was reportedly supposed to get this big push much earlier but it was delayed due to an injury or illness. Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue said on Dropkick DiSKussions:

It was clearly a last-minute decision and it’s something Paul Heyman has been pushing for a long time. He believes in Drew McIntyre. We’ve seen the changes been made, we’ve seen that they want to market Drew to particularly the UK crowd, BT Sport move is definitely is something that worked out, and I also reported at the time of the King of the Ring tournament that a big push and match was coming Drew McIntyre’s way but it wasn’t there because of an injury he had at that time or illness.
I think it was a sickness of some sort. So they have come back around, the opportunity is still there and they have taken it. I’m very pleasantly surprised and I’m looking forward to what comes next.

Things have panned out exactly how Tom Colohue reported back in December and McIntyre is finally getting that push.

Baron Corbin to face Edge soon?

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Edge has returned after 9 years and WWE are looking to get him to work with just the Superstars who are safe. Tom Colohue reports that with Randy Orton in a feud with Edge now, King Corbin could be next in line.

On the latest episode of Sportskeeda's Dropkick DiSKussions, Colohue said:

There are several people Edge will probably want to work with. I think Baron Corbin will be one of those who they would really want to have him in the ring with because of how safe Baron Corbin is, but I also think that the second Edge is in the ring with Randy Orton he’s going to be, sort of Kota Ibushing his own neck as a way of proving, ‘Look, I’m fine!’

Corbin is a not a popular star with the WWE Universe and putting him in a feud with Edge could lead to him never getting liked by the fans. He retired Kurt Angle at last year's WrestleMania and that decision has not gone down well with the fans.

MVP looking for a backstage role in WWE

MVP
MVP

MVP has revealed that he is looking to get a backstage role in WWE. The former United States champion has already confirmed that he is done with wrestling and only returned for his 5-year-old son. Talking on WWE After The Bell, he told Corey Graves:

"I'm at that point in my career, 46. I've always said my intentions were to retire around 45. I can still go. I'm still in great shape. I still wrestle just about every weekend, but I know the clock is ticking. Retirement is looming, and after such an exhilarating and amazing weekend at WWE, I still feel that I have a lot to offer.
"However, I'm at a point in my career where I think I'm ready to start offering my talents behind the scenes or in another capacity. In the very near future, I see myself hanging up the boots and moving from in-ring competitor to behind-the-scenes producer if you will. This is what I'm looking at, and I think that's the way to go for me.'"

John Cena names Brock Lesnar as the best in-ring performer of all time

John Cena and Brock Lesnar
John Cena and Brock Lesnar

John Cena has heaped praise on Brock Lesnar and named him as the best in-ring performer of all time in WWE. The 16-time champion, who is being touted for a return at WrestleMania 36, has said that the current WWE champion's display at the Royal Rumble showed all his qualities.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Cena said:

“And I can say with the utmost sincerity that I believe Brock Lesnar is best in-ring performer that I've seen and I know it's an opinion, and if you want a cool quote, here it is: I think he's the best in-ring performer of all time. I thought his performance at the Rumble was a clinic on how to establish yourself, how to establish those around you, establish the championship, establish the importance of one event.”

While both WWE Legends are expected to be at WrestleMania, Lesnar will be facing Drew McIntyre and not Cena. There are no confirmed reports if Cena will be involved in any match at all.

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