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Welcome to this week's edition of WWE/wrestling rumors we hope are true and those we hope aren't. It's been another incredible week of wrestling on the WWE and AEW front, with other promotions possibly gaining momentum as well.
This week's edition covers Vince McMahon's company's stunning offer to Bryan Danielson, Brock Lesnar potentially losing to a 21-year old newcomer, Braun Strowman's next wrestling destination, another SmackDown star's contract expiring, and so much more. Let's get right into it:
#4. Hope is true: WWE's unbelievable offer to Bryan Danielson
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Daniel Bryan is no more. He's back to being Bryan Danielson full-time as he signed with AEW and will go under his real name - as he did before joining WWE over a decade ago.
Danielson in another promotion feels surreal. It was 12 years ago when he signed with the global juggernaut and in that time, he headlined two WrestleManias, won five World Championships, and is a Grand Slam Champion.
He achieved nearly everything there was too and he was treated well by the company too. It wasn't him leaving WWE because of issues with the promotion, nor was he underutilized by any means.
After losing to Roman Reigns on SmackDown and getting banished from the Blue brand, Bryan Danielson's contract with WWE quietly expired. He was expected to reach a new agreement, potentially transitioning into a part-time status as well as having the creative freedom that few superstars have the privilege of.
However, in a situation considerably different from other superstars, Danielson decided to jump ship to All Elite Wrestling, keeping the company's incredible momentum alive.
Not only this, but he is already feuding with AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and is expected to wrestle in New Japan Pro Wrestling down the line. Dave Meltzer revealed that Danielson was offered a "ground-breaking" deal by Vince McMahon's promotion that would have allowed him to go and compete in NJPW:
“Both offers (from WWE and AEW) were money-wise similar and both would have allowed him to do New Japan. WWE was going to allow him to do New Japan and he was trying to open the door for other people in WWE that wanted to go to New Japan to be able to do that but that seems to be a dead issue right now from a WWE standpoint. I haven’t heard anything about WWE guys going to New Japan," said Dave Meltzer. (H/T WrestlingNews)
We hope this is true because it's good for a WWE Superstar to be in a position of power over the company, unlike most of the people working for them. It gave him the freedom and option, with the promotion even going out of their way to have an unexpected collaboration for Bryan Danielson's sake.
#3. Hope isn't true: Vince McMahon's bizarre idea for Adam Cole's WWE main roster debut
While it wasn't exactly similar to Daniel Bryan's situation, WWE officials, including Vince McMahon, had to meet with Adam Cole personally to pursue him to stick around. At AEW All Out, they were likely disappointed to find out that he didn't do that.
Instead, Cole jumped ship to All Elite Wrestling, and it may have been the best thing that he could have done. After concluding his four-year run with NXT, Adam Cole was poised to make a big splash on the main roster. The plans for him? To be the Lio Rush character to Keith Lee's Bobby Lashley-like character.
You read that right. According to Dave Meltzer on WOR, Vince McMahon's original idea for Cole's main roster debut was to be Lee's manager. Keith Lee was reportedly going to turn heel, while Adam Cole would have been the cowardly heel manager who "hid" behind him.
We hope this isn't true because it's a ridiculous idea for a superstar of Cole's caliber. It only proves that he likely made the right decision by rejecting WWE and jumping ship to AEW - where he is guaranteed more creative satisfaction.
#3. Hope is true: Braun Strowman's post-WWE destination
Braun Strowman's WWE release was undoubtedly one of the most shocking ones in the last year-and-a-half. It was up there with Bray Wyatt's release, but there doesn't seem to be as much demand for The Monster Among Men to jump ship to AEW.
This has been the common path for many WWE stars who have been released or left, but that may not be the case for Adam Scherr/Braun Strowman. He has been active on social since his release, with his non-compete clause still in effect.
That has now ended and Strowman is a free man again. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Braun Strowman's next destination could be IMPACT Wrestling. Sportskeeda Wrestling's Shiven Sachdeva wrote:
"Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has stated that Adam Scherr aka Braun Strowman, is currently in talks with Impact Wrestling. While he has not yet signed with them, he is likely to debut at Bound for Glory, which is set to take place on October 23."
We hope this is true because Strowman is the perfect man to lead IMPACT Wrestling in a new direction. There's no doubt that walking in, he will instantly be the biggest star on the roster.
The promotion has other big men, but none of Strowman's caliber. It's the perfect place for him as IMPACT Wrestling has a big fanbase and he is unlikely to get lost in the shuffle as he has a few times before in WWE.
#2. Hope isn't true: Sami Zayn's WWE contract expiring soon
It was recently revealed that Kevin Owens' WWE contract is coming up in early 2022. While his deal was originally scheduled to expire in 2023, it was restructured during the pandemic, and his deal is reportedly only going to be until January 31st, 2022.
Dave Meltzer revealed on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Owens' longtime partner and rival Sami Zayn's WWE contract will reportedly expire later this year:
"In talking about the recent news of Kevin Owens' WWE deal expiring at the end of January, Meltzer noted that Sami Zayn's deal expires later this year. He didn't provide a specific date."
It will be interesting to see the approach taken with Zayn. He seems to be a valuable superstar to the company, and with only months left on his contract, it's obvious that he isn't going to get released.
However, will he re-sign with WWE? Will the promotion opt to re-sign Sami Zayn? He represents a generation of "indie" or independent superstars signed to WWE, an approach that will change drastically going forward.
Either way, we hope this isn't true, but it probably is. Zayn re-signing with Vince McMahon's promotion might be the best option for him right now. We wouldn't be surprised to see him wait it out at the end of the year to look for more attractive offers - either to jump ship, or to get a bigger and better deal from AEW.
#2. Hope is true: WWE makes history with SmackDown at MSG
WWE had their first televised event at Madison Square Garden in years. While MSG became more of a venue for untelevised live events in recent years, the company decided to host an episode of SmackDown at the Garden - arguably the most iconic venue in pro wrestling history, and to many, in sports history.
It was an incredible episode of the Blue brand as WWE pulled out all the stops to ensure a great show. For fans in attendance, they were even treated to a dark match featuring John Cena and The Mysterios against The Bloodline.
According to renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the promotion made history at MSG by having their highest-grossing SmackDown gate of all time. That's right, in over two decades, the 10th September episode of the Friday night show at MSG is the highest-grossing in the brand's history:
We hope this is true since it was a great show and deserved to be in the history books. With the amount of money that FOX is paying WWE for the SmackDown broadcast deal, it shouldn't come as a surprise that it was chosen for the MSG show.
To add to that, the company likely made up a great deal of money in ticket sales alone.
#1. Hope isn't true: WWE planning an early main roster call-up for Gable Steveson?
WWE ensured that 21-year-old Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson made the jump to pro wrestling over MMA. While the UFC was reportedly set to offer Steveson a contract following a few regional wins, the young Olympic champion's dream seems to have been WWE.
It was recently reported that he signed with the sports entertainment juggernaut, and it won't be surprising to learn that he may have additional perks to his contract. However, Steveson is an amateur wrestler and hasn't yet dipped into the world of pro wrestling.
Even then, Vince McMahon and WWE will have big plans for the Olympic gold medalist. Dave Meltzer revealed on WOR that the company is behind Steveson and could even be planning for him to get fast-tracked to the main roster by mid-2022:
“They are big behind him for a lot of reasons, but it doesn’t mean he’s going to be a success, either. I mean, it’s like he’s going to have the microscope on him and he’s gonna be up there [on the WWE main roster] too soon, for sure. He’s gonna be in matches too soon as far as to be a good worker, because they’re gonna try to capitalize on it although I think he goes full-time in May 2022 and, you know at that point they’re gonna be grooming him to the top spots, and they signed him to a deal that pretty much wants him there,” said Meltzer. (H/T to SEScoops)
We hope this isn't true because it's far too early for Gable Steveson to make a jump to the main roster. There's a massive difference between developmental and the two main roster brands.
To add to that, the Kurt Angle comparisons aren't going to help the 21-year old one bit. With that said, if he picks up on pro wrestling quickly, then a fast move to the main roster may work.
#1. Hope is true: WWE preparing an eventual "passing of the torch" match for Brock Lesnar?
Brock Lesnar is back with WWE and he is reportedly in for a minimum of eight matches up until 2023. This contract, of course, is negotiable and Lesnar will be expected to work more dates with the company until then.
While Kurt Angle is the most decorated amateur wrestler to enter WWE, Brock Lesnar's record is incredibly impressive as well. He is a former NCAA Division-1 Heavyweight Champion.
It only makes sense then, that somebody will need to replace him. There have been a few candidates over the years, but it looks like Vince McMahon's promotion is eyeing newcomer Gable Steveson as the next big star in that spot.
According to Dave Meltzer on WOR, WWE is already planning a "passing of the torch" match between Steveson and Lesnar at WrestleMania down the line:
"It's already been teased and talked about that (Brock) Lesnar would eventually wrestle him in a passing-of-the-torch type moment at a WrestleMania," said Meltzer. (H/T to F4WOnline)
It goes without saying that it shouldn't happen anytime soon. Brock Lesnar's contract being until 2023 doesn't mean that he will only wrestle until that year. Given his impressive physique and modern medicine, it's easily possible for him to continue with post-that.
This is why we hope it's true, only if WWE is confident about having Brock Lesnar post-2023. Even that seems too soon for a passing of the torch match. If the company can wait for another year or so, it just might be the right time.
