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Welcome to this week's edition of 5 wrestling rumors we hope are true and 5 we hope aren't! We're in a very exciting period of time and this week, we are in the fallout of one of the most important weeks for professional wrestling in years.
The line-up throughout the week was absolutely stacked, with an incredible episode of WWE RAW on Monday, AEW Dynamite's debut on Wednesday going head-to-head with a huge episode of NXT Live while Friday Night saw the FOX Premiere of SmackDown.
Hell in a Cell topped off the week in a PPV that had just four matches announced prior. It's not often that we have weeks like this in pro wrestling, which means that we have a lot to get into. As a whole, we must admit that we're quite happy with how the week has turned out.
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While SmackDown's FOX premiere wasn't the best, it certainly resulted in a whole lot of buzz and a lot of anticipation for the future direction. Here we go!
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Also read: 6 things WWE subtly told us on SmackDown (October 4th, 2019)
#5 Braun Strowman's salary revealed
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Braun Strowman is taking home a whopping $1.2 million a year.
When Strowman signed his latest deal, it was a four-year contract believed to be for $1.2 million per year. The key to that number is there are exceptions, but generally, the top downside number WWE offers is $1 million.
AJ Styles signed for a much higher number, according to WON primarily because of All Elite Wrestling. We hope this rumor is true because Braun Strowman is a top superstar of the company and deserves to take that amount. He definitely draws a whole lot more than that so it seems like an appropriate amount for a superstar of his caliber.
#5 Hope isn't true: Brock Lesnar not necessarily staying on SmackDown
We will get to the Cain Velasquez part shortly after. Our focus, for now, will be Brock Lesnar and his status in WWE. He defeated Kofi Kingston in a ten-second match to capture a World Championship for the eighth time in his WWE career.
Since it was on SmackDown and the WWE Championship has been a property of the blue brand for the last three years, the general assumption is that Lesnar will be the top star of the brand.
It also makes sense since it had been 15 and a half years since he has wrestled on SmackDown and it would be a change in environment for him. However, speaking to Gary Cassidy on an episode of Dropkick DiSKussions, Tom Colohue said that Lesnar's WWE title win doesn't mean that he'll be staying on SmackDown.
Even before this show [RAW], I was told, ‘Maybe don’t take it as read that Brock Lesnar is a SmackDown guy now.’ In fact, don’t take it that anyone is an anything guy right now. We saw Heavy Machinery getting a RAW Tag Team Championship match. We’ve got The Revival, who are apparently a RAW team, as SmackDown Tag Team Champions now. Going into the draft, there is no 'Wildcard' because no one is anything. No one is RAW, no one is SmackDown.”
We hope this isn't true because Brock Lesnar shouldn't take the title to RAW. If they want to create a buzz about the Velasquez match, people should be tuning into SmackDown.
#4 Hope is true: Lesnar vs Velasquez to happen at Crown Jewel
A lot of you may not be familiar with Cain Velasquez if you don't follow UFC. Just to give you context, Cain Velasquez is a 2-time Heavyweight Champion and is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA Heavyweight fighters of all time.
The man who he knocked out viciously to capture the title was none other than Brock Lesnar, so it makes perfect storyline sense for them to be feuding, especially now since Velasquez has gotten more into pro wrestling.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is offering a big-money deal to Velasquez to face Lesnar at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia this October 30th.
Velasquez was reportedly in talks with both AEW and WWE, but it seemed as though WWE offered a better amount and a more promising direction to Velasquez for him to join right in and face Lesnar.
The reason we hope this is true is that there has still been a portion of fans complaining about an MMA fighter taking a big spot. Saudi Arabia shows don't get as much attention on the day, so it's not an important PPV and they can have a special attraction match.
#4 Hope isn't true: Multiple superstars refusing to work with Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan is back on WWE TV for a small feud against Ric Flair. Thankfully, WWE thought better of it and realized that having them be the leaders of two different teams would be more appropriate than the two men wrestling against each other.
While that would normally seem out of the realm of possibility in 2019, expect the unexpected for Saudi Arabia shows. Either way, Hulk Hogan already has two recruits on his team - Seth Rollins and Rusev.
He may have a bit of trouble getting more members, as Tom Colohue reported that there are still multiple members on the roster who are unhappy about the fact that Hogan is being used on television.
While we do understand and respect it, we hope it isn't true because it makes things a lot more uncomfortable in the future with regards to Hogan. It's easy to say that bygones should be bygones, but The New Day's reaction to Hogan at the Hall of Fame tells the whole story.
#3 Hope is true: The entire CM Punk-WWE situation
CM Punk's return to WWE seems all but inevitable now. First, there were rumors that CM Punk went to FOX to tryout an analyst role alongside Renee Young and then there was a follow-up report, stating that FOX was very happy with Punk.
Punk himself confirmed these rumors and said that he only tried out because it meant he wouldn't have to work with WWE directly. He also stated that he wants to be able to give his honest opinions when things are bad.
Renee Young, while not outright confirming it, hinted at CM Punk as an analyst and stated "never say never" with regards to WWE. According to Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, CM Punk was in a bus near SmackDown and was closing in on the show but it didn't end up happening.
That being said, there was also wide speculation backstage at Smackdown that CM Punk was on a bus outside and was closing SmackDown, which obviously didn't end up happening. We've been told FOX was thrilled with CM Punk's performance during his tryout."
We hope this is true because Punk returning in this role would be incredible. Do we need to say more than that?
#3 Hope isn't true: Jeff Hardy arrested...again
This is the second time this year that Jeff Hardy has been arrested. The legendary 4-time WWE World Champion and 6-time overall World Champion was arrested a few months ago due to public intoxication.
He is currently recovering from a leg injury that is expected to keep him out until the end of the year and it looks as though he hasn't been doing all too well. According to PWInsider, Jeff Hardy was arrested for driving while impaired. They put out a statement saying:
WWE star Jeff Hardy was arrested yesterday evening in Moore County, North Carolina and charged with driving while impaired, PWInsider.com has confirmed.
The Moore County Police Department confirmed that Hardy was released around 11:30 PM last night from being incarcerated but declined to give additional details beyond what he has been charged with citing the fact that it is an ongoing investigation.
In all likeliness, this isn't just a rumor. Arrests aren't reported unless there is a confirmation from the source itself. However, we would like to hope that this isn't true.
#2 Hope is true: Braun Strowman vs Tyson Fury to happen at Crown Jewel
It seems like a rather surreal timeline now that we're going to see Braun Strowman vs Tyson Fury. If you're not aware, Tyson Fury is known as the Lineal Heavyweight Champion of the World. He's still undefeated and is likely done boxing for the year as he awaits a rematch against Deontay Wilder.
Until then, WWE will be his focus - at least for this month. According to Alex McCarthy of TalkSport, Fury vs Strowman won't be held back until WrestleMania 36 - it's going to happen at Crown Jewel instead.
Fury was backstage for the SmackDown on FOX Premiere and got to meet many of the legends that he watched growing up. He was with his family ringside and had an altercation with Braun Strowman - who provoked The Gypsy King to a fight. We hope this rumor is true because Crown Jewel is an ideal place to have a special attraction match like that.
Fury isn't a mainstream name by any means but this will likely do good for his stock as a crossover.
#2 Hope isn't true: Paige turns down backstage role
Paige's career came to a tragic halt early last year and since then, she was mainly utilized for over half a year as SmackDown's General Manager. According to PWInsider, WWE was hosting tryouts of sorts for a new show called WWE Backstage, hosted by Renee Young and Booker T. Cathy Kelley will also have a big role to play on the show too.
PWinsider further reported that two names who tried out were Rey Mysterio and Paige. While Paige was the one who WWE wanted in that role, she declined it. Fair play to her, but we hope it isn't true since she would be really good for the role.
As of this writing, we're not very sure what her role in WWE is. She's still under contract but the Kabuki Warriors - the team that Paige manages, are currently on a creative of hiatus. Paige is expected to be back with them soon now that SmackDown has premiered on FOX and we may see the duo and Paige move to RAW.
#1 Hope is true: Finn Balor back to NXT for good
With All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite debuting on Wednesday Night, NXT went head-to-head with them and made a huge impact with a massive show. The big talk, of course, was the fact that Finn Balor returned to NXT after over three years away.
Balor is one of the biggest names in NXT history and he still remains the longest-reigning champion in the brand's history, clocking in at 292 days. If that feat wasn't impressive enough, imagine what he can do now that he's back.
The landscape of NXT, of course, has changed drastically since he has gone. Many superstars have come and gone and now one of the former faces of NXT is back. And from the look of things, he may be working a far more favorable schedule.
On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Balor will be part of NXT full-time now, and will not be appearing on RAW or SmackDown. He also added that there will likely be no alterations to Balor's current contract. Balor will reportedly continue to get paid as a main roster Superstar while working a lighter schedule for NXT.
We really hope this isn't true because Balor can not only shine in NXT, but the fact that he's getting the same money for a lighter schedule without the travel is incredible!
#1 Hope isn't true: Becky Lynch wasn't in the original plans for The Rock segment
The Rock appeared as advertised on the SmackDown on FOX premiere and along with Becky Lynch, laid the SmackDown on King Corbin. Tom Colohue had reported prior to the show that The Rock essentially demanded to work with Becky Lynch and would have been very disappointed if he didn't have an interaction with her.
Colohue further reported that the original plan wasn't to have Becky Lynch in it at all.
In the end, this is exactly what has happened [The Rock demanding to work with Becky Lynch] and I have been assured since that the plan was changed to fit with the preferences of The Rock and Becky Lynch. The originally scheduled segment would have played out very similarly, with Baron Corbin suffering a beating at the hands of The Rock and The Rock alone.
We hope that this isn't true because it wouldn't have been the same without Becky Lynch. Moreover, it gave a huge rub to her and is the perfect response to those who think that The Man has cooled down!
Also read: SmackDown on FOX - 5 reasons why Shane McMahon was fired from WWE
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