5 wrestling rumors we hope are true and 5 we hope aren't: WWE officials 'desperate' to book Brock Lesnar dream match, 3-time World Champion taking time off to prepare for retirement?

Welcome to this week's edition of wrestling rumors we hope are true and those we hope aren't! It's a stacked edition as we get closer to WWE Backlash. Let's not waste any time and jump right into the big rumors of the week!

#5. Hope is true: WWE officials desperate for a dream Brock Lesnar match

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Brock Lesnar is most likely set to return around SummerSlam time. While he's normally out post-WrestleMania until the summer, there have been occasions like last year, where he worked multiple dates (albeit in short appearances) before SummerSlam.

According to Tom Colohue in his latest video, WWE officials are desperate to book the dream match between Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley. He said:

I do know that there is a desperate need among some parts of the executive level in the WWE to get the Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar match coming. And as I have reported here previously, Brock Lesnar has been pencilled in for an appearance around SummerSlam, which means it is certainly possible that we are going to get that match.

He stated that the match doesn't need to be for the WWE Championship:

With that said, I don't think that match requires the WWE Championship; it depends more than anything on what they have in line for McIntyre. McIntyre may be due against Lashley for a rematch, McIntyre may be going against Lesnar or, as I have mentioned it previously, I do maintain the hope, that McIntyre may be going up against The Undertaker.

We hope this is true because there's no better time for the match to happen at this point. While 2018 would have been perfect, it's not too late and Bobby Lashley could have enough momentum on his side. Moreover, he's stated before that one of the main reasons for his WWE return was a match against Brock Lesnar, so he certainly deserves it.

Before we move on to the next slide, you can check out our video where we bring to you a roundup of last week's important news and rumors from the world of pro-wrestling!

#5. Hope isn't true: An unfortunate reason behind Rey Mysterio's absence?

Rey Mysterio was written off television recently following an attack by Seth Rollins. While his "retirement ceremony" was a part of the storyline as expected, it seems like it's an inevitability.

Tom Colohue reported that Rey Mysterio has taken time off to work with Dominick and "get him up to speed" as his retirement or WWE exit looms closer:

At the moment, there is a bit of a distance between him and his trainers because of the furlough and the people being released and because of the pandemic as it were, but he has kept training with his father, which is one of the reasons why Rey is taking this time off right now, why he's taken the time to go home so that he can work with Dominick, get him up to speed because it is getting closer because Rey Mysterio leaving the company or retiring is also getting closer. It was only an 18-month contract after all. And he wants to work with Dominick. So Dominick needs to be ready sooner rather than later.

We hope this isn't true because Rey Mysterio still looks like he has a lot to offer. With that said, we would understand his decision to step away to not overshadow his son when he debuts.

#4. Hope is true: MVP's new role

MVP vs Drew McIntyre in the main event of RAW this past week

When MVP returned to WWE in 2020, it seemed to be a one-off for the Royal Rumble. He was then brought back to face Rey Mysterio and post-WrestleMania, he joined the roster as an active performer again.

He's been great in his role as well, elevating superstars such as Apollo Crews and Bobby Lashley. With an important managerial and performer's role on RAW, it seems like he's enjoying life back in WWE.

What's interesting, however, is the fact that he was brought in to be a backstage producer. It seems as though he was one of the many producers that was furloughed, but PWInsider reported that he's now transitioned into a full-time performer again:

"Since we have received a few emails asking, MVP has transitioned into performing full-time and is not currently working as a producer for the company."

We hope this is true since it still puts MVP in the mix. He's been fantastic in his role and is the perfect example of how a veteran can be used on the roster to help elevate younger stars.

#4. Hope isn't true: Jason Jordan's in-ring status

Jeff Hardy's "DUI" storyline has caused quite a stir, with many names including CM Punk revealing that it was in poor taste and that WWE owed it to Jeff Hardy to not make a storyline out of it.

What was forgotten in all of it was the fact that Jason Jordan made a cameo appearance, with some questioning what it meant for his in-ring return.

Jason Jordan has been out since early 2018 and from the look of things, it's going to stay that way. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful revealed on the Backstage Report Podcast that there are no plans for a Jason Jordan in-ring return:

Also on SmackDown, his (Chad Gable) buddy Jason Jordan popped up. Jason Jordan has been out of action for two and a half years with some neck issues. He has been a producer for quite a while, one that people seem to like rather well, but no timetable on his return or if he could ever return. Last I heard in the Summer of last year, he was having grip issues and there were no plans for him to come back.

We hope this isn't true because it truly means the end of his in-ring career - one that had a lot of potential. However, it's a reality that we might just need to accept.

#3. Hope is true: Kurt Angle turns down WWE's offer

Kurt Angle made his return to WWE TV after a long time as the special guest referee of the Matt Riddle-Timothy Thatcher "Fight Pit" match - one that saw the end of Riddle's NXT run.

Bryan Alvarez revealed on Wrestling Observer Live that Kurt Angle turned down WWE's latest offer:

"Kurt Angle, who by the way as of right now, I do not believe Kurt Angle has been rehired. I don't know for sure, but I do know he was made an offer and turned it down, and more may have happened since the report that I got, but as far as I know right now, Kurt Angle has not been rehired."

Kurt Angle had transitioned into a backstage producer after the end of his in-ring career at WrestleMania 35. He was released in April after the COVID-19 pandemic saw a nationwide lockdown come into full effect. However, we hope this is true for the sole reason that Angle was most likely offered a lowered salary.

It makes sense for him to hold off until later when he knows he'll get a better offer.

#3. Hope isn't true: Rob Gronkowski activates his WWE release clause

Rob Gronkowski was the host of WrestleMania 36

Rob Gronkowski's arrival in WWE created a lot of buzz as the NFL veteran had reportedly signed a contract with the company. He was the host of WrestleMania 36 and even took a mini-dive at the event, resulting in him winning the 24/7 Championship.

He recently appeared on a RAW segment where he was taken by surprise by R-Truth, who is getting close to being a 40-time 24/7 Champion.

However, that segment may have been the end of Rob Gronkowski's run in WWE. According to Raj Giri of WrestlingInc, the NFL star activated his release clause and is now done with WWE.

Sportskeeda's Vatsal Rathod wrote:

The reason behind this move is his return to the NFL to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the upcoming season. He was reportedly set to have a match at Summerslam this year, but that will not be happening now.

He was also reportedly planned to have a match at SummerSlam but that won't be happening. We hope this isn't true because it's an underwhelming end to what could have been a fun stint.

#2. Hope is true: Why WWE can't make Superstars take pay cuts

With the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people have lost their jobs around the world and the same applied to WWE, where over 30 Superstars were released and "hundreds" of others behind-the-scenes lost their jobs.

While it was rumored that higher-ups were forced to take pay cuts, it seems as though WWE Superstars haven't had to. The releases may have covered for that.

Dave Meltzer revealed on the Wrestling Observer Radio that the nature of the WWE talent contracts has details that prevent Superstars from taking a pay cut:

“The thing is the talent is under contract. If the talent is asked to take a pay cut then they become free agents and then they can go to AEW. So the talent is gonna be the last ones. Perhaps the undercard talent, I mean they may offer people who they don’t think will go, or they don’t think will be interest, or they don’t care if they go. Then you’re breaching contracts. I don’t see them breaching contracts with talent. That will be the last one that they do, but yeah, it’s another one. They gotta keep those profits up."

We hope this is true because it would be unfair for the talent to take heavy pay cuts.

#2. Hope isn't true: NXT stars upset at a situation in tapings

WWE has started to use developmental talent in the audience to give a small feel of fans returning to the arena. The same happened in NXT, but in a recent taping, the heavy rains led to a major delay.

Fightful Select's report said that many of the recruits were upset about the situation as they had to reportedly wait for up to five hours for a TakeOver match to start:

“The recruits were asked to show up at 7, but the downpour in the area kept delaying things. As it turns out, most were waiting around until midnight before they actually filmed the In Your House match.”

We hope this isn't true because the situation sounds frustrating, but if it is true, then we can understand why the recruits would feel angry about it. From varying reports, it seems like the recruits are kept in separate tents and are made to stand for a long time. One can only imagine how exhausting that can get.

#1. Hope is true: Seth Rollins pitching more names for his faction

Seth Rollins dishing out punishment to Humberto Carrillo

Seth Rollins has played an important role on Monday Night RAW as he's taken recruit in Murphy and more recently, the 22-year old Austin Theory. Recruiting Theory to his faction was regarded as a brilliant move creatively, as it puts the young superstar in a big spot early on in his career.

Tom Colohue revealed that Seth Rollins has been pitching multiple names to RAW Executive Director Paul Heyman and that there are quite a few names:

Seth has pitched quite a few names, and at this point, it's essentially up to Paul Heyman. He wants to bring in someone new, quite fresh, and help them develop. It could even be someone like Humberto Carrillo, of course, to really help him develop. But there are quite a few people. He's very proud of what he's been able to accomplish. I certainly would be too, and I would laugh so hard if it ends up being Roman Reigns.

We hope this is true because it's a great thing that Rollins is doing by "selfishly" working with younger Superstars. He still has years to go in his career and he's already willing to help multiple stars in their journey.

#1. Hope isn't true: News on Kofi Kingston's possible return to the main event scene

Kofi Kingston's crowning moment at WrestleMania 35

2019 was truly a dream for Kofi Kingston, as a set of circumstances saw him compete for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35. It was the culmination of a decade-long journey - one that resulted in him winning the WWE Championship.

He had a strong reign as well, lasting around six months as the World Champion before dropping it to Brock Lesnar on the SmackDown on FOX debut. Since then, he was dropped from the main event scene and Tom Colohue said that the tag team division is "lacking", which may not lead to a return to the main event scene for Kofi Kingston:

Kofi Kingston was a very powerful draw for a long time,, and the New Day, in general, have that drawing power. Now to have them on neither, is very interesting. That said, RAW was owed a couple of trades, and they are very very lacking on the tag division.

He said that there are no plans to have Kofi Kingston back in that spot anytime shortly:

There is no plan to have Kofi Kingston in the main event for a while yet, if ever again. So it would be the tag division he would go to, if he was to move.

We hope this isn't true because Kingston proved that he belongs in the main event scene. While we understand the need to strengthen the tag team division, Kingston would still be a handy main event Superstar for a long time.

Edited by Zaid Khan