Top 5 WWE Rumors of the Week (February 20, 2018)

The elephant in the room this week is without a doubt Kurt Angle being rumoured to partake in a key match at WrestleMania 34.

Apart from the aforementioned speculation, the WWE Rumor Mill has been abuzz with several other hot topics of discussion over the past few days.

The WWE put forth several exciting shows in the week gone by and has now seen several intriguing rumours raise their heads ahead of the Elimination Chamber. After a whirlwind week of WWE rumours, we bring you yet another collage of industry-insider banter on this week’s edition of top five WWE rumours.

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#5 Was WWE 2K18 a sign?

WWE 2K18 featured Seth Rollins engage in a rivalry with Kurt Angle

Back when WWE 2K18 was released last year, the video game featured a storyline that saw RAW General Manager Kurt Angle set out on a mission to find a vandal who trashes the WWE Hall of Fame.

For those unaware, in WWE 2K18, the said vandal is portrayed by none other than Seth Rollins. Now, fast-forward to February 2018, and it’s being asserted that Kurt Angle could face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 34.

As reported earlier, the WWE plans to use the long-running backstage tension between Angle and Rollins over the former’s son Jason Jordan. The simmering tension between Angle and Rollins is expected to reach a crescendo very soon, and culminate in a match at WrestleMania this April.

#4 Daniel Bryan unlikely to compete for non-WWE promotions in 2018

Daniel Bryan unlikely to wrestle for any non-WWE promotion this year

For a better part of 2017, the vast majority of professional wrestling industry experts believed that Daniel Bryan was set to part ways with the WWE by mid-2018.

Regardless, veteran pro-wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter revealed that Bryan’s contract with the WWE extends until November of this year. Meltzer’s revelation regarding the same alluded that Bryan’s deal expires on 1 November 2018.

Furthermore, should Bryan choose to leave the WWE—something that he’s strongly hinted at—the WWE’s 90-day no-compete clause shall prevent him from performing for any other pro-wrestling promotion until 2019.

#3 WWE not interested in “Cowboy” James Storm

James Storm may have to bide his time before returning to WWE

As noted on an edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, presently, there has been no talk of WWE hiring Impact Wrestling veteran and former NXT Superstar “Cowboy” James Storm.

We recently noted an update on the same; addressing rumours of Storm potentially signing with the WWE this year. Apparently, although the WWE were very much interested in having Storm join its promotional ranks in 2015, that simply isn’t the case anymore.

Furthermore, Storm’s booking agent Jason Cook has revealed that he’s got the Impact Wrestling veteran locked up for indie wrestling appearances that he can’t pull out of at least till May of this year. Accordingly, if the WWE is aware of the same, that may be one of the reasons the promotion isn’t looking to bring him back right now.

#2 WWE sale

The McMahons always do what's best for business

The WWE has been crafted from a regional promotion to a billion-dollar organization by Vince McMahon.

While McMahon has been known to be protective of the WWE as his creation, following the revelation of his new sports-entertainment organization Alpha Entertainment, the professional wrestling industry, as well as business circles, have been abuzz with talk of McMahon potentially selling the WWE.

Although McMahon is set to be busy with Alpha Entertainment and the XFL, per a revelation made by Triple H during a recent conference call, the WWE is open to business and it’s “obvious” that Vince McMahon is open to offers from potential buyers for the WWE.

During a recent interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Stephanie McMahon noted that the WWE could be sold to a large media organization looking for live content, notably Disney or 21st Century FOX.

WWE could most definitely see a change of ownership very soon, and this is indeed a rumour worth keeping your eye on.

#1 Part-time schedule only

Rey Mysterio made a shock appearance at Royal Rumble back in January

Given the nostalgic effect WWE Superstars of the past have on the WWE Universe, and the manner in which it benefits today’s WWE product, an increasing number of veteran Superstars have been wrestling on a sporadic basis for the WWE.

While John Cena and Brock Lesnar wrestle a part-time schedule, the WWE is the only pro-wrestling/sports-entertainment promotion they perform for. On the other hand, when it comes to names such as Chris Jericho, the WCW and WWE stalwart makes sporadic appearances for the WWE, but also steps away and performs for other wrestling organizations.

Intriguingly, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Jericho’s close friend and WCW/WWE veteran Rey Mysterio is also set to return to the WWE. However, Mysterio isn’t likely to sign a full-time deal with WWE, and will only compete sporadically and then step away to pursue other projects.

Mysterio is now set to compete in NJPW and could make his WWE comeback in 2019.