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It's time for another edition of the WWE Rumor Roundup. Today's lineup has some big names, including two veterans who are considered to be great rivals of each other - Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker.
When it comes to the Beast Incarnate, the WWE may have finally found the next Brock Lesnar, and the company is also doing their bit from a storyline standpoint to build up the Superstar in question.
The Undertaker also opened up about what the Vince McMahon was unhappy about with the Last Ride docuseries, and it could be a way to get the Deadman back to the ring.
A current IMPACT Wrestling star has revealed that he is working on a few projects with the WWE. An absent WWE Superstar is also finally set to make his return to TV on Monday Night RAW.
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The possible 'endgame' for Otis' Money in the Bank contract storyline has also been revealed.
On that note, let's take a look at all the stories mentioned above in detail in the latest instalment of the WWE Rumor Roundup:
#5. WWE wants Roman Reigns to take Brock Lesnar's position
Brock Lesnar has not been seen on WWE TV since his loss to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36. However, the WWE seems to have moved on from positioning Brock Lesnar as the biggest Superstar in the company as they may now have reserved the slot for Roman Reigns.
Dave Meltzer explained in Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the new Roman Reigns gimmick could be similar to Brock Lesnar. The idea would be to have The Big Dog pick up quick wins to solidify himself as a Brock Lesnar-like figure in the company.
Roman Reigns, however, is expected to work more frequently than the Beast Incarnate, and 'The Tribal Chief' is also considered to be a more cost-effective option.
Here's what Meltzer noted:
The two could probably have a great match, since Uso is very talented and really has never had a chance to show it as a single, but the Reigns gimmick seems to be quick wins to establish him in the Lesnar position as the big star of the company, but one who would work more frequently and be more cost-effective.
#4. Vince McMahon's reaction to The Undertaker's retirement, the possibility of a WWE return
WWE legend The Undertaker was a guest on My Mom's Basement podcast. The Deadman opened up on his highly-publicized retirement from in-ring competition at the end of the Last Ride documentary.
The Undertaker announced that he was done with wrestling, but he also left the door open for a return with the oft-repeated 'never say never' statement. It has now been revealed that Undertaker had to keep it ambiguous on the insistence of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.
The WWE Boss was apparently not happy with The Undertaker's original announcement in the Last Ride docuseries, and McMahon called for a change, which led to the line being added.
The Undertaker added that he would indeed have a weird internal feeling when the next WrestleMania season comes around as his body and mind are programmed to get ready for WWE's biggest show of the year.
Here's what The Undertaker revealed during the podcast:
"It was in my thought process. I have a whole group of people who are like, 'You can go out and do this, people will go crazy.' On the inside, I'm thinking, 'I don't move the way I used to move, it's a watered-down version.' I also love this business so much, and love performing. It's almost like I needed somebody to put the bullet in there and stop. Once we started rolling with this, it was in the back of my mind, 'I can get to a point where this will solidify it, and I won't have a choice.' Originally, that's where I was at until I had to send the last 15 minutes to the Chairman [Vince McMahon]. He didn't like the ending at all. That's where we put the line back in there, 'never say never.' I'm coming to grips with it. Obviously, as we get close to [WrestleMania], I'll have that internal feeling like I should be getting ready for something."
#3. Robert Roode reportedly returning to WWE RAW
WrestleVotes is reporting that Robert Roode is all set to make his WWE return, and it could happen as soon as on the latest episode of RAW. While the report stated that Roode could be back on WWE TV in a week or two, there is a big possibility that he makes his comeback on the next edition of Monday Night RAW.
Robert Roode, who’s been away for months, is expected to return to RAW within the next week or two, possibly even tonight.
Roode has not been seen on WWE TV since appearing at the Elimination Chamber PPV in March earlier this year. Robert Roode and his tag team partner Dolph Ziggler were sent to RAW as part of the trade that saw AJ Styles move to SmackDown.
Robert Roode has not appeared on WWE TV as he has been stuck in his home in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the travel restrictions between the US and Canada, the former NXT Champion could not cross the borders, but the problem may have been finally solved.
We have no updates on how WWE plans on getting Roode back into the fold, but it should be interesting to see how the company uses the 43-year-old Superstar when he does make his official return.
#2. RVD confirms he is working on a few WWE projects
RVD signed with IMPACT Wrestling in 2019, and while he has continued to be a part of the promotion, the former ECW Champion was allowed to make a one-off appearance for the WWE at the RAW Reunion show in July 22nd, 2019.
It seems like RVD could be working with the WWE again sooner rather than later as the 49-year-old Superstar confirmed during a recent Virtual Meet & Greet session with Pro Wrestling Junkies that he is going to be working on a few projects with the WWE.
A fan asked RVD about whether he watches AEW and WWE and if he'd be interested in working with either of the companies. The former WWE Champion admitted that he sometimes tunes in to watch the shows and he would be open to offers. RVD noted that he has been wrestling more matches since joining IMPACT Wrestling, but he is beyond that phase in his career of having more in-ring time.
RVD concluded by confirming that a few projects have been lined up with the WWE that the fans should look forward to in the future.
"Since I joined IMPACT, I've been wrestling a little more, but I don't look at it thinking like, 'Woh! I want to go here!' Usually, I look at it, and I'm glad that tonight's a night off. I'm watching these guys working their asses off in the ring, and I'm just thinking like, 'I'd be so winded right now,' and I'm watching everything come together and it's cool that it is, but it would just be a job offer and nothing else at that point. That's how I've been since 2001, I guess, since then.
Some people say you should go to AEW because you and this guy would have a good match. Dude, I don't give a f***. I have good matches with everybody. I definitely would consider it, and I'm actually going to be working with WWE on a couple of projects that we haven't mentioned yet."
#1. Possible 'endgame' for Otis' MITB storyline in WWE
Otis' Money in the Bank storyline witnessed another big twist on the most recent episode of WWE SmackDown as the Heavy Machinery member was served with a lawsuit by The Miz and Morrison.
The catch here is that Miz and Morrison will drop the lawsuit if Otis gives up the MITB contract.
Dave Meltzer speculated on a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio that the new storyline development could be the WWE's way of taking the briefcase away from Otis.
It was noted that WWE never really had any concrete plans for Otis when they booked him to win the MITB match, and the latest storyline direction could have been done to take the briefcase off of the popular WWE SmackDown Superstar.
Here's what Meltzer had to say:
"So The Miz and [John] Morrison are doing the 'Dirtsheet' and Otis comes out and beats them both up, and they're trying to rile up Otis by saying 'Mandy Rose is on RAW and all those RAW guys are going to be after her and she's going to drop Otis. And Dolph is on RAW, and they used, to date' and so Otis comes out and beats the s**t out of both of them. And Morrison is just looking at Miz, who's like Yeah, he fell into our plan!" and Morrison obviously didn't know what the plan was. But the plan is that between the first segment and the fifth segment, The Miz had a lawyer draft a lawsuit for unsafe working conditions, which is the old Shawn Michaels gimmick. They're suing Otis, but they'll drop the lawsuit if he gives up the briefcase. Either they're going to sue, or the deal here is, "We got no idea how to get the briefcase off Otis, so this is how we're going to get it off him. And that's what it is'." H/t Rohit Nath of Sportskeeda
