WWE Rumor Roundup - Undertaker's possible return despite retirement, Faction teased to return after 3-year absence and more - 21st June 2020

The Undertaker's retirement is the most significant talking point currently in professional wrestling, and it feels like a throwback of sorts that we've felt a few times before. The Undertaker has previously teased retiring from active in-ring competition only to return and have a few more WWE matches. Is the retirement legitimate this time?

Well, The Undertaker did say something during the final chapter of the Last Ride docuseries that has led fans to believe that The Deadman may not be done just yet.

In addition to covering The Undertaker's WWE retirement, we also have a few other interesting rumours and speculation that have been highlighted in today's edition of the WWE Rumor Roundup. Before we move forward, here's a roundup of the biggest WWE news and rumors of the past week.

A popular WWE SmackDown Superstar could be out of action until WrestleMania 37 due to an injury. A former WWE Champion also dropped hints of reuniting a faction.

There is also some sympathy backstage for two Superstars who have been taken off TV. WWE NXT has also reportedly come up with a new strategy to increase TV ratings and give AEW a run for their money.

Let's take a look at all the stories in detail:

---

#5. The Undertaker announces his WWE retirement while also dropping a hint about a potential return

On the final episode of The Last Ride docuseries, The Undertaker said that he no longer has the desire to return to the ring. WWE also posted a tweet following the announcement which pretty much confirmed The Undertaker's retirement.

However, The Deadman also made one particular statement that left the door open for another return.

While The Deadman admitted that the Boneyard Match against AJ Styles seemed like a fitting farewell to his storied career, he did add that there could come a time when Vince McMahon is in a pinch and may ask him to return once again.

Would Mark Calaway pull out The Undertaker gimmick in case of an emergency? He said that only time will tell, but he'd consider it. However, for now, the Phenom had no intentions of returning to the squared circle.

"I believe I'm at a place now, post-Boneyard, which was a hellacious battle against one of the best in the business. Here you are, climbing on your motorcycle and taking off. There was a lot of thought and a lot of emotion, one of those being 'are you happy enough with that?' It was a powerful moment. You don't necessarily always get those. If there was ever a perfect ending to a career, that right there was it. If Vince was in a pinch, would I come back? I guess time would only tell there. In case of emergency, break glass, you pull out The Undertaker. I would consider it.

At this point in my career, I have no desire to get back in the ring.""I'm at a point, and it's time this cowboy really rides away. There's nothing left for me to conquer or accomplish. The game has changed. It's time for new guys to come up. The time just seems right. This documentary has helped me discover that and opened my eyes to the bigger picture and not judge myself as harshly these last few years." H/T : Fightful

The Undertaker's comments have unsurprisingly kickstarted speculation amongst the fans about his retirement and possible WWE return.

The adage "never say never" is time-tested in pro wrestling, and while The Undertaker may be done, for now, there is no guarantee that he stays retired. Vince McMahon, as we know, can be really particular about what he wants and Undertaker is an equally loyal company man.

#4. Bray Wyatt teases the return of The Wyatt Family

Daddy’s back#LetTheSinBeginAndAlways....#DownWithTheMachine pic.twitter.com/DF1U9jdKEE

— Bray Wyatt (@WWEBrayWyatt) June 20, 2020

Bray Wyatt dropped a big hint regarding a possible Wyatt Family return by posting an old photo of himself alongside Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman with an intriguing caption.

The tweet was somewhat surprising as Erick Rowan was recently released from the WWE and is currently in his 90-day no-compete clause.

However, we've seen WWE use a handful of recently released WWE stars of late on TV. There is also speculation that Erick Rowan could also be brought back for an angle, possibly at Extreme Rules where Wyatt will expectedly take on Strowman.

Bray Wyatt returned on the latest episode of SmackDown as part of the Firefly Fun House segment, and the former WWE Champion brought back his original swamp cult leader gimmick.

WWE has taken an interesting storyline direction for Bray Wyatt's feud with Braun Strowman as the company is focussing on the history between the two Superstars. What's interesting to note here is that Wyatt and Strowman were part of the Wyatt Family that had former WWE Superstars, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper. WWE could not use Luke Harper for obvious reasons, but they can still mention Erick Rowan.

WWE is also reportedly looking to rehire some of the talents that were released, and there is a possibility that Rowan ends up being one of them. Will Wyatt's teaser lead to an actual Wyatt Family return or is this just Bray working the fans?

The Wyatt Family last got together in 2017, and while it's unlikely that we'd get to see a partial reunion, such social media teasers and mentions on WWE TV will get the fans more invested in the storyline.

#3. Elias could reportedly be out of action until WrestleMania 37

Elias was written off TV with a hit and run segment a few weeks ago on WWE SmackDown, and it was later revealed that the Drifter had actually suffered a real injury that compelled WWE to include him in the angle.

Elias tore his pectoral muscle, and he had to undergo surgery to get it fixed. Sean Ross Sapp revealed on the latest edition of the Backstage Report podcast that Elias may not be back in action until WrestleMania 37, which is scheduled to happen at the end of March next year.

SRS noted the following on the Backstage Report Podcast on Fightful Select:

"Elias got ran over by that car in a segment a couple of weeks ago, but he's got a torn pectoral and may not be back till WrestleMania 37. Heal up soon."

Torn pectoral muscle injuries have an estimated recovery time of six to nine months, and Elias' in-ring return depends on the progress he makes during his rehabilitation period.

Elias has had a few injury setbacks over the past year, and his latest injury is, unfortunately, a serious one that will keep him away from the WWE ring for the rest of the year.

#2. NXT's new possible strategy to counter AEW

The Wednesday Night Wars, thus far, has seen AEW come out on top in the battle for ratings superiority on a majority of occasions. WWE, however, could be making major changes to how WWE NXT is portrayed to gain some ground on AEW.

Dave Meltzer noted in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that this week's episode of NXT felt like RAW or SmackDown show. The shorter matches, a weird vomiting angle, and cars of babyfaces getting vandalized are usually what fans witness on RAW and SmackDown.

Meltzer noted that the apparent shift in TV content could be NXT copying the main roster, with the idea that it could give them a bump in the ratings, and potentially beat AEW in the process.

Meltzer explained the following in the Newsletter:

NXT felt like this week's Raw or Smackdown, with the vomiting angle, shorter matches, and vandalizing babyfaces cars. It's either the people in NXT copying main roster thinking that's the change needed, or more likely, the overseer believing these changes are necessary to bring up numbers and beat AEW.

For a while it felt like NXT was on its own path and not really being reactive to AEW except on rare times. Since Mania it was built on Charlotte Flair from the main roster and NXT's overall numbers declined less than the other shows, but that wasn't the case in18-49 which dropped badly, so the gains were over 50. So now it looks like a change in the pacing and nature of the show. They are doing a quick build to a NXT vs. North American title winner take all match on 7/8 to go against the main event of Fyter Fest, which was very clearly totally reactive.

WWE NXT did its own thing for a long time, but that could change as we know it. WWE has already shown signs of adopting a new strategy inspired by main roster programming, but will it help WWE trump AEW in the TV ratings war?

#1. Backstage sympathy for Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler

It's been widely reported over the past few days that the Forgotten Sons have been taken off WWE TV due to Jaxson Ryker's controversial comments.

The stable has not been used on TV since Money in the Bank and WWE has even stopped airing vignettes of the team.

Sean Ross Sapp revealed on the Backstage Report Podcast that there is no backstage heat on Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler.

Cutler and Blake reportedly distanced themselves from Ryker's stance, and they even had a meeting with WWE Senior Director of Talent Relations, Mark Carrano, and a few other wrestlers to explain their viewpoints in the issue.

There are also people backstage who sympathize with Blake and Cutler as the two Superstars spent a very long time in NXT before they were called up earlier this year.

Wesley and Cutler will now be forced to sit out on the sidelines for Jaxson Ryker's ill-timed comments, and there are people in the WWE who are not happy with the situation.

The Forgotten Sons were initially slated to challenge The New Day for the SmackDown Tag Team titles; however, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura have taken their spots.