The wrestling world witnessed another eventful week. WWE was busy building up to Backlash and made some bold booking decisions on SmackDown Live. Their latest episode of Monday Night Raw, however, attracted underwhelming reactions. Meanwhile, the rumour mill buzzed about a string of topics.
There was a discussion about how good the brand split has been. Along with this, topics such as WWE’s plans for SummerSlam, the future of Roman Reigns and the push of Aleister Black also featured on the rumour mill. In this list, we will be taking a look at all these major rumours and their potential impact.
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#5 Backstage officials happy with the WWE Brand Split
The Rumour: Cageside Seats has reported that WWE backstage officials are really happy with how the brand split is going. They also suggest that WWE might differentiate the brands further.
The Potential: Though there were doubts initially, WWE’s brand split has been a success story so far. There are shortcomings, however, the positives edge out the negatives. Therefore, the chances of this rumour being true are high.
The Fallout: WWE’s intention to differentiate the brands further is good. Emphasising on the competition between the two brands should be the company’s priority going forward. Changing the look and feel of both brands is something that the fans would welcome.
The current brand split has been impressive but it is yet to reach the level of success that the first one enjoyed.
#4 SummerSlam plans for Brock Lesnar
The Rumour: WWE is still planning a match between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman for SummerSlam according to Cageside Seats.
The Potential: This could go either way. On paper, Braun is currently a perfect opponent for Brock Lesnar. He has shown some excellent improvements over the past few months. But what works against him is his health. The recent injury is likely to keep him away for some time. If he is back in time for SummerSlam, this match could happen.
The Fallout: Despite his huge push, the story was never about Braun. WWE is likely to build a Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar showdown for next year’s WrestleMania. Braun, meanwhile, will be used to keep these two apart for the time being.
This is why a match between Braun and Lesnar at SummerSlam needs to happen as it delays the impending Lesnar – Reigns battle.
#3 WWE high on Aleister Black
The Rumour: As per Cage Side Seats, WWE is high on Aleister Black and his stay in NXT could be a short one.
The Potential: Things have been working well for Aleister Black ever since he joined WWE. Black even made his main roster debut by appearing on Main Event. He defeated Curt Hawkins on the show and this was probably WWE’s way of testing the waters.
The Fallout: If WWE does decide to call up Black to the main roster, it would be a huge career move for him. He does have the talent to pull it off. But in the past, we have seen such pushes fizzling out over time. So it might be better if Black spends some time in NXT before moving up.
#2 WWE interested in former Impact Wrestling stars
The Rumour: PWInsider notes that WWE is interested in signing former Impact Wrestling stars Jade and Marti Belle for the upcoming WWE Women’s Tournament.
The Potential: WWE will be eager to bring in some big names for this tournament. Jade was ranked sixth in the list of 2016 top 50 Females by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Marti, meanwhile, was ranked 32nd.
This shows that both Jade and Marti had a great year in 2016. Considering this, It wouldn’t be a surprise if WWE chases these two for the tournament.
The Fallout: Having popular names in the bracket is good for any tournament. WWE’s Women’s tournament will be no different. Marti and Jade are two names that can attract fans and hopefully, WWE will be able to strike a deal.
#1 Roman Reigns to feud with Bray Wyatt
The Rumour: Cageside Seats has reported that Roman Reigns will be moving into a short term program with Bray Wyatt
The Potential: With Braun Strowman off television, Reigns is in need of a new storyline. Bray could be a good choice. The history between Bray and Reigns could make the storyline intriguing. But keeping it short would be ideal as the story between Strowman and Reigns is far from over.
The Fallout: If such a feud does happen, it would just be a transitional one. Bray and Reigns will have better things to attend once this is over. Bray is likely to come out on top with the help of Braun if this feud materialises.
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