Payback garnered positive reviews from the WWE Universe. The pay-per-view excelled in several ways, and WWE has now shifted its focus to Backlash. Throughout the week that went by, Payback was the major topic of discussion among the fans. Whispers about the pay-per-view dominated the rumour mill, and some turned out to be true.
Apart from theories about Payback, several other talking points were also discussed in fan circles.
There were rumours about the current favourite to win Money in the Bank, a potential new client for Paul Heyman and the future of Jinder Mahal. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the most noteworthy rumours from the week that went by.
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#5 Baron Corbin to win Money in the Bank
The Rumour: Cageside Seats is reporting that Baron Corbin is the early favourite to win Money in the Bank this year.
The Potential: Earlier, it was reported that WWE was planning a huge push for Corbin. Considering the manner in which The Lone Wolf has been booked, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he got his hands on the elusive briefcase. Vince McMahon intends to make the former NFL player a main eventer, and a victory at Money in the Bank will put him on the fast track.
The Fallout: If WWE lets Corbin win the MITB briefcase, he will get hold of the WWE championship. The SmackDown roster’s lack of depth is no secret, and it is imperative that the Lone Wolf establishes himself as a top heel.
#4 The reason behind Great Balls of Fire
The Rumour: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that WWE may have dropped the Bad Blood pay-per-view because of its connection with Brian Pillman’s death. Pillman passed away on October 5, 1997, the same day that WWF aired the inaugural edition of Bad Blood.
The Potential: WWE always wants its fans to forget the past. Due to this, the rumour is likely to be true. The company did hold two Bad Blood pay-per-views after the death of Pillman, but these two shows came when the product was more adult-oriented. The promotion delivers a PG product these days and probably wouldn’t want ‘Blood’ in the name of one of its pay-per-views.
The Fallout: Great Balls of Fire has already captured the attention of WWE fans. Everyone seems amused by the name. Furthermore, Brock Lesnar is set to defend his title on the show. Things are bound to get funnier as we move forward.
#3 Paul Heyman to get a new client?
The Rumour: ComicBook.com is reporting that Asuka could become Paul Heyman’s latest client.
The Potential: Asuka’s has been carefully pushed, and she could flourish under the mad scientist of professional wrestling. However, this rumour is unlikely to materialise. In the past, a lot of big names have been linked with Heyman, but none of them has been paired with the iconic manager.
The Fallout: As Brock Lesnar is the reigning Universal Champion, Heyman is bound to work exclusively with him. As the man himself has stated on numerous occasions, you are unlikely to see a new “ Paul Heyman Guy” until The Beast calls time on his WWE career.
#2 Jinder Mahal could win the title at Backlash depending on fan reaction
The Rumour: WWE is not planning to make Jinder Mahal the WWE Champion as per the rumours on Cageside Seats. This plan, however, could change depending on the reaction from the fans.
The Potential: Jinder Mahal winning the title from Orton was never considered to be a significant possibility. It will take a massive paradigm shift for Vince McMahon to put the gold around the Maharaja’s waist.
The Fallout: One has to give Mahal credit for his performance so far in the storyline. If he leaves Chicago with the WWE Championship, it will be one of the biggest upsets in professional wrestling history. It will be interesting to see if WWE will take such a bold decision.
#1 Jeff Hardy to feud with Brock Lesnar
The Rumour: Sports Rageous is reporting that WWE could be planning a feud between Jeff Hardy and Brock Lesnar in the near future. It also notes that the Hardy Boyz could be splitting up soon.
The Potential: Jeff Hardy going up against Brock Lesnar is a long shot. We know how good Jeff is, but he is a long way from a match with Brock Lesnar. The immense potential of the Broken gimmick is yet to be explored by WWE, so Matt and Jeff should remain as a tag team. Going on a singles run is not going to benefit anyone.
The Fallout: WWE could book Jeff Hardy vs. Brock Lesnar for a Live event, but anything beyond that is unlikely to happen. A program between Jeff and Brock might sound good on paper but is bound to fail in execution.
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