Here's a Rewritten Version of the Rumor Look Back: June 28 - July 3, 2025
The wrestling world is buzzing with speculation, and it's time to dive into the latest rumors that are making waves.
CM Punk's Apology and John Cena's Moment of Glory: According to Fightful Select, WWE anticipated CM Punk's booing at the Night of Champions Kickoff show in Saudi Arabia and prepared accordingly. This led to John Cena's favorite moment in his illustrious career. But here's where it gets controversial... Some fans question the choice of Punk's apology as Cena's favorite moment, sparking debates about the true nature of their relationship.
Technical Difficulties at SmackDown in Saudi Arabia: PW Insider reports that multiple matches had their time cut on yesterday's SmackDown due to a lengthy power outage, causing technical difficulties early in the broadcast. This led to one rough segment, leaving fans wondering about the impact of such disruptions on the show's flow.
Hikuleo's Debut and Night of Champions Speculation: Insider also notes that Hikuleo was spotted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, leading to speculation that he may be on the show today at Night of Champions. This is his official debut as Talla Tonga, and fans are eager to see how he performs.
Claudio Castagnoli's Absence from AEW Programming: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter clarifies that Claudio Castagnoli's absence from AEW programming is not due to an injury or a business issue. His absence is described as 'nothing negative at all', and fans are relieved to hear that.
Chris Jericho's Hiatus from AEW: The Observer also mentions that Chris Jericho is 'just waiting for a Tony Khan storyline for a return'. This sparks curiosity among fans, who are eager to see if Jericho will make a comeback and what the storyline might be.
Karrion Kross and the 'No-Bump' Rumor: Fightful spoke to multiple producers who've worked on Kross' matches, and they claim that 'no-bumping' has never been an issue. This rumor raises questions about the dynamics within WWE and the power dynamics between performers.
See AlsoShara 'Bullet' Magomedov's Revenge: Targeting Michael Page Rematch in 2026WWE Live Results: Cody Rhodes vs Drew McIntyre in Steel Cage Match - Bridgeport CT 1/4WWE's Rezar to BKFC: "I'll Break Their Face With No Gloves!" KnuckleMania 6 DebutNaoya Inoue's Next Fight: Who Will Face the Pound-for-Pound Great in 2026?MJF's Surprise Appearance at Summer of the Beasts: People backstage in MLW were very happy with MJF's surprise appearance, according to Fightful. This positive feedback highlights the impact of such appearances on the overall experience for fans and performers.
Evolution 2 Battle Royal and Title Shots: Cory Hayes of Bodyslam.net notes that WWE is planning a battle royal for Evolution 2, with the winner receiving a title shot at Clash in Paris. This is accurate, as Stephanie Vaquer won the battle royal.
Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky for the Women's World Championship: Bodyslam also claims that Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky for the women's world championship was the main event at Evolution 2, and it was a favorite match of the year for many fans.
Trish Stratus' Possible Return to WWE: Fightful Select reports that WWE is working on bringing in Trish Stratus for Evolution 2, possibly working a match. This sparks excitement among fans, who are eager to see Stratus' return to the ring.
Otis' Elbow Surgery and Potential Time Missed: Fightful also mentions that Otis recently underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery, and he's not currently expected to miss much time. However, this could always change, and fans are concerned about his well-being.
Netflix's WWE Unreal Docuseries: A source close to the production provided details on Netflix's WWE Unreal to Post Wrestling, comparing it to NFL Film's Hard Knocks. They say filming is already underway for a second season, planned for early 2026 release.
Saraya's Return to WWE: Saraya told The Orlando Sentinel that she hasn't had any conversations with WWE about making a return to the company. Fans are still speculating about her potential return, and some are surprised that it hasn't happened yet.
Orange Cassidy's Return to AEW: Sean Ross Sapp on the Fightful Select podcast clarifies that Orange Cassidy's return to AEW is not expected anytime soon, and it's believed that he suffered a torn pec earlier this year.
Octagon Jr.'s WWE Contract: Octagon Jr. has signed a WWE contract, according to Bodyslam.net. The AAA luchador is no longer taking independent bookings, and fans are curious to see how he performs in WWE.
Evolution 2 Legends and Creative Negotiations: Fightful Select notes that WWE has reached out to multiple Legends about appearing at Evolution 2, mainly for being in the crowd. Creative and negotiating came down to the wire, and the entire build to the event behind-the-scenes has been hectic.
Cody Rhodes and the Street Fighter Movie: Nexus Point News claims that Cody Rhodes is currently in negotiations to play Guile in the upcoming Street Fighter movie. This is accurate, and fans are excited to see Rhodes' performance in the film.
Rusev and Tony Khan's Creative Clash: On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer claimed that Rusev and Tony Khan clashed over his creative dating back to his return from injury in 2021. This sparks discussions about the creative control within AEW and the impact of such clashes on performers.
WWE's Interest in Signing Private Party and Danhausen: BodySlam.net says WWE has interest in signing Private Party and Danhausen, and their AEW contracts are expiring soon. This raises questions about the future of these performers and the potential impact on AEW.
La Hiedra's Contract with WWE: Per Fightful, AAA star La Hiedra is telling people she has to clear dates with WWE, so the belief is that she is now under contract to them. This sparks curiosity about her future and the potential impact on AAA.
Britt Baker's Contract Status with AEW: According to a report on BodySlam.net's Patreon, Britt Baker is 'actively seeking to part ways with AEW'. However, other reports from yesterday refuted this, and sources at AEW claim that there have been no discussions about Baker exiting the company.
Miz's Return to WWE: Bryan Alvarez posted that Miz will return to WWE 'soon' as Amazon has wrapped filming for the first two seasons of their American Gladiators reboot. Miz returned at the end of July, and fans are eager to see his performance in the new show.
Travis Scott's Match at Money in the Bank: WrestleVotes clarifies that Travis Scott's match at Money in the Bank was moved to SummerSlam due to backlash over WWE letting R-Truth go. This sparks discussions about the creative decisions behind such changes and the impact on performers.
Logan Paul's Comments on Travis Scott's Training: On the Impaulsive podcast, Logan Paul gave credence to rumors that Scott didn't work with Booker T as planned to get ready for a match. Paul mentioned that Scott was 'a little fickle with his training', sparking curiosity about the dynamics between performers and their training partners.
And this is the part most people miss... The early lines for Evolution 2 give Rhea Ripley, Jacy Jayne, and Becky Lynch each an 83.3% likelihood of winning their respective matches. Naomi cashed in to win the title in the Rhea/Iyo match, and the other two predictions were correct. This highlights the importance of paying attention to the early lines and the potential impact on the outcomes of the matches.
Getting the conversation ready...
Enjoy the beginning of the New Year, everyone! And remember, the wrestling world is full of surprises, so stay tuned for more exciting rumors and updates.
