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Backstage WWE Rumors: Latest on Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and More

Erik Beaston

On the heels of an incredible WrestleMania 40, the WWE rumor mill is churning out reports involving some of the top Superstars in the company, including former world champions Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre.

What are industry insiders saying about The Visionary and The Scottish Warrior after their eventful evenings on the grand stage in Philadelphia at the weekend?

Find out with this collection of rumors that also features Sheamus and former NXT tag team champions Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker.

Seth Rollins Injury Update

Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Seth Rollins will take time off following WrestleMania to heal up, notably his previously injured knee.

The Visionary suffered a tear in his meniscus early in 2024 and missed in-ring time, but he was cleared to compete prior to The Showcase of the Immortals.

Rollins dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to Drew McIntyre Sunday night, just 24 hours after teaming with Cody Rhodes in a loss to The Rock and Roman Reigns.

The 37-year-old could be seen noticeably limping at the conclusion of the two-night event, perhaps selling the effects of grueling performances but likely also due to the injury.

With the WWE draft on April 26 and 29, it will be interesting to see if Rollins is moved to SmackDown after being an integral part of Raw for the last two years.

Regardless, he has proved himself as one of the elite performers in the industry and a legitimate top star in WWE following his 'Mania showing. He has earned the time away, whether it's injury-related or not.

Latest on Drew McIntyre's Contract

Drew McIntyre challenged for, won and lost the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania, and he then competed in the main event of Raw—all without a new WWE contract.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that there is no new update and, as of this weekend, the Scot told co-workers that he has yet to sign a new deal with the company.

"However, even though this isn't customary of previous eras of WWE, we're told it's not cause for alarm with the new regime, and has become quite common. We're told that each situation will likely be different, and that there are plans for McIntyre in the company, and they plan on retaining him," Sapp wrote.

McIntyre has become an integral part of WWE programming and is currently embroiled in a rivalry with CM Punk that figures to be paid off when The Best in the World can return to the squared circle.

Punk suffered a torn triceps during a Future Shock DDT from McIntyre during the men's Royal Rumble match in January.

That McIntyre remains such a prominently featured performer suggests WWE is confident it will get a deal done with The Scottish Warrior sooner rather than later.

That may be the case, but if any hangups occur and McIntyre ends up departing, it will be a major fumble for a company that is otherwise as hot as it has been in three decades.

NXT Tag Team to Debut on SmackDown?

Fightful Select's Corey Brennan reported, "There have been pitches for Baron Corbin to join [Bron] Breakker on SmackDown and continue their tag team on the main roster."

The report comes on the heels of Breakker finishing up with NXT Tuesday night, when he and Corbin dropped the tag team titles to Nathan Frazer and Axiom.

While all indicators were for Breakker to explode onto the main roster as a singles competitor, few expected the partnership with Corbin to develop into a success at the rate that it has, so it is not particularly surprising that management would be contemplating the possibility of keeping the duo together.

Not only would it take some of the pressure off of Breakker but it would also serve as renewed life for Corbin on the main roster, where he has previously portrayed any number of characters.

The act was hot in NXT and the personalities would appear to translate well to the main roster. With heel champions in Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, who captured the SmackDown tag titles at 'Mania, there is a ready-made feud for the tandem, too.

Sheamus Return Timeline

Sheamus is on his way back to WWE, per the video package that aired during Monday's Raw.

Sapp reported that The Celtic Warrior may not return to TV until the week of the draft or, at the very least, will not have a defined brand until then (h/t Aaron Varble of SEScoops).

Sheamus has been healing up from a shoulder injury and has not been seen since facing Edge in The Rated-R Superstar's final WWE match on August 18.

One of the company's great workhorses, the Irishman was part of one of the best matches of 2023: the Triple Threat clash for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 39 that also featured Gunther and Drew McIntyre.

An incredibly physical worker, it is not particularly surprising that he was banged up and needed time away. Sheamus will now return to a WWE that is hotter than it has ever been in his 15 years with the company. How he integrates himself back into the mix will be of great interest.

   

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