Given the quick pace that seems to update things by the hour right now, it's no simple task to keep up with the pro wrestling rumor mill.
Not too many years ago, this wasn't a theme for mid-May on the pro wrestling calendar.
But this year? WWE has King and Queen of the Ring coming up from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while AEW's 2024 edition of Double or Nothing is right there, too.
Now add in the usual suspects—free-agency rumors, the status of certain expiring contracts and booking details, to name a few.
It makes for a wild time during a stretch that used to feel like an offseason. As such, here's a look at the must-know rumors and whether fans should buy or sell on each item.
Start Times and Major Event Dates
For WWE, the 7 p.m. ET start time for PLEs has been a success and prior rumblings have suggested it's a permanent thing.
Another report, courtesy of PW Insider (h/t Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats) says that WWE will be "maintaining the experiment" on that front. Also, that recent comments from UFC's Dana White about WWE PLEs occurring on Sunday nights won't be a regular thing.
Easy buys on both. That earlier start time for PLEs gives each card extra breathing room and comes with the benefit of letting the audience get out of arenas and away from viewing screens at home faster.
As for White's comments, it's hard to imagine WWE goes away from the Saturday night PLEs (people have to work Monday morning, after all) unless we get a few of those suggested "TKO weekend" events where both WWE and UFC are in the same city.
Verdict: Buying
Becky Lynch's Contract Status
Becky Lynch is the next big name on the rumor mill in the contracts and free-agency category.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Ortman), Lynch's contract expires in a few weeks and the "ongoing conversations" have yet to produce an extension.
But the idea Lynch would actually leave WWE after said contract expires is a fool's errand. Sure, AEW would probably love to have one of the best women's wrestlers of all time, but that's all the more reason both sides will get something done.
This feels a little bit like the Drew McIntyre situation over the last few months when the rumor mill swore up and down that he could actually leave—while in the middle of a main-event program with CM Punk.
Truthfully, most of the major free-agency decisions lately (like WWE not necessarily "competing" majorly for Kazuchika Okada or Mercedes Moné) have been super predictable...and so is Lynch's situation.
Verdict: Selling
Erick Rowan Update
The not-so-secret status of Erick Rowan and the upcoming Uncle Howdy faction inspired by Bray Wyatt continue to get updates on the rumor mill.
The latest is an item from PW Insider (h/t Ortman), which reports that Rowan has been working in Orlando at the WWE Performance Center.
That certainly fits with the constant hints and Easter eggs thrown into WWE programming lately, such as the QR codes and other things internet sleuths have uncovered.
Rowan being WWE-bound again hasn't been much of a point of speculation for a few weeks now, so that he's gearing up in the ring within the WWE structure again right as the faction seems ready to debut makes a lot of sense.
Verdict: Buying
Rock Is the Documentary Hangup?
The fate of the WrestleMania XL: Behind The Curtain documentary has been a rather hot topic on the internet since 'Mania itself.
Perhaps the most interesting point of the chatter is the inclusion of the Rock and his global brand—and whether that plays a part in an apparent delay.
Case in point, PW Insider (h/t Ortman) reporting that the holdup is because Rock has to sign off on the contents of the documentary. But Brian Gewirtz went on The Masked Man Show (h/t Ortman) and said there was an error in promotion and that there was no delay.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, though it's hard to imagine that Rock would delay a documentary this long. There's only so much footage to comb over and given that he's an "executive" higher up in the overarching company now, one can presume he has more to gain by getting the behind-the-scenes look out faster, not slower.
Verdict: Selling
The Next Notable Free Agent?
One of the other bigger names heading for free-agency speculation?
Natalya.
According to Fightful (h/t Ortman), Natalya is "set to be a free agent in a couple of weeks," which means the buzz can begin in earnest.
And while it's hard to see Natalya actually leaving WWE, like others mentioned here, she would be a massive get for another promotion. Having that sort of veteran presence can boost any women's locker room on the planet.
But like others mentioned here, that's part of the reason that while it's a buy that she's likely nearing the end of a current deal, it's hard to imagine she actually departs. It's safe to expect that she gets an extension, perhaps in the background while bigger names take up most of the free-agency spotlight.
Verdict: Buying
Read 17 Comments
Download the app for comments Get the B/R app to join the conversation