This week’s rumors include the return of two multi-time champions from injury, plans for the WrestleMania 38 main event, a widely-anticipated return after six years, a former WWE Champion missing WrestleMania this year, a legend possibly retiring without fans realizing, and so much more.
Let’s jump right into the rumors of the week that we hope are true and those we hope aren’t:
#4. Hope is true: WWE’s incredible plan for one of the WrestleMania 38 main events
There are usually several plans made for the annual WrestleMania main event(s), but only two can be finalized. On many occasions, the originally-planned main event would have been far more exciting but is canceled due to various circumstances.
The same seems to have happened this year with the plan for Night One at WrestleMania 38. With Night Two being headlined by a champion vs. champion, title for title bout, the first night is expected to be headlined by the SmackDown Women’s Championship match between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey.
It’s a solid main event with two marquee top stars, but the original plan may have been even better, albeit clouded with a bit of uncertainty.
According to Louis Dangoor of GiveMeSport, the company originally planned Night One to be headlined by a Fatal-Four-Way match between the Four Horsewomen Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Bayley. Sportskeeda’s Israel Lutete wrote:
We hope this is true because it would have been an incredible main event for WrestleMania 38. The stage was big enough, and all four women are now big, established superstars who often receive top billing alongside the men.
However, it wasn’t necessarily the wrong decision to cancel the plan. As stated in the tweet above by Louis Dangoor, there would have been a lot of uncertainty about Bayley’s return as she has been out injured since July 2021.
However, it’s an option that WWE can always go with at any point in the next few years. Rousey vs. Flair is certainly big enough to headline Night One at the AT&T Stadium.
#3. Hope isn’t true: WWE could possibly change Stone Cold Steve Austin’s return match
There has been a lot of rumors about Stone Cold Steve Austin’s potential return to WWE. It would be one of the biggest returns in years, although many fans are skeptical. Austin is in his late 50s and hasn’t wrestled in close to 19 years.
He seems to have been content and remains one of the few legends who never went back on his word about retirement. However, there have been rumors that Austin could return to face Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38.
That match seems to make sense as WWE has been doing a storyline with Owens where he seems to be feuding with the state of Texas, and his spot at The Show of Shows is in jeopardy. Facing his real-life idol Steve Austin would be a huge boost for his career.
However, Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men podcast pointed out that the plan could potentially change at any moment to Steve Austin vs. Goldberg:
He said that it would serve its purpose even if the match is only a few minutes:
We hope this isn’t true, although Zarian mentioned that he didn’t say the match was happening. However, it’s a possibility to be considered, and not a good one.
#3. Hope is true: Roman Reigns may have potentially given Goldberg his last-ever WWE match
Goldberg wrestled the final match of his WWE contract at Elimination Chamber 2022. It made sense that the final bout on his contract would be to help elevate the company’s top star Roman Reigns.
After all, it was two years ago when they were originally going to headline WrestleMania until their match was changed as Reigns pulled out of the event. At Elimination Chamber 2022, Reigns made Goldberg pass out with the guillotine, adding another massive name to his list of fallen opponents since late August 2020.
According to a report from Wrestlingnews.co, Goldberg could potentially be retired as there has been uncertainty about his next contract. If so, Roman Reigns will have retired the legend. Sportskeeda’s Shruti Sadbhav wrote:
We hope this is true because The Tribal Chief is the perfect final opponent for the Hall of Famer. With that said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Goldberg return later this year or at some point in 2023.
#2. Hope isn’t true: Why WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was furious with Steve Austin years ago
It was over half a decade ago when the WWE Network featured a ‘Stone Cold’ podcast featuring Paul Heyman. Towards the end, the two got into a back-and-forth, with Austin seemingly teasing a bout with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32.
It was years ago, and it was also clear that Austin had no intention of returning. However, given that their originally-planned match didn’t happen and led to Stone Cold walking out of WWE (not because of Lesnar, however), there has always been a desire from fans to see the dream clash.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio, Vince McMahon was reportedly furious at Steve Austin for teasing a match that the company couldn’t deliver on:
We hope that this isn’t true because the reaction seems unwarranted. With that said, we understand and agree with the logic that they shouldn’t have teased a match that WWE couldn’t deliver.
#2. Hope is true: Update on Asuka’s and Bayley’s return to WWE
Asuka and Bayley are two big names missing from the WWE women’s division currently. Both were integral parts of their brand and are multi-time champions. They are also among the most accomplished women in the company’s history.
There’s no doubt that with all the releases that have happened since 2020, the women’s division has been gutted a bit. Asuka and Bayley were two names that the company relied on during the pandemic era, and they both delivered with flying colors.
There is a positive update on the return of both former champions. According to PWInsider, both women are expected back sooner rather than later. Sportskeeda’s Thomas Crack wrote:
We hope this is true because both women would be back on time for WrestleMania 38. However, in Bayley’s case, it might mean a return post-WrestleMania and not at or before the event.
That’s a shame because she didn’t have a match at WrestleMania 37 despite being one of the three women to carry the division between 2020 and early 2021.
#1. Hope isn’t true: The unfortunate aftermath of Bobby Lashley’s WWE title loss
Bobby Lashley has been one of the most important stars in WWE since the pandemic in 2020. He was one of the superstars who benefited from having no crowds, and his character turned into a more serious one, fulfilling his potential to become the WWE Champion.
However, his second reign with the title ended abruptly at Elimination Chamber. While he was believed to be one of the favorites aside from Brock Lesnar, he was taken out during the match and never returned, making it easy for The Beast Incarnate to wipe out the rest of the competition.
As per former creative writer Kazeem Famuyide on The Ringer Wrestling Show, Bobby Lashley could be legitimately injured and is possibly missing WrestleMania 38:
We hope this isn’t true because it’s an unfortunate time to get injured. While he was protected in the process and is likely to have a successful return, he deserves to compete at The Grandest Stage of Them All again.
#1. Hope is true: WWE’s possible plans for Cody Rhodes’ return date
Cody Rhodes to WWE seemed to be impossible only last year, but in February 2022, it could be a reality. He became a huge star outside after leaving the company and making a name for himself in the independent scene and various wrestling promotions.
AEW seemed to be the perfect home for him, but his contract ran out. After reportedly losing creative control, Rhodes took the bold move of potentially moving back to his former employer.
While it may seem surreal, all signs are pointing to Cody Rhodes’ return to WWE. Sports Illustrated reported that there is the possibility of Rhodes making his return on the RAW after WrestleMania:
We hope this is true because while it would be nice to see Cody Rhodes get a match at WrestleMania, the RAW after the show is important.
After an underwhelming episode of the red brand after WrestleMania 37, there needs to be a big moment this year. The return of The American Nightmare is as big as it gets right now.
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