Rumor Look Back: June 7–13, 2025
Kyle Decker has been immersed in wrestling’s wild, quirky world since his teens during the Monday Night Wars. He’s been contributing to Cageside Seats since 2015.
Welcome to the weekly Rumor Look Back, a look back at rumors from six months ago and how closely they played out. Let’s dive in.
- Fightful Select reported that Triple H was filming backstage promos for WWE’s SmackDown, with a black SUV on set. One line included, “Anything worth doing, is worth doing twice.” The takeaway: this was tied to the second Vegas Mania in a row.
- Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp suggests AEW originally planned FTR vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage for All In Texas, but turning Christian babyface proved tricky because he wanted to continue The Patriarchy gimmick a bit longer.
- If Copeland’s schedule hadn’t required a Percy Jackson shoot, the plan might have moved forward. The current delay, which dampens the angle, is arguably worse than rushing it.
- The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports R-Truth’s WWE exit was a financial decision, noting his prior contract was costly for the level they used him at.
- On a numbers basis, the decision makes sense, yet a personal aspect was overlooked by many.
- PW Insider reported that JBL would be in the Worlds Collide building today, but WWE sources later said he wouldn’t be there. (1/2)
- The IInspiration (the former Iconics) signed a short-term deal with TNA that could extend if both sides are satisfied, per Fightful. They remain champions over there.
- In a separate note, PW Insider Elite asserts Harley Cameron’s bloody nose on May 28 was a work to hide an earlier injury; her actual injury occurred months earlier and requires surgery, with no return date set yet. She returned to wrestling by August and, alongside Willow, became the first AEW women’s tag champions. https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/402957/babes-of-wrath-win-aew-womens-tag-titles-timeless-love-bombs-tournament-final-winter-is-coming-dynamite
- Tay Melo is stepping into Cameron’s program with Anna Jay and, per the same report, will remain a fixture on AEW programming once she returns. This sparked a debate in the Cageside offices about what qualifies as a “fixture”—with our read leaning toward near-weekly TV presence, which Tay Melo hadn’t consistently achieved since the rumor began. (0/1)
Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer said WWE Money in the Bank’s main event needed to conclude before UFC 316’s pay-per-view at 10 pm ET, which explains why only four matches were announced. The event started at 7, and Peacock’s replay lists the show at exactly three hours. (1/1)
Meltzer also claimed WWE scrapped portions of Money in the Bank’s original main-event plan to accommodate R-Truth’s big return, arguing the moment outweighed the initial storyline. Sometimes WWE seems driven by “moments” more than coherent arcs.
BodySlam.net reports Truth signed a new deal that isn’t a typical active-roster contract but provides a path for one final run. However, this run didn’t materialize as expected. The Observer notes Truth requested a name change to Ron Killings as part of the new deal, potentially increasing value for a post-WWE farewell. Truth himself explained why he returned, addressing fan reactions.
Fightful Select notes Truth largely ignored WWE’s calls all week until Nick Khan stepped in to finalize a deal. It appeared to be damage control—the contract exists, but on-screen presence remained limited, leaving fans dissatisfied with the lack of a true Ron Killings finale.
PW Insider mentions Undertaker was backstage at Worlds Collide, possibly socializing with JBL. There’s ongoing talk about utilizing AAA’s Mr. Iguana for merchandise and appearances—WWE even sells a $60 iguana on WWEShop.
Sean Ross Sapp praised Corey Graves for his work on commentary during WWE/AAA Worlds Collide, signaling Graves’ improved standing after previously being in the doghouse.
PW Insider notes Jade Cargill is slated for a significant push, with a plan for her to face Naomi at Evolution 2 in Atlanta. (1/1)
See AlsoFemale UFC Fighter's Powerful Knockout Punch on Male Partner | MMA TrainingUFC Vegas 112: Melquizael Costa's Insane Head Kick KO! | MMA FightingCould Terence Crawford Have Defeated Manny Pacquiao? Hall of Fame InsightsDiego Pacheco vs Kevin Lele Sadjo: Full Fight Review and Undercard ResultsCory Hays of BodySlam.net says LA Knight is expected to feud with Seth Rollins heading into Night of Champions, a program that began after that show. (0/1)
Following Roxanne Perez’s doxxing and online threats, Fightful reports WWE heightened security for her Sunday meet-and-greet, taking online threats seriously. It’s a stark reminder of the real danger performers face.
Matt Riddle gave a candid hot mic moment on Going Ringside, labeling CM Punk as “a bitch to work with” behind the scenes, and claiming Punk is a headache according to Riddle’s trusted circle.
Fightful spoke with a European indie source about Mercedes Mone’s Austria title win, noting the surprise appearance helped RevPro’s online subscriptions surge after Moné’s April UK appearance. RevPro previously held one of her titles.
Fightful Select notes plans to leverage Mr. Iguana for more regular NXT appearances; the character has been well received by both fans and the WWE roster.
PW Insider reports no injuries from Worlds Collide, offering relief about Vikingo’s main-event leg scare. Vikingo reportedly attended Money in the Bank that night.
Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio indicated CM Punk was planned for Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia for months, implying talent would need to miss major events to resist going—an arduous stance when WrestleMania is involved.
Meltzer also said top WWE figures fear fans hijacking shows in the wake of the R-Truth situation, even after Truth’s re-signing cooled tensions.
Fightful Select notes Danhausen’s AEW contract could expire in July unless extended due to injury time off; he’s wrestled elsewhere but may still be under contract, having been welcomed back at Final Battle with expectations of re-entering storylines, though communication has cooled since.
A Battleground Championship Wrestling angle with Jinder Mahal (now Raj Dhesi) walking out on MASADA amid claimed match restrictions is reportedly a work, per Fightful, though the indies’ value varies—“former WWE champion” still carries weight with promoters.
Goldberg is slated to return on Raw next week to kick off a retirement storyline, with speculation a retirement match could take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta on July 12. He did appear on Raw, but his performance showed he could benefit from more conditioning. (1/1)
Viper, via Bodyslam.net and Cory Hayes, reports WWE is considering a post-SummerSlam Draft tied to a September “season premiere.” The Draft keeps resurfacing but has yet to happen in a meaningful way. (0/1)
Eric Bugenhagen (a.k.a. Rick Boogs) and Jessie Godderz are reportedly being lined up for American Gladiators, with The Miz hosting the Amazon reboot. It’s a natural fit for Godderz’s wrestling background. (1/1)
Fightful Select asks whether Thunder Rosa’s challenge to Britt Baker for All In Texas was truly a negotiated proposal or a spontaneous challenge by Rosa; AEW may not see Baker on screen until her contract ends or she’s released.
Kommander was written out of an AEW Summer Blockbuster match due to a legitimate injury; the status and duration remain unclear, though Kommander returned to wrestling in late September.
BodySlam.net’s Cory Hays says WWE is teaming with a mainstream artist to craft a fresh entrance song for Seth Rollins. The plan reportedly materialized after the injury period. Hays also notes Rollins’ faction with Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed would gain an official WWE name soon, which WWE later announced in August as Vision—this confirms the naming of Rollins’ crew. (1/1)
After Goldberg’s retirement angle, PW Insider suggests he’ll make regular Raw appearances ahead of WWE’s Atlanta events in July, though appearances were sporadic rather than consistent. (0/1)
WWE hopes Bianca Belair can return to the ring in time for SummerSlam, though a hand injury has set back her timetable. (0/1)
In a People interview, Nikki Bella hinted at a longer WWE return rather than a one-off appearance, and WrestleVotes reports WWE hopes Brie Bella will rejoin the fold with a Women’s Tag Team Title match at Evolution on the table. She might have slotted in nicely with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez before injuries altered plans. (0/1)
WrestleVotes also notes a potential team-up for Natalya and Maxxine Dupri as “The Dungeon Dolls,” with WWE working to secure the name legally. That tag team never materialized, and neither did the name.”(0/1)
The same outlet reiterates WWE’s belief in Mr. Iguana’s appeal to younger audiences, with regular NXT appearances likely.
Following Xavier Woods’ reaction to Jey Uso losing the world title to Gunther on Raw, speculation swirled about a Usos reunion to challenge New Day, but the Usos instead reunited as a tag team long after the New Day lost their titles. (0/1)
Fightful Select confirms AEW plans a Young Bucks vs. Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland match at All In Texas on July 12, aiming to secure EVPs status on the roster. (1/1)
This week’s numbers: 9/18 – 50%
Overall: 6,009/10,276 – 58.5%
Catch you next week for another look back.
Loading comments
Getting the conversation ready...
