Hold on tight, wrestling fans! The rumor mill is churning, and some of these potential plot twists could seriously shake up the squared circle. From Royal Rumble surprises to a title change gone wrong, we're diving deep into the whispers and speculation making waves in the world of professional wrestling. Remember, these are just rumors – juicy, tantalizing rumors – but rumors nonetheless. So, grab a grain of salt, and let's explore what might be heading our way.
Royal Rumble Rumble: When and What to Expect
The next Royal Rumble, scheduled for next month, is already generating buzz. According to WrestleVotes and Fightful Select, the show is 'officially confirmed' to kick off at 2 p.m. Eastern time. For our fans in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that translates to a 10 p.m. start. Get ready for a late night of action! But here's where it gets controversial... Some fans are already complaining about the early start time for US viewers, potentially cutting into valuable Sunday afternoon time. What do you think – is 2 p.m. ET a good time for the Royal Rumble, or would you prefer a later start?
A Lean Rumble Card?
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the current plan is for a four-match card at the Royal Rumble. That's right, four matches. This would include the two Royal Rumble matches themselves, plus two championship bouts. And this is the part most people miss... Dave Meltzer notes that even though the event is less than two months away, these title matches “are not finalized.” This could mean some unexpected challengers or even a last-minute change of plans. Could we see a completely unforeseen title defense added to the card? The possibilities are endless!
NXT Title Trouble: A Botched Finish and a Frantic Response
Now, let's talk about NXT. Tuesday night saw an unplanned title change, and the reason is...well, it's a bit of a doozy. PW Insider reports that Thea Hail's North American Championship victory over Blake Monroe came about because Hail inadvertently knocked the wind out of Monroe and didn't give her time to recover before going for the pin. Ouch! To make matters more complicated, WWE referees are instructed to treat all pin attempts as legitimate, so the ref had no choice but to count the pin.
Fightful Select adds another layer to this story: NXT had pre-taped segments featuring Monroe as champion to be used through the end of the year. Hail's unexpected victory reportedly triggered “a pretty frantic rush to try to correct things that had already been filmed in order to make sense of them.” Imagine the chaos behind the scenes! One “NXT higher up” even suggested new policies might be implemented, requiring all talent involved in Monday pre-tapes to be present at Tuesday live shows. Talk about a learning experience. This situation highlights the delicate balance between pre-planned storylines and the unpredictable nature of live wrestling.
Rematch on the Horizon?
Unsurprisingly, a Hail/Monroe rematch is reportedly in the works. The current expectation, according to Fightful, is that it will take place at New Year’s Evil. However, nothing is set in stone. Will Monroe reclaim her title, or will Hail prove her victory was no fluke? This could be a defining moment for both young stars.
Main Roster Call-Ups: Not So Fast?
Despite reports of WWE officials being impressed with the performances of Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, and Je’Von Evans during their main roster appearances, Bryan Alvarez threw a bit of cold water on the speculation. He told his X subscribers, “I had been told at this point, nobody has been called up.” This is a classic example of how quickly things can change in the wrestling world. Are these stars still on the radar for a future call-up, or has the plan shifted? Only time will tell.
TNA's New Signings
Finally, Alvarez also reported on Wrestling Observer Live that TNA has recently signed Jake Something, Zachary Wentz, Steve Maclin, and AJ Francis to three-month deals. These additions could significantly bolster TNA's roster and add some fresh matchups to their programming.
So, there you have it – a whirlwind tour of the latest wrestling rumors. Which of these rumors has you the most excited (or concerned)? Do you think the Royal Rumble start time is fair to all viewers? And what are your predictions for the Hail/Monroe rematch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We want to hear from you!
