Purchase or Promote John Cena WWE Opponent Rumors, AEW’s Curiosity in Kevin Owens, Extra

The professional wrestling rumor mill has used the previous handful of days—hours, even—to bolster the concept there isn’t any gradual interval in relation to WWE and AEW buzz.

One would suppose the great September hole in main occasions would possibly trigger issues to decelerate. However the standard-fare free-agency buzz, damage updates and contract rumblings simply preserve coming down the pipeline.

Including to the standard stuff are the surprises like attainable plans for John Cena’s retirement tour in 2025 and a significant attainable change for one in all WWE’s flagship applications.

To assist followers sustain with the tempo of the rumor mill, here’s a have a look at the most important buzzing objects and whether or not every one is value a purchase or a promote.

Followers anticipating the return of Charlotte Aptitude anytime quickly would possibly need to ease off on expectations.

In accordance with Fightful Choose (h/t Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats), Aptitude nonetheless hasn’t been medically cleared to return to the ring. As such, WWE is not engaged on artistic plans for her proper now.

In fashionable instances, followers have been proper to doubt buzz like this as a result of, frankly, this could be precisely the form of factor an organization leaks in an try to cover a shock return.

And but, it looks like a purchase. Aptitude initially suffered a torn ACL and different knee setbacks throughout a match in December of 2023 on an episode of SmackDown. Followers have additionally been conditioned, by way of wrestling and in any other case, to anticipate roughly 9 months to even a 12 months for restoration time for that kind of damage.

Which means, we’re simply not that shut but, even when all is effectively on the restoration entrance, which we aren’t aware about proper now. Early 2025 would make extra sense on the construct to a WrestleMania.

Verdict: Purchase

Is Matt Riddle the following huge AEW signing?

Whereas wrestling followers would possibly pine for the thought in some capability, it could be clever to set expectations accordingly.

In accordance with Fightful Choose (h/t Ortman), AEW’s Tony Khan “has not had any curiosity” within the thought, a stance that is not new for him.

This one looks like a promote, although. Khan and AEW have a fame for signing anybody and everybody for a very good motive after years of particular bulletins, reveals, and massive signings to maintain issues fascinating.

Sure, Riddle has his baggage, which is why he’s still in the news speaking about why he would possibly or won’t be accepted again into WWE sometime. However AEW ultimately including him would make waves within the sport and create some fascinating matchups on an already-stacked roster.

Verdict: Promote

One other week, extra buzz about WWE approaching prime stars about new contracts.

In accordance with PW Insider (h/t Ortman), WWE has been involved with Nia Jax, Liv Morgan, and Rhea Ripley about new contracts.

Straightforward purchase.

Whereas the report does not elaborate on the when and the way of these Superstars ultimately changing into free brokers, it does say that it stays “aggressive” in making an attempt to signal stars to new offers.

No surprise—after years of main names like Drew McIntyre working proper as much as the deadline of free company earlier than getting new offers, the earlier, the higher. That’s, no less than from the corporate’s perspective.

Plus, extending contracts means avoiding free company drama, which additionally would possibly imply avoiding any attainable bidding wars with AEW for expertise, too.

Verdict: Purchase

SmackDown going again to USA Community is without doubt one of the greatest speaking factors in professional wrestling proper now.

WWE managed to show that up a notch, too, with WrestleVotes Radio (h/t Ortman) reporting that the present will change to a three-hour format in January of subsequent 12 months. The thought, it appears, is to line up the blue model with a three-hour format proper as its pink counterpart, Uncooked, switches over to Netflix.

However this one needs to be a promote…proper?

Followers absolutely perceive that WWE has flirted with an oversaturation drawback as it’s earlier than transferring Uncooked again to a two-hour format. That appeared to be progress in the precise course, just for this reversal of a rumor.

One would nearly suppose that if one of many exhibits needed to be three hours, it could be the one on a streaming service. Except there’s one other abrupt announcement just like the discount to Uncooked’s runtime, it looks like a promote.

Verdict: Promote

The John Cena retirement tour is coming in 2025 and one would suppose mentioned tour will run the gamut of hits, together with Randy Orton, CM Punk and…Logan Paul?

So says WrestleVotes Radio (h/t Ortman), who stories that WWE likes the thought of Cena going towards Paul in some unspecified time in the future in 2025.

As foolish because it form of sounds, this one registers as a purchase. Such a matchup falls in step with WWE’s old-school mentality of getting as many eyeballs on the product as attainable. Each guys have enormous drawing energy outdoors of wrestling, so it will make sense.

Remember the fact that this does not need to be a giant PLE match, both. WWE might prosper from the matchup, even when it is on an early episode of Uncooked on Netflix or in the course of the reported change to a few hours for SmackDown.

Verdict: Purchase

Kevin Owens is on of the most well liked names who retains developing when the subject is big-name free brokers.

Whereas there isn’t any official phrase on when Owens’ contract with WWE could be up, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful stories that WWE has approached him a few new deal—and that AEW will doubtless make a push if he turns into obtainable, too.

No-brainer, actually.

Owens is without doubt one of the fashionable greats courtesy of a physique of labor that began effectively earlier than his WWE days. He’s, imagine it or not, nonetheless simply 40 years outdated and may do something from serving to younger Superstars to working on the very prime of a promotion.

AEW would like to in some way land Owens, in fact—however he looks like a type of super-obvious WWE re-signings earlier than lengthy.

Verdict: Shopping for