Conor McGregor Teases WWE Spot; JR on Stone Chilly’s Return; WWE Rumors on Pat McAfee

Bleacher Report catches you up on the most recent information from the WWE Universe.

McGregor Teases WrestleMania Look

UFC megastar Conor McGregor spoke with MMA reporter Ariel Helwani on Thursday and dropped a possible WWE-related tease within the course of.

Helwani tweeted a photograph of himself and McGregor with McGregor holding the Cash within the Financial institution briefcase:

The tweet included the caption, “Subsequent cease … ‘Mania?” resulting in hypothesis that McGregor may have some involvement with the upcoming WrestleMania 39 occasion at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on April 1 and a pair of.

WWE even added some gasoline to the proverbial fireplace by tweeting the eyes emoji in response:

The 34-year-old McGregor is among the many greatest attracts and biggest fighters in UFC historical past, proudly owning a 22-6 skilled report with 19 wins by means of knockout. He’s additionally a former UFC featherweight and light-weight champion.

McGregor’s success has waned lately, as he has misplaced three of his previous 4 fights, and he hasn’t fought since UFC 264 in July 2021 when he broke his leg in opposition to Dustin Poirier.

Whereas the Irishman has been making an attempt to work his manner again into the fold at UFC, it’s unclear how for much longer he intends to struggle.

A number of former MMA stars have made a profitable transition to WWE previously, together with Ken Shamrock and Ronda Rousey, and McGregor might have the character to exceed each of them.

WWE has lengthy cherished celeb involvement, particularly at WrestleMania, so there may be little doubt the corporate would welcome McGregor with open arms if he desires a job on the Grandest Stage of Them All.

JR Talks Stone Chilly Doubtlessly Showing at WrestleMania

AEW commentator and WWE Corridor of Famer Jim Ross commented this week on the opportunity of fellow Corridor of Famer “Stone Chilly” Steve Austin having some involvement with WrestleMania 39.

Talking on his Grilling JR podcast (h/t WrestlingInc’s Ross Berman), Ross stated the next about why he believes Austin hasn’t formally been made a part of the WrestleMania card thus far: “It simply tells me they have not give you the precise concept that makes him joyful.”

JR added that he believes Austin could be at WrestleMania “if provided a spot on the cardboard,” however he speculated WWE “did not give you an concept that he was excessive sufficient on.”

If WWE and The Texas Rattlesnake do come to phrases on some type of settlement, Ross expects it to be a phase of some type fairly than a match.

Austin had been retired from in-ring motion for 19 years earlier than making his return final yr at WrestleMania 38. Austin had been marketed for an look on The KO Present with Kevin Owens, but it surely became a No Holds Barred match as a substitute, with Austin profitable.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t WrestlingInc’s Eric Mutter) reported the 58-year-old Austin had been provided a WrestleMania match in opposition to Brock Lesnar however turned it down. He additionally reportedly turned down a match in opposition to Roman Reigns, though it’s unclear if that might have occurred at WrestleMania.

Extra lately, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp (h/t H Jenkins of ThirstyForNews.com) reported that WWE had made further WrestleMania pitches to Austin, together with a match or phase with LA Knight.

If Austin is open to doing one thing a bit much less intensive than the prolonged match he had final yr, a phase with an entertaining heel like Knight ending in a Stone Chilly Stunner may fulfill all events concerned.

McAfee Reportedly Not Returning to WWE Commentary Quickly

Former NFL punter and present multimedia star Pat McAfee turned a beloved determine throughout his yr as a coloration commentator on SmackDown alongside Michael Cole, however he might not make his return to the announce desk within the close to future.

In response to Meltzer (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside Information), Wade Barrett’s function as SmackDown coloration analyst is now “everlasting” and WWE has no plans for McAfee to return “as of proper now.”

McAfee stepped away from his SmackDown duties in September 2022 to take a job on ESPN’s School Gameday with the expectation that he would return to WWE as soon as the school soccer season was over.

Whereas McAfee did make a shock look at Royal Rumble in January as a commentator alongside Cole and Corey Graves, he has not been again on SmackDown.

That has led to some hypothesis that McAfee could also be achieved with WWE utterly, however the host of the Pat McAfee Present tweeted Thursday that he nonetheless has “large” plans on the earth of WWE:

Whether or not which means an eventual return to commentary or in-ring motion is not but recognized by anybody apart from McAfee and people inside WWE.

McAfee has wrestled a handful of matches in WWE, and he has impressed together with his athleticism every time. That included a win over Austin Principle final yr at WrestleMania 38.

It’s doubtless a bit late within the recreation for him to have a match at WrestleMania 39 until WWE does one thing impromptu.

Even when he does not wrestle, WWE would unquestionably like to have him and his star energy at WrestleMania in some capability.

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