Good morning, and this is your daily Grapevine! This section of Smark Henry is where we round up all the founded and unfounded rumors abound the pro wrestling scene that you may have missed over the evening.
The WrestleMania season rumors are flying hot and fast:
The WrestleMania season rumors are flying hot and fast:
- John Cena vs. Undertaker for WrestleMania 33 is no longer happening. There's no news on why, but it looks like they've got other plans for both men, including Undertaker vs. Braun Strowman. Matches that look like they might be set in stone for the card include Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg, Triple H vs. Seth Rollins, Big Show vs. Shaq, Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho for the United States Championship (at the very least), a Fatal Four-Way for the RAW Women's Championship between Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Nia Jax, and a possible multiman match for the Intercontinental Championship.
In a separate note, Samoa Joe is reportedly being considered for a big WrestleMania match. Joe hasn't been used at the latest set of NXT tapings, and that may be a sign that he could be debuting in the main roster in as early as the actual Royal Rumble match. If Joe is headed to Mania, then he's in line for a monster push. (Source: WON)
We say: The card looks all right on paper, especially the matches we're already seeing develop right now (like Owens/Jericho, Lesnar/Goldberg, etc) and the prestige certainly tops the typical single-brand PPV. They're going to need to round it out with smaller attractions, however, and there should be enough time to do that.
- There's an unverified list of NXT stars who are being groomed for an "imminent" main roster spot. This class, under wrestling legend Terry Taylor, is comprised of Hideo Itami, Kassius Ohno, Andrade "Cien" Almas, DIY, Shinsuke Nakamura, TM61, Elias Samson, Tye Dillinger, and Alexander Wolfe. Bobby Roode, Eric Young, Samoa Joe, and Austin Aries aren't really part of this class as they have different deals that don't require them to work out at the Performance Center. The next class is made up of Roderick Strong, Aleister Black, Killian Dain, The Revival, Blake & Murphy, The Authors of Pain, Dan Matha, Oney Lorcan, Riddick Moss, and Tino Sabbatelli. (Source: WON)
We say: We just have strange reactions to these lists. Why do Ohno and Nakamura have to go through a class, and not get the same type of deal Joe, Roode, and Young, and Aries get? Why is Elias Samson being groomed for a main roster spot when he doesn't understand his character? We get that the PC coaches see something else that we don't (and we can spot them in places) but it remains baffling to us all the same.
- On a related note, a planned TM61 and Revival feud has been nixed due to an injury to Shane Thorne. Thorne was injured in the latest set of tapings and will need to undergo knee surgery, which will take him out for several months. (Source: WON)
We say: Looks like NXT is going to have to shore up its already quite shallow tag team division again. It also sucks that the better-looking half of TM61 was the one who got injured, but them's the breaks.
Let us know what you think of today's news in the comments!
Photo from WWE
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