Welcome to the 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 week. Remember to take everything with a grain of salt!
Here's what we know about WWE's TV schedule moving forward:
- WWE apparently did a new set of TV tapings this week. The session was held at the Performance Center on Thursday, doing three to four weeks' worth of episodes. Meanwhile, as Money in the Bank was announced canceled by the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, there is still no word on what the plans are for that show moving forward. (Source: PWTorch)
We say: Well, it seems as though nothing can get through to Vince McMahon. We're just glad there are no cases of coronavirus affecting the roster, staff, and crew, but at this point they could just find a more creative way to approach this situation.
- The Elite Deletion match between Matt Hardy and Chris Jericho teased on this week's episode of Dynamite is still reportedly up in the air. Word from AEW is that it's still being considered, but it was also unclear why Hardy's challenge to Jericho aired if that was the case. (Source: Wrestling Observer Radio)
We say: Perhaps they're just unsure of how they're going to pull it off amid restrictions and guidelines during the coronavirus situation, but if that were the case, why didn't they have Matt edit the thing?
- WWE apparently wanted Hulk Hogan to appear on WrestleMania. Hogan, who was supposed to be inducted again into the WWE Hall of Fame this year as part of the nWo, could not come to terms on a deal with the company. (Source: WON)
We say: Nobody misses you.
- Undertaker will be returning as the incarnation we saw in the Boneyard Match at WrestleMania. While there's no word on when he'll be returning to WWE programming, this will apparently be the look of the character moving forward. (Source: @Wrestlevotes on Twitter)
We say: It's really the best version of him at this point, so we'd like to give props to whoever decided he was going to be this for Mania this year.
- The kidnapping segments on NXT are leading to the formation of a new faction led by Jorge Bolly, the luchador formerly known as King Cuerno and El Hijo del Fantasma. The storyline is based on the 1970s left-leaning terrorist group, the Symbionese Liberation Army, best known for the kidnapping of media magnate William Randolph Hearst's daughter Patty Hearst. Hearst ended up being brainwashed to join the group, which will apparently be paralleled by stars Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde allying with Bolly. (Source: Wrestling Observer Radio)
We say: That's an interesting storyline, to say the least; at least some of the cruiserweight midcarders are getting used better than random generic angles on 205 Live.
Let us know what you think of today's news in the comments!
Photo from WWE
