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Latest Rumors on Bray Wyatt's WWE Release, Relationship with Vince McMahon and More

Aug 1, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 02:  WWE professional wrestler Bray Wyatt attends Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia 2017 - Day 2 at Pennsylvania Convention Center on June 2, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 02: WWE professional wrestler Bray Wyatt attends Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia 2017 - Day 2 at Pennsylvania Convention Center on June 2, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)

WWE sent shockwaves through the professional wrestling world Saturday when it announced the release of Bray Wyatt after 12 years with the company.

Since Wyatt had been one of WWE's top stars over the past several years and a successful mover of merchandise by all accounts, few could have expected the promotion to cut ties with him.

Now, Wyatt is the latest in a long line of significant releases since March, joining the likes of Braun Strowman, Aleister Black, Andrade and Mickie James.

In the wake of Wyatt's WWE departure, here is a look at some of the biggest rumors regarding his release.


Wyatt Reportedly Received Medical Clearance Recently

Prior to his release, Wyatt hadn't appeared on WWE programming since Raw the night after WrestleMania 37 in April.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), Wyatt was off television because of "medical reasons" and had only recently gotten cleared to return.

Meltzer added that before WWE could put him back on TV, it decided to release him, telling Wyatt that the move was done for "budgetary reasons."

Wyatt's last match in WWE came at WrestleMania 37 against Randy Orton. Surprisingly, Wyatt lost the match when he got distracted by Alexa Bliss.

Bray appeared in a Firefly Funhouse segment the next night on Raw but never resurfaced on television after that.

It is unclear what Wyatt's medical issue was and how long it had been impacting him, as he was kept off television for a few months before the build to WrestleMania as well.

Given that Wyatt has reportedly been medically cleared, it stands to reason he will be able and ready to wrestle immediately should he sign elsewhere.


Wyatt Reportedly Had Creative Issues with WWE

Leading up to his release, Wyatt was reportedly frustrated with the creative direction of his character.

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported such as part of a live stream Saturday on YouTube shortly after Wyatt's release was announced.

Sapp said those who he spoke to within WWE told him Wyatt "wasn't receptive" to some of the ideas pitched to him if they didn't fit his vision of the character. Also, Sapp said he had been told that Wyatt has "not been all in on wrestling as of late."

Wyatt is widely regarded as one of the best creative minds in wrestling, and it is easy to see why, as he brought the original Wyatt Family leader character to life and eventually transitioned into the split personality of Firefly Funhouse Wyatt and The Fiend.

Some strange creative decisions regarding Wyatt's character were made in the months before his release. It started at TLC in December when Orton beat The Fiend in a Firefly Inferno match.

When The Fiend returned in March, he was burnt and mangled, although he was back to normal for his WrestleMania match against Orton.

The booking of the WrestleMania match was surprising given that The Fiend was widely expected to win and go on a big run after the fact.

It is unclear if losing at WrestleMania played into Wyatt's dissatisfaction, but it was a less-than-ideal way for him to go out.


Wyatt's Relationship with McMahon Was Reportedly Strained

Wyatt reportedly may not have been on the best terms with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon prior to his release.

According to PWInsider (h/t Upton), the relationship between Wyatt and McMahon "ran very hot and cold at times."

It is a somewhat surprising revelation given that Wyatt was seemingly provided more slack and leeway from a creative perspective than almost anyone else in the company, which isn't something McMahon takes lightly.

That type of treatment is normally reserved for only the top stars in the company, with Roman Reigns, John Cena and Orton serving as current examples.

PWInsider also reported that McMahon giving WWE President Nick Khan carte blanche to make significant financial decisions may have contributed to Wyatt's release as well.

It was noted by PWInsider that McMahon has given Khan "the ability to run things far more than anyone else has historically been able to accomplish," and because of that, there is "likely less of a pushback" from McMahon when the idea of releasing a high-priced wrestler is discussed.

A similar situation seemingly happened with Strowman last month, as Strowman was one of WWE's top guys and was likely being compensated like one as well.

If Wyatt's release was indeed financially motivated, it marks a continuation of the shift away from WWE's previous stance, which was to sign and pile up as much talent as possible.


WWE Reportedly Almost Released Wyatt Previously

While Wyatt was released from WWE on Saturday, the company reportedly considered releasing him prior to that.

According to Fightful Select (h/t Upton), Wyatt's "name was brought up" when previous roster cuts were made.

WWE parted ways with multiple Superstars shortly after WrestleMania and did so again in early June.

Since Wyatt appeared on Raw the night after WrestleMania 37, it is likely safe to assume there were no plans at that point to release him. That could mean Wyatt was considered for a June 2 release, which is when Strowman, Black and a handful of others were let go.

WWE's roster moves have reportedly been financially motivated in the midst of WWE continuing to report record profits thanks largely to its billion-dollar television deals with Fox and NBC Universal.

The true motivations behind Wyatt's release are only known by McMahon and a select few others within WWE, but the decision remains a puzzling one given how much popularity and support Wyatt had cultivated over the years.


Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bray Wyatt Released from WWE Contract After 12 Years with Company

Jul 31, 2021

WWE announced another high-profile release Saturday: former WWE and Universal champion Bray Wyatt.

Wyatt signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2009 and had been part of the main roster since 2010. In addition to being a one-time WWE champion and two-time Universal champion, Wyatt held the Raw and SmackDown Tag Team championships.

WWE has parted ways with several big-name talents since WrestleMania 37 in April. Wyatt joined Braun Strowman, Aleister Black, Mickie James and The IIconics, among others.

Wyatt had not appeared on WWE programming since the night after WrestleMania 37 during a Firefly Fun House segment. At WrestleMania, Wyatt competed as The Fiend and lost to Randy Orton because of a distraction by Alexa Bliss.

There has been a great deal of speculation regarding Wyatt's absence, but it was never made clear why he was held off television.

Last week, PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton) reported that some within WWE felt Wyatt's hiatus was "not related to a creative issue."

H Jenkins of Ringside News later reported the reason for Wyatt's absence from WWE programming was "medical."

Wyatt remained active on social media, including tweeting that he missed the fans:

The 34-year-old Wyatt, who is the son of former WWE Superstar Irwin R. Schyster, broke into WWE under the name Husky Harris.

After a failed venture in the Nexus stable, Wyatt was sent to FCW and later NXT, where he developed the Wyatt character. Wyatt resurfaced on WWE's main roster in 2012 alongside Erick Rowan and the late Luke Harper—also known as Brodie Lee—as The Wyatt Family.

The Wyatt Family eventually added Strowman to the mix and experienced a great deal of success before breaking up.

Most recently, Wyatt had returned to prominence with his Fiend character, which debuted in 2019. Wyatt's character was partly The Fiend and partly the Firefly Fun House version of himself.

Wyatt became a two-time Universal champion using that persona, and he beat John Cena in a Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania 36 last year.

While the circumstances and reasons for Wyatt's release remain unclear, speculation regarding his arrival in AEW may ramp up in the coming weeks.

AEW has signed many former WWE talents following their releases from WWE since coming into existence two years ago. Among them are Malakai Black, Miro, Andrade El Idolo, FTR and Cody Rhodes.

AEW signed both Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho after they declined to sign new contracts with WWE as well.

Now, rumors are running rampant that AEW is bringing in two more former WWE stars in Daniel Bryan and CM Punk.

A return to WWE could always be on the table as well if Wyatt indeed wants to continue wrestling, but his departure undoubtedly was a shock given his lofty standing within the company.

Latest WWE and AEW Rumors on Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Jon Moxley

Jul 30, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11:  WWE champion Brock Lesnar speaks during a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lesnar will face former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will take on heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31.  (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE champion Brock Lesnar speaks during a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lesnar will face former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will take on heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.


Lesnar Reportedly Not Negotiating with AEW

While AEW is reportedly set to bring in some huge stars, Brock Lesnar doesn't appear to be among them.

According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), AEW and Lesnar spoke "maybe once in passing, like nothing serious whatsoever."

Lesnar has been a free agent since shortly after his last WWE match, which was a loss to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36 in April 2020.

While Lesnar's eventual WWE return has long been assumed, it has yet to happen, which has led to speculation that perhaps AEW could get itself into the conversation.

AEW is rumored to be signing a pair of former top WWE stars in CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, meaning it doesn't necessarily need Lesnar right now, despite how big of a deal his arrival would be.

WWE seemingly has a bigger need for Lesnar, especially since Bobby Lashley is the reigning WWE champion. Fans have been calling for a Lesnar vs. Lashley dream match for years, and WWE would appear to have a better chance than ever to make it happen.

Lashley is scheduled to defend the WWE title against a former Lesnar rival in Goldberg at SummerSlam, which could conceivably leave the door open for The Beast Incarnate to resurface.

Lesnar vs. Universal champion Roman Reigns would also be a money match, especially with former Lesnar advocate Paul Heyman now representing Reigns.

AEW would be wise to reach out to and consider any wrestler who would improve the product, but there is no indication that Lesnar is on the radar right now.


WWE Reaction to Punk, Bryan Possibly Signing with AEW

WWE and its television partners reportedly have different views on Punk and Bryan potentially signing with AEW.

According to Zarian (h/t Middleton), WWE's television partners are "shocked" AEW was able to sign Punk, while WWE is "not very concerned" about the move since it wasn't in negotiations to bring him back anyway.

WWE reportedly does see Bryan leaving for AEW as a "big hit," however, because of his popularity and how deeply he had been entrenched in WWE for the past decade.

Regarding the signings as a whole, a TV network source told Zarian, "WWE is not as concerned about the possible Daniel Bryan and CM Punk signing to AEW as we are."

Punk and Bryan are two of the biggest names in pro wrestling, and AEW signing them would be a huge deal.

The signing of Punk would be especially significant since he has not wrestled in seven years. Punk has been viewed as the biggest free agent in wrestling during that time, and it was unclear if he would ever return.

Bryan, meanwhile, returned from what was thought to be a career-ending injury a few years ago and has resumed being one of WWE's top stars since then.

He even competed in the main event of WrestleMania 37 in April against Reigns and Edge.

While it is possible there is nothing WWE could have done to prevent Bryan and Punk from going to AEW, the signings should provide AEW with even more momentum and put the pressure on WWE to respond with some big moves of their own.


Moxley Possibly Facing NJPW Star at All Out

AEW is reportedly planning a huge cross-promotion match involving Jon Moxley at the All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 5.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Jason Ounpraseuth), Moxley told AEW President Tony Khan he wanted to face a New Japan Pro-Wrestling star at All Out, and Khan agreed to the idea.

While Moxley's opponent hasn't yet been confirmed, it reportedly may be Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Mox dropped the IWGP United States Championship to Lance Archer in a Texas Death Match on Dynamite last week. Archer then successfully retained the title against NJPW's Hikuleo this week.

Prior to Archer vs. Hikuleo, a video of Tanahashi laying down an IWGP United States title challenge was shown on Dynamite:

Following Archer's win, it is official that he will defend against Tanahashi at a NJPW show in Los Angeles on Aug. 14.

Should Tanahashi win that match, it could set the stage for Moxley vs. Tanahashi with the IWGP United States title on the line at All Out.

Tanahashi is one of the biggest stars in the history of Japanese wrestling, as the 44-year-old veteran is an eight-time IWGP Heavyweight champion and two-time IWGP Intercontinental champion.

Moxley vs. Tanahashi would be a blockbuster dream match on any card, and it would add even more star power to what figures to be a stacked All Out event.


Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Ric Flair Praises John Cena, Says He 'Represents WWE at the Highest Level'

Jul 28, 2021
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2020, file photo, actor John Cena attends the Road to "Fast & Furious 9" Concert at Maurice A. Ferre Park in Miami Beach, Fla. Cena apologized Tuesday, May 25, 2021 to fans in China after he called Taiwan a country in a promotional interview for his upcoming film and became the latest celebrity to face the fury of Chinese nationalists. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2020, file photo, actor John Cena attends the Road to "Fast & Furious 9" Concert at Maurice A. Ferre Park in Miami Beach, Fla. Cena apologized Tuesday, May 25, 2021 to fans in China after he called Taiwan a country in a promotional interview for his upcoming film and became the latest celebrity to face the fury of Chinese nationalists. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)

At SummerSlam, John Cena will get a chance to break Ric Flair's record and become a 17-time world champion—even if Roman Reigns is temporarily balking at the challenge.

If Cena does wind up unseating Flair as the most decorated men's competitor in WWE history, the Nature Boy is all for it.

"John Cena, the man's a star," Flair told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. "He gave 10 years, every day of his life, to the business, and he is still finding new ways to work hard. John just doesn't know any other way. It's been a pleasure to see every piece of work he's done so far since coming back."

Cena returned to WWE at this month's Money in the Bank pay-per-view and immediately threw down the gauntlet to Reigns, who has held the Universal Championship for nearly a year. Reigns is in the midst of by far the greatest run of his career and has largely decimated the SmackDown roster—necessitating Cena returning from his burgeoning acting career to make an in-ring comeback.

Cena has not held a WWE championship since 2017. Before returning at MITB, he had not been on WWE programming in over a year because of scheduling conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic.

"John represents WWE at the highest level," Flair said. "I'm as big a John Cena fan as you can find. Look at what's in store. John working Roman Reigns—that's going to be special."

Khan Talks Punk, Bryan AEW Rumors; Big E On Malakai Black Feud; WWE Queen of the Ring

Jul 28, 2021
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Phil "CM Punk" Brooks attends the Beyond Fest Premiere Of "Girl On The Third Floor"at the Egyptian Theatre on October 01, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by John Wolfsohn/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Phil "CM Punk" Brooks attends the Beyond Fest Premiere Of "Girl On The Third Floor"at the Egyptian Theatre on October 01, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by John Wolfsohn/Getty Images)

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.


Khan Won't Comment on Punk, Bryan Rumors

Rumors have been swirling regarding CM Punk and Daniel Bryan signed with All Elite Wrestling, but AEW President Tony Khan isn't ready to address those rumors publicly.

Khan was asked about the possibility of Punk and Bryan joining AEW in an interview with Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post.

Khan said: "I have no comment on those. Those are good questions, but I can't comment on those."

When pressed further on Punk and Bryan, Khan added: "I can't comment on those two guys. But I think there are certainly a lot of exciting rumors right now."

Last week, Fightful (h/t WrestlingInc's Joshua Gagnon) reported that Punk was negotiating for a potential return to pro wrestling with AEW.

BodySlam.net's Cassidy Haynes later reported that Bryan had signed with AEW and was "100 percent locked in" with the company.

Punk has been out of wrestling for more than seven years ever since leaving WWE after the 2014 Royal Rumble. Bryan, meanwhile, wrestled for WWE as recently as April before his contract expired.

It can be argued that Punk has long been the biggest free agent in wrestling, and the multitime WWE world champion would undoubtedly move the needle for AEW.

Bryan would be a huge signing for AEW as well, considering he is also a multitime WWE world champion who headlined WrestleMania 37 against Roman Reigns and Edge in April.

AEW has already gained a great deal of traction in its two years of existence, and the arrival of Punk and Bryan could be what it needs to further challenging WWE's television viewership numbers.


Big E Talks Nixed Feud vs. Black

Big E seemingly began a feud with Aleister Black on SmackDown in May, but it never got off the ground, as Black was surprisingly released two weeks later.

In an interview with Louis Dangoor of Give Me Sport, Big E addressed that storyline publicly for the first time, saying:

"I don't know the plans. I had no idea. Obviously we'd seen the vignettes for weeks and weeks, then he comes out at the end of the main event and kicks me in the face so I think, 'Alright, it's him and I. We're going to run for a bit.' So I definitely was surprised by his release.

"I think he's extremely talented, I think he has a ton to offer. I think people were excited to see us, you know because there's such a difference in the way that we carry ourselves, in our characters, in many ways polar opposites. I think it could have made for a lot of fun."

Black's release occurred on June 2, less than two weeks after his first live appearance on WWE programming in months.

WWE had held Black off television for quite some time and it was unclear if he would ever return. His return came as something of a surprise, but his departure was even more shocking given the time WWE had invested in vignettes hyping up his return.

While it is unfortunate that Big E vs. Black never happened, things have seemingly worked out quite well for both of them.

Big E went on to win the men's Money in the Bank ladder match this month, meaning he is just a successful cash-in away from becoming world champion for the first time.

Black made his AEW debut one month after his WWE release as Malakai Black and immediately entered into a rivalry with Cody Rhodes.


Queen of the Ring Finals Date Reportedly Set

WWE reportedly has plans to hold the finals of the rumored Queen of the Ring tournament on a major stage.

According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast, WWE is planning on holding an October show in Saudi Arabia for the first time since February 2020, and the finals of Queen of the Ring will take place then.

WrestlingInc's Raj Giri initially reported last week that WWE was working on putting together a Queen of the Ring tournament for the first time in company history.

King of the Ring has been held many times and used to be a significant WWE pay-per-view, but an equivalent tournament has never happened for WWE's female Superstars.

The tournament would be significant under any circumstance, but holding the final in Saudi Arabia would take it to a different level.

Due to that country's stringent customs, women were not allowed to be on the card the first few times WWE held shows there, but that changed at Crown Jewel in October 2019 when Natalya faced Lacey Evans.

Another women's match was held in the country at WWE Super ShowDown in February 2020 when Bayley took on Naomi.

The Queen of the Ring finals would be the highest stakes yet for a women's match in Saudi Arabia, and it would likely make the winning moment even more memorable.


Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

John Cena on The Rock's Future: 'As a Fan of WWE, I Really Hope He Returns'

Jul 28, 2021

John Cena isn't the only major superstar expected to return to WWE this year.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight's Ash Crossan at a press junket, Cena addressed the possibility of The Rock coming back to the promotion.

"As a fan of WWE, I really hope he returns. I think it would be special for everyone," Cena said.

There have been widespread rumors that Rock is looking to step in a WWE ring again. Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc) reported last week that WWE has targeted Survivor Series as the date for the Great One to come back.

This year's Survivor Series will mark the 25th anniversary of Rock's in-ring debut with WWE. It's expected that will be the beginning of a feud with Roman Reigns that culminates in a match at WrestleMania 38 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on April 3.

Cena greeted the WWE Universe at Money in the Bank when he came out after Reigns defeated Edge in the main event to retain the universal title.

The leader of the Cenation has challenged Reigns to a match for the championship at SummerSlam, but the Head of the Table turned it down on Friday's episode of SmackDown.

Nikki A.S.H., Charlotte, Ripley Set for WWE Raw Women's Title Match at SummerSlam

Jul 27, 2021

Nikki A.S.H. quickly learned what it means to go from the hunter to the hunted.

Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville announced Monday on Raw that Nikki will defend the Raw Women's Championship in a Triple Threat match against Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley at SummerSlam on Aug. 21.

Nikki shocked the world when she cashed in her Money in the Bank contract and beat Flair for the title last week on Raw. 

A quick cash-in can work for a babyface in the right circumstances. Nobody took issue with Dean Ambrose sneaking up behind Seth Rollins to wrest away the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank 2016.

In Nikki's case, she'd benefit from making a strong title defense.

The Glasgow, Scotland, native is a two-time women's tag champion with Alexa Bliss but hadn't enjoyed a notable singles run in WWE prior to Money in the Bank. Beating a weakened Flair with a cross-body splash only goes so far toward making her a credible Raw women's champ.

Besting Flair and Ripley at SummerSlam is the kind of result that could elevate Nikki in a big way. It's a moment that would anoint her as a top star in the women's division for WWE's flagship program.

The Rock Says 'There's Nothing' for Me to Tease About a Possible WWE Return

Jul 26, 2021
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere Of Disney's "Jungle Cruise" at Disneyland on July 24, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere Of Disney's "Jungle Cruise" at Disneyland on July 24, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)

John Cena may have put his acting career on hold, but Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson downplayed the idea of returning to a WWE ring.

The Rock told Entertainment Tonight's Matt Cohen that "there's nothing" coming through the pipeline when asked about his future in the squared circle.

The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment hasn't competed since WrestleMania 32 in 2016, and that was only a short, impromptu match against Erick Rowan. His last sustained run was all the way back in 2013, which culminated in a loss to Cena at WrestleMania 29.

Between that long layoff and the extent to which Johnson's profile has grown in Hollywood, most fans have probably assumed the 49-year-old is effectively done with WWE.

However, the rumors of a comeback refuse to go away.

Paul Heyman told GiveMeSport.com's Oliver Browning in March that The Rock and WWE have held preliminary discussions about a WrestleMania clash with Roman Reigns. Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast (h/t Wrestling Inc.'s Marc Middleton) reported last week he might wrestle at Survivor Series as a way to lay the groundwork for that match.

At Survivor Series 2011, The Rock teamed up with Cena before their singles match at WrestleMania XXVIII.

For now, Johnson is obviously going to downplay the possibility of wrestling again. He wouldn't want to let the cat out of the bag on the red carpet at a movie premiere. And perhaps he was being entirely genuine when he said there's nothing on the horizon.

But that's unlikely to quell the speculation. 

The Simpsons Eyes The Rock; Kenny Omega Talks AEW, WWE Crossover; Nikki Wants Becky

Jul 26, 2021
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere Of Disney's "Jungle Cruise" at Disneyland on July 24, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere Of Disney's "Jungle Cruise" at Disneyland on July 24, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE and AEW.

'Simpsons' Wants The Rock for Cameo

Carolyn Omine, a writer for The Simpsons, says the writer's room recently came up with an idea for The Rock to make a cameo appearance.

“There’s a story that we actually came up with, Lisa and The Rock … but we don’t know [if it will happen] yet,” Omine said at Comic-Con@Home 2021. “We’re still hoping that The Rock will hear us. If anybody knows The Rock, tell him that we want that!”

Given that The Rock isn't known for being especially picky about his projects and The Simpsons is a legendary show, it's hard to see him turning down the offer.

Not only that, if the wrestler-turned-actor decides to strap up the boots one more time and face cousin Roman Reigns, it'll be a great cross-promotional opportunity for SmackDown on Fox.

Kenny Omega Says WWE Crossover is Possible

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxBvL88SkR4

One of AEW's most notable accomplishments since its debut has been its strong working relationship with other promotions. New Japan and Impact have lent both their stars and championships to AEW programming, and AEW has reciprocated. 

Of course, there's one major wrestling promotion that has not joined in on the fun: WWE. During an appearance on Wrestling Observer Radio, Omega said he could someday see the companies working together—albeit not anytime soon.

“The one huge crossover, will you ever see WWE team up with anybody?” Omega asked. “Who knows? I feel as the world evolves and changes and time goes by, people become more open-minded to everything, whether it be the wrestlers themselves, people in the office, the fans.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath, but at the same time, I would never say it’s impossible.”

Given some of the recent rumors about a leader of a certain movement leaving WWE for AEW, perhaps WWE might want to open its walls a little to the outside world and allow the light in. Otherwise, the company may see more stars bolt in favor of professional freedom.

Nikki A.S.H. Has Sights Set on Becky Lynch

No one knows when Becky Lynch will return to WWE, but the overwhelming odds say it'll be soon. Perhaps very soon.

If Nikki A.S.H. has her way, Lynch's return match will be against the new Raw women's champion.

“I’m ready for the challenge from Becky and I truly hope it does happen,” Nikki A.S.H. told Ross Crae of the Sunday Post. “Becky and Drew [McIntyre] have been amazing role models, inspiring me and creating that blueprint.”

Given her gimmick is mostly one played for comedy, the overwhelming odds are Nikki A.S.H.'s title reign isn't going to be a long one. The company could hot-shot it back to Charlotte Flair–it would surprise absolutely no one if Flair demanded and received a rematch Monday night and then got her belt back—or use it as an opportunity to bring back Lynch, who has been out more than a year after having a daughter with Seth Rollins.

Lynch technically never lost the Raw title, so there's a natural storyline there that wouldn't make her look heelish for challenging a face like Nikki. 

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Former WWE Star Braun Strowman Teased by Bare Knuckle FC as Next Signee

Jul 25, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11:  WWE wrestler Braun Strowman speaks during a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31.  (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE wrestler Braun Strowman speaks during a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Bare Knuckle FC teased former WWE Superstar Braun Strowman as a possible signee Saturday.

The promotion tweeted the following photo of Strowman in attendance at Friday night's Bare Knuckle Fight Club 19 in Tampa, Florida:

Strowman, 37, was surprisingly released by WWE in June, and while it was assumed he would continue his pro wrestling career, perhaps a new challenge could be in the cards.

Before signing a developmental contract with WWE in 2013, Strowman was a successful strongman, winning several notable competitions.

He went on to become one of WWE's top stars, holding the Universal, Intercontinental and Raw Tag Team Championships during his six years on the main roster.

His release from the company was shocking considering he beat Goldberg for the Universal Championship at WrestleMania 36 last year and beat Shane McMahon in a steel cage match at WrestleMania 37 in April.

While Strowman wasn't every wrestling fan's cup of tea since he wasn't known for putting on masterclass matches, he has the ideal size and look for the wrestling business.

Strowman's name also has plenty of credibility now after a highly successful stint in WWE.

On Friday, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton) reported WWE may have interest in re-signing Strowman.

Returning to WWE or signing with another wrestling company could be enticing to Strowman, but a stint in Bare Knuckle FC may also be worth considering.

Bare Knuckle FC has already signed some big names from the MMA and boxing worlds, including Paulie Malignaggi and Paige VanZant, and Strowman would likely bring even more eyes to the product.

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