2 WWE Rumors we hope are true and 3 we hope aren't: Hall of Famer is not coming back, Roman Reigns' match cancelled, 7-time champion retiring?
Welcome to another exciting edition of WWE Rumors we hope are true and those we hope aren't.
We will start today's column with an unfortunate update on a WWE Hall of Famer potentially not stepping inside the squared circle anytime soon. A long-awaited dream match featuring Roman Reigns has once again seemingly been canceled.
After John Cena, another former champion is set to embark on a farewell tour soon. Meanwhile, we have learned a potential return date for CM Punk. And speaking of returns, Paul Heyman's status with The Bloodline has been revealed.
Continue reading as we dive into the top five rumors of the week.
#5. Hopefully Not True: Goldberg vs. Gunther not happening?
Goldberg has been very vocal about retiring on his own terms. Two years on from his last WWE match against Roman Reigns, Da Man was spotted with his family in attendance for Bad Blood.
WWE didn't waste any time putting him in an altercation with Gunther, who took personal shots at the WCW icon. The situation escalated quickly, prompting Goldberg to jump the barricade to attack The Ring General. But the security held him back.
Many thought the seeds for the blockbuster match between Gunther vs. Goldberg were planted that night. Triple H even held a discussion with Da Man backstage and said the two men would "talk more very soon."
But contrary to the speculation, WWE has no plans to book this match either at Survivor Series or WrestleMania 41 next year.
We hope this rumor is not true because WWE wouldn't tease a program between Gunther and Goldberg if there were no plans for the two men to collide down the road.
#4. Hopefully Not True: The Rock set to miss WrestleMania 41
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson returned at the end of Bad Blood to tease a three-way program with Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Recent reports have suggested that a triple-threat match was on the cards for WrestleMania 41.
However, that is no longer the case. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, The Final Boss has informed WWE that he can't do The Show of Shows next year due to his "very heavy schedule."
We hope this backstage rumor is not true because WWE wouldn't have brought The Rock back at Bad Blood for no reason.
The People's Champ recently uploaded an Instagram post that says, "See ya down the road." This all but confirms he will be back to ignite his program with Reigns and Rhodes in the near future.
#3. Hopefully True: CM Punk's WWE return date
CM Punk's future has been up in the air since he took a leave of absence on the Bad Blood fallout episode of RAW.
The Straight Edge Superstar defeated Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell last weekend. There were rumors that he would ignite a buzzworthy program with Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship.
However, his sudden removal from the Survivor Series: WarGames advertising seemingly nixed those plans. The Best in the World is all set to miss the Crown Jewel Premium Live Event on November 2 as well.
It doesn't look like his hiatus will last long, as WrestleVotes reported that CM Punk is slated to work Survivor Series: WarGames on November 30.
We hope this rumor is true because WWE hinted at an imminent rivalry between Rollins and Punk.
The Visionary is likely to wrap up his program with Bronson Reed at Crown Jewel. Once that feud is over, Triple H could pull the trigger on either CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins or a CM Punk vs. Gunther match later this year.
The Straight Edge Superstar returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames in 2023. It only makes sense that `he would compete at the marquee show this year.
#2. Hopefully True: Paul Heyman is coming back soon
Paul Heyman has been absent from WWE TV since Solo Sikoa-led Bloodline powerbombed him through the announce desk.
With Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso back, fans have been waiting with bated breath to see when The Wiseman will return to The Bloodline story. Despite his absence, Heyman is said to be working closely with Reigns backstage.
According to WRKD Wrestling, Paul Heyman is expected to be back "soon." There's no word on whose side he will be on since there have been some rumblings about The Wiseman potentially working with The Rock upon his return.
Is another family betrayal on the cards? Only time will tell.
#1. Hopefully Not True: AJ Styles legitimately injured
AJ Styles had a rough outing on his SmackDown return last week. The Phenomenal One faced Carmelo Hayes after the two men engaged in a war of words.
During the match, Styles suffered an ankle injury, forcing the referee to stop the match and declare Hayes the winner. Initially, many assumed that the former O.C. leader faked his injury.
But the wide speculation was put to rest when it was confirmed that AJ Styles was legitimately hurt. According to the reports, the 47-year-old stalwart was 'pretty mad' with the way things panned out.
Styles was set to begin his farewell tour, but the untimely injury appears to have halted those plans for now:
"Styles suffered a mid-foot ligament sprain in his singles match with Hayes. While he started selling when landing on his feet after a quebrada, and was selling an injury, the leg went out when he was doing an ushigoroshi and the referee stopped the match. He was pretty mad about the whole thing. Styles was to start a storyline where this would be his farewell tour or doing a retirement tease and that’s still the idea pending MRI results showing the severity of the injury."
We hope AJ Styles' injury is not as serious as it seemed. As of this writing, his in-ring future depends on the pending MRI results.