3 Wrestling rumors we hope are true and 3 we hope aren't: Vince McMahon "personally" trying to prevent WWE star from signing with AEW, Major worry about SummerSlam cancelation?

This week's edition of WWE/wrestling rumors we hope are true and those we hope aren't is an interesting one. With only a couple of weeks left for SummerSlam, the company is gearing up for the biggest pay-per-view of the 2021 calendar year.

This week's edition features possibly bad news for WWE and fans about SummerSlam 2021, potential returns at the pay-per-view, more backstage notes, heat on a released legend and so much more:

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#3. Hope is true: Vince McMahon "personally" behind Adam Cole's WWE negotiations

Adam Cole finds himself in an odd position in WWE. Nearly four years after his debut at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 3, he finds himself without a contract. It was reported that Cole signed a short-term extension to work the SummerSlam weekend, but there seems to be no word on whether he's re-signing or not.

One thing seems to be certain - Vince McMahon and WWE view him as a valuable future superstar. According to a report on Fightful Select, McMahon had a meeting on the day of the most recent episode of SmackDown. Not only this, but he seems to like Adam Cole on a personal level, which is a good sign. Sportskeeda Wrestling's Lennard Surrao wrote:

"Fightful Select released an update and noted that the meeting went well, and Vince McMahon "seemed to have taken a liking to Adam Cole on a personal level."

The report stated that Adam Cole was taken to meet Vince McMahon hours before SmackDown and that there was positive feedback. Not only this but Cole is reportedly wanted on the main roster. This shouldn't come as too big a surprise since he has been in NXT for four years - longer than anybody would have expected.

Not only this, but Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Adam Cole received an offer from AEW. Sportskeeda Wrestling's Zain Jafri wrote:

"Amidst news of Adam Cole's contract expiring soon, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter now reports that Cole has been offered a contract by AEW. Meltzer further noted that Adam Cole is also negotiating with WWE, but as of now, Cole has accepted neither offer."

We hope all of this is true because Adam Cole instantly has more bargaining power. Although nobody in WWE seems safe from the chopping block anymore, it's a sign that there could be big plans for him.

#3. Hope isn't true: WWE internal speculation about SummerSlam cancelation

Is SummerSlam in jeopardy for WWE?

WWE's return to the road could come to a halt before it even gets fully started. While RAW, SmackDown, and pay-per-views are now in front of full-capacity live audiences, the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has led to speculation that governments may ban public gatherings.

There is reportedly an internal discussion and belief that SummerSlam might have to be canceled. However, Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net reported that the promotion might be forced to return to the Thunderdome or the Performance Center. Sportskeeda Wrestling's Vatsal Rathod wrote:

"According to Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net, WWE internally expects that they will have to return to the Performance Center or go to another venue with the ThunderDome structure in the next couple of weeks. The rising cases of COVID-19 in the United States could lead to large public gatherings being restricted once again."

The report additionally stated that the company's return to the road could come to a screeching halt. Given the situation last year, it's almost certain that WWE, AEW, or any promotion would have a backup plan in such a case.

We hope this isn't true because it's supposed to be the biggest WWE pay-per-view of 2021. Unfortunately, if cases do rise rapidly, then governments will be left with no option but to have another lockdown.

#2. Hope is true: Bray Wyatt's reaction to WWE's booking of The Fiend

Bray Wyatt's WWE career is now over

Bray Wyatt was arguably the most misused superstar of his generation in WWE. Many fans believe that the company constantly squandered the opportunity to turn Wyatt into a larger-than-life superstar.

However, his constant defeats in the biggest matches would see him lose all the momentum that he took a long time to build. Few superstars in WWE were more dedicated than Bray Wyatt, and his time away from 2018-2019 was the perfect example of that.

He spent a long time away, contemplating a new character. The introduction of The Fiend was a big hit as it played out over the first four months. However, within less than a year, the disastrous booking decisions continued to haunt Wyatt.

A report from Fightful Select (via CSS) revealed that Bray Wyatt was "overprotective" of his character after questionable booking decisions by WWE:

"Fightful Select says they were told the creative team was informed Wyatt was “getting protective of his character” after what he saw were poor creative decisions and ideas but added the caveat that many members of said creative team didn’t actually talk to Wyatt himself and “weren’t sure if it was hearsay.”

We hope this is true because Bray Wyatt had every right to be protective over his character. The company made several questionable decisions that prevented him from becoming a huge star. After all the creative frustration, who can blame Wyatt for being overprotective of the character he spent so long creating?

#2. Hope isn't true: Major heat on Ric Flair in WWE for comments made against Finn Balor

Ric Flair was granted a WWE release

Ric Flair is no longer signed to WWE. He surprisingly wasn't cut for a long stretch between April 2020 and July 2021. However, it was Flair who asked for his release, per reports from Fightful Select. It reportedly had to do with him voicing his displeasure over "fairly recent" booking decisions.

There's a high chance that Ric Flair will end up in AEW, adding more star power to the brand. However, he has had to face a lot of heat from WWE over the last few years for anything critical he has said. The only reason he hasn't spoken out too much is that he wants to protect his daughter Charlotte Flair and not negatively affect her career, as per Dave Meltzer of WON.

WON even reported that Ric Flair had to stop his podcast because of the heat he received for certain comments:

"Flair actually gave up his podcast because he got so much heat from WWE , from anything the slightest bit critical he said, including once saying he didn’t think Finn Balor would ever main event WrestleMania because of his size, and in hindsight, history has shown thus far that Balor hasn’t main evented WrestleMania and it’s very unlikely he ever will,'' said Dave Meltzer.

We hope this isn't true because it's unfortunate to get heat for anything critical said against WWE or a signed superstar.

#1. Hope is true: Bray Wyatt's potential destination post-WWE

Bray Wyatt a few years before his WWE release

Bray Wyatt might be done with WWE, but that doesn't mean he is done with professional wrestling. He has enough name value to warrant outside interest, and the most obvious answer is AEW.

Wyatt in All Elite Wrestling seems like an interesting possibility. He isn't like most conventional superstars and was always a more character-driven wrestler than an in-ring one.

While that formula is tried, tested and works, the idea of The Fiend being in AEW doesn't seem to fit. Either way, Dave Meltzer of WON explained that the Runnels (Rhodes) and Mulligan's close family connections could lead to Bray Wyatt getting a job in AEW after his WWE release.

''The question becomes the landing point. His name value is such that most companies would have an interest in him. The character that he used in WWE wouldn’t fit well with AEW, but that isn’t to say they couldn’t modify it in some form. He’s a contemporary of Cody Rhodes, since the Rhodes and Mulligan family were close for decades,'' said Dave Meltzer.

We hope this is true because Wyatt could become a big star in All Elite Wrestling and strengthen their roster greatly. While AEW has several phenomenal in-ring talents, they need more character-driven superstars - and Bray Wyatt has value in that.

#1. Hope isn't true: The belief internally regarding numerous WWE releases

Is Roman Reigns among the only WWE superstars safe from the chopping block?

The two biggest shock releases of WWE in 2021 were Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt. Both men were proven merchandise sellers, big stars and former world champions. It was only last SummerSlam when the two headlined the show.

Wyatt was believed to be a superstar described as a "WWE lifer." However, his release in late July 2021 proved that isn't the case at all. When discussing the situation, Dave Meltzer revealed on WON that the internal belief is that only Roman Reigns and "tippy top" level superstars are safe from getting released:

"Wyatt, 34, who had spent his entire career with the promotion, was, according to sources in the company, told by John Laurinaitis that he was being cut for budgetary reasons. The news was a shock to most and led to a reaction that if they would cut him, who is safe with the exception of the tippy top guys like Roman Reigns," stated Dave Meltzer.

We hope this isn't true, but given that Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman were two main event superstars that made Vince McMahon promotion money, it likely is true.