John Cena haters and Jeff Hardy fans will have plenty to talk about after reading through the latest batch of WWE rumors.
Recent backstage reports have touched on the futures of both men. In the case of Cena, it is rumored that he will not be in the world title picture for a while.
Hardy, currently working for TNA, has reportedly been the subject of discussions within WWE. Whether that leads to anything beyond just talk remains to be seen.
Other WWE rumors feature the company's plans for Nikki Bella and the Divas Championship, as well as who is said to be a lock for next year's Hall of Fame class. Cena's name pops up in the rumblings about Nikki. That will only increase the rage many fans are feeling over her breaking AJ Lee's record as the longest-reigning Divas champ of all time.
Let's dig into those stories, in addition to the Cena and Hardy reports, in an effort to separate conjecture from reality, the implausible from the believable.
Early Hall of Fame Buzz
The 2016 Hall of Fame class won't stand on stage for more than six months from now. However, WWE may already have decided who will make up one portion of that group.
Michael "P.S." Hayes and his famous rock-and-roll crew are said to be front-runners.
PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported, "There's been a lot of talk internally that Hayes and The Fabulous Freebirds will finally be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in Dallas in 2016. Obviously, nothing official will be announced for months, but I've heard from a lot of people [that] it's pretty much considered a lock."
Inducting The Freebirds is a no-brainer. They remain one of the most famous heel teams despite being in their prime decades ago. They were innovative, unforgettable and at the heart of one of wrestling's all-time great rivalries against The Von Erichs.
Doing it when WrestleMania is in Dallas, where Hayes and company achieved their biggest fame, would be fitting. It's a an long-overdue induction, but there are no guarantees with the Hall of Fame.
This year, for example, WWE was set to add Ray Stevens to the Hall, according to PWInsider, only to eventually leave him out of the 2015 class.
Buzz About a Potential Return
The Dudley Boyz, Sting and Samoa Joe all left TNA for WWE in the last year. Another big name could potentially join them.
F4WOnline (h/t Wrestle Zone) reported that Jeff Hardy's name has been talked about a lot backstage.
WWE has previously distanced itself from Hardy. His issues with drugs have to be a part of that. But even with all the baggage he brings, the company has to at least entertain the idea of welcoming him back if the opportunity arises.
Unlike with Joe and Sting, Hardy has a previous resume with WWE and a pre-existing connection with its fans. He's younger than Sting and The Dudley Boyz as well.
Hardy would make an ideal foil for a new batch of emerging stars. Fans would certainly embrace him upon his return. But you can't blame WWE if it is wary of signing Hardy again, considering his history with drugs.
Don't forget too that he's still recovering from a broken leg that he suffered in a dirt bike accident in late April.
It's too early to start dreaming up fantasy matches. It's a long road from talking about Hardy to writing him a check.
Rumors Surrounding Nikki Bella's Title Reign
Conspiracy theorists now have some ammo. Speculation that backstage politics and a relationship with Cena helped Nikki reach her recent milestone as Divas champ got some backup in the form of a report from a longtime wrestling journalist.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer (h/t Wrestling Inc) noted that WWE officials went back and forth on what to do about the Nikki vs. Charlotte match. He also mentioned that if Nikki were to retain, Cena's influence would have played a part in it.
Well, Nikki did retain. The assumption from many, then, will be that Cena had his hands all over her victory.
While backstage politics are certainly a reality, this story is hard to swallow.
Nikki defeating Charlotte on Monday's Raw to ensure that she would surpass AJ as the woman to hold the Divas Championship the longest sets up a big match at Night of Champions. It makes Nikki the most hated woman on the roster. Those reasons for the result on Raw are logical.
To buy the Cena story, one has to envision that Vince McMahon gave up creative control to please his golden boy.
And there are other likely motivations to keep Nikki on top. Besides being a key figure on Total Divas, she and her sister Brie do a lot of photo shoots and public appearances for the company. She's also the central heel in the Divas Revolution angle.
Wait until more than whispers come out on the subject before being certain that Cena played the puppet master here.
Backstage Word on John Cena and the World Title
Cena seeks to become United States champ again on Sunday's PPV. Win or lose, it looks as if we can expect him not to move up to the world title scene for the moment.
According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc), WWE's reported plan is to keep Cena away from the world title for now, allowing Roman Reigns and others to compete for it first.
That's surprisingly sensible thinking. Cena doesn't need the boost of being the world titleholder. It doesn't matter what place he has on the card; he still seems like a star.
That's less true for yet-to-be-established guys like Reigns. They need their career-defining moments, their big triumphs on big stages.
One has to imagine, even if that is the plan, that if the TV ratings get low enough with Reigns wearing the gold, WWE will be tempted to pull Cena back onto the top rung.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566932-wwe-rumors-examining-latest-buzz-around-john-cena-jeff-hardy-and-more
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