AEW's Rumor Mill: A Six-Month Update
AEW's world is a whirlwind of speculation and intrigue, and the past six months have been no exception. Let's take a look at some of the rumors that have swirled around the promotion, and see how they've played out.
The Jericho Situation
One of the most talked-about names in wrestling, Chris Jericho, has been the subject of numerous rumors. Six months ago, it was widely believed that he would be returning to WWE, with Adam Pearce's tease of his character being a key part of the plan. However, as of now, Jericho has not signed with WWE, and his future remains uncertain. Fightful Select notes that while there were reports of Jericho's full-time status with AEW, these may have been overblown, and his immediate future is still unclear.
AJ Lee's Status
AJ Lee's status with AEW was also a topic of discussion. Fightful Select suggests that her full-time status may have been overblown, and she is now confirmed to be a part-time worker. She did, however, work Becky Lynch at WrestleMania, losing the title back to her.
Britt Baker's Future
Britt Baker's future with AEW has also been a point of speculation. Fightful Select reports that there are currently no creative plans for her, and it's looking more likely that she will never return to the promotion.
EVIL's Options
EVIL, a former NJPW star, was exploring options outside of New Japan Pro Wrestling. However, AEW was not expected to be among them, as Tony Khan is not a fan of his work, according to Fightful. It turns out that EVIL has since signed with WWE.
Jericho's Return to AEW
Despite the earlier rumors of a return to WWE, Fightful Select now suggests that Jericho's future is still uncertain, and it's unclear if he's under contract to AEW. This has led to a lot of speculation, with some believing he may have re-signed after his contract expired.
Seth Rollins' Return
Seth Rollins, who has been injured, made a brief appearance at Raw this week. He's been backstage at several shows since his injury, and it's likely he will return before WrestleMania.
Jade Cargill's Status
Jade Cargill's injuries during house shows have sparked discussion. While there's no heat on her, it's unclear if the injuries are a result of management or talent issues. There's also talk of Blake Monroe being called up to the main roster, but it seems that happened recently.
Roman Reigns' Return
Roman Reigns made a return to television, appearing on SmackDown. He returned at the Royal Rumble, challenging CM Punk for the title, and only worked Raw. Jacob Fatu's return also led to Drew McIntyre winning the WWE title.
CM Punk's Injury
CM Punk's injury during his match with Bron Breakker has been a topic of discussion. Bryan Alvarez noted that Punk took a bad bump, and it's believed he is in concussion protocol. Breakker, however, was fine.
Stephanie Vaquer's Injury
Stephanie Vaquer's injury is legitimate, according to PW Insider, but she is not expected to miss much time and won't be vacating her title. She has been out injured since losing the title at WrestleMania.
Nikki Bella's Dating Life
Nikki Bella has been on a few dates with Cooper DeJean, a Philadelphia Eagles star cornerback. She still considers herself single, but it's a positive development for her.
Jacy Jayne's Call-Up
Jacy Jayne has been discussed for a main roster call-up, but it seems that happened after WrestleMania. Her start was hot, but it has cooled off.
Lola Vice's Future
Lola Vice has also been discussed for a call-up, but she has not been called up yet. Her boyfriend, Damian Priest, is on the SmackDown roster.
WWE's Creative Structure
WWE's creative structure has been broken down, with Triple H having final say over storylines. Bruce Prichard and Ed Koskey provide input and handle day-to-day operations. Ryan Ward is now WWE's Vice President of Creative Writing, and Alexandra Williams and Jonathan Baeckstrom co-lead Raw creative.
LA Knight's Return
LA Knight's return from a short hiatus has been confirmed, and he is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Royal Rumble.
Jay White's Future
Jay White's future with AEW is uncertain. Despite his appearance at Hiroshi Tanahashi's retirement ceremony, he is not expected to be back imminently.
Adam Copeland's Book
Adam Copeland is working on his second book, which will be out in October 2026 from HarperCollins. It's a follow-up to his 2004 book, 'Adam Copeland on Edge'.
WWE Tryouts
Two names have been confirmed for the WWE tryouts scheduled for next week: Joshua Hillen, a former Marine who now does Strongman competitions, and James Karnik, a 6'9" 27-year-old who's played basketball in Canada and Czechoslovakia.
Oba Femi's Call-Up
Oba Femi is expected to be called up to the Raw roster after vacating the NXT championship. He will be pushed near the top of the card on Raw and prominently featured at WrestleMania 42.
Je’Von Evans' Call-Up
Je’Von Evans' call-up during a commercial break on Raw has sparked discussion. It seems that WWE wants to emphasize online-exclusive content.
David Finlay's Future
WWE has had internal discussions about signing David Finlay, a NJPW star, after his contract expires. They are interested in bringing him into NXT.
AEW's Use of Cinder Blocks
AEW used legitimate cinder blocks for Powerhouse Hobbs' powerslam and Hangman Page's Deadeye spots during a match. While it's a unique touch, it's not essential.
Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre's Title Change
Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre pitched the idea of a title change to WWE officials, and it paid off. Drew deserved the title change, and it was a major moment.
Tiffany Stratton's Injury
Tiffany Stratton has been out of action with an injury since early November. She returned at the Rumble.
Powerhouse Hobbs' Future
AEW star Powerhouse Hobbs is highly regarded within WWE, and it's believed they will sign him.
MJF's Diddy Promo
AEW talent was not happy with MJF's Diddy promo on Swerve Strickland. The other talent didn't know about it ahead of time, and it caused some tension.
Santos Escobar's Creative Plans
Santos Escobar's creative plans with WWE have been a work in progress, but there are talks of getting them back on track.
Matt Cardona's Return
Matt Cardona's return to WWE has been a topic of discussion, with rumors of him being the highest-paid full-time independent wrestler. His asking price was reportedly $5,000 per shot.
Jeff Hardy's Injury
Jeff Hardy has been working through an injury since dropping the NXT tag team titles. He's dealing with two bulging discs on the left side of his neck.
In summary, the past six months have been a rollercoaster for AEW, with various rumors and developments keeping fans on the edge of their seats. From creative changes to talent moves, the promotion continues to evolve and captivate its audience.
