Shifts to the schedule and merchandise stock, namely involving the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view and CM Punk, highlight the latest WWE rumors. WWE is reportedly moving the Elimination Chamber. Punk merchandise will start moving on the company's website again.When Roman Reigns is expected back and the company's possible plans for the Royal Rumble provide the other big stories the Internet is buzzing about. The following is a look at what's being reported and what to make of that info.
We begin with a February staple since 2010 that's set to undergo a change. Pay-Per-View Calendar Change . The WWE calendar appears to be making an adjustment for the better.
PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reports, "There is a lot of talk that theWWE Elimination Chamber PPV will be re-titled and the actual Chamber match will be used not in February during the Wrestlemaniabuild, but later in the year, possibly to build to a title shot atSummerslam."
Johnson also notes that the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is still scheduled for February, but WWE may change its name. F4WOnline reports that WWE is considering calling it WWE Fast Lane.
The big positive here is that the Elimination Chamber can be toSummerSlam what the Royal Rumble match is to WrestleMania. It's a fun way to decide who is the top contender and gives the gimmick much great significance.
It also allows for more buildup for the world title bout between the Rumble and WrestleMania without having limited booking options in that Chamber match squeezed between it.
It's hard to get behind the new name, though. WWE could simply resurrect an old pay-per-view like No Way Out or No Mercy.
Fast Lane sounds more like a racing-themed WWE cartoon. Roman Reigns Return Update.It's clear that WWE plans to resume Reigns' feud with Seth Rollins once he returns, as the powerhouse hinted during his interview on Monday's Raw.
hen will that be, though? According to PWInsider Elite (subscription required) , WWE is planning for him to be back in action in late December or early January.That leaves open the possibility of him winning the Royal Rumble and headlining WrestleMania, an outcome that seemed inevitable when the company was pushing him before his emergency hernia surgery.
Reigns underwent the procedure in September, and Dr. Chris Amanntold WWE.com then that he estimated Reigns could return to physical activity between four and six weeks but probably "closer to six weeks."
His current rumored return date is a bit later than that, likely a sign of WWE being cautious with Reigns. The close of the calender year is a slow point anyway. Letting him fully heal before WrestleMania season begins is wise.
Dean Ambrose may have taken a firm hold on his spot on top of thebabyface hierarchy by then, though.
Update on CM Punk Merchandise. Punk refuses to stay out of the WWE rumor mill. The latest word on him centers on his merchandise returning to WWE's online store.
On Monday, Johnson reported : "WWE has begun placing CM Punk related items back online at their official merchandise website, WWEShop.com this afternoon. The merchandise was pulled this past summer when Punk's WWE deal expired."
That was plenty of fuel for a new wave of Punk-is-coming-back rumors. The topic of him possibly having signed a new deal popped up but without any credible sources.
Johnson shot those down. He later added that a source said this was a case of loose ends being tied up. He couldn't have made it any clearer when he wrote, "Sources close to Punk state he is retired as a pro wrestler and a WWE return is not happening."
There is no change on Punk's status or his chances of return, then, just the availability of his T-shirts. No John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble? When John Cena outlasted Randy Orton at Hell in a Cell, he earned a future title shot against Brock Lesnar. The trouble is, we don't know how far into the future that's going to be.
The early word was that this showdown was set for Royal Rumble 2015. F4WOnline reported that this was WWE's plan.
There is now a reason for doubt, though. As PWMania.com notes, Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center is promoting the Rumble on its website by talking up Cena's inclusion in the Battle Royal. The description of the match says that Cena is "looking to become just the second superstar in history to win the Rumble three times."
This isn't something fans should take too seriously yet.Miscommunication between venues and WWE isn't uncommon, for one. There is little chance WWE is going to let Lesnar not defend the title until after the Rumble.
With WWE announcing that Team Cena vs. Team Authority is on for Survivor Series, we're clearly not getting Lesnar vs. Cena at that pay-per-view. TLC isn't one of the bigger shows, so it'd be surprising to have that match then instead of at the Royal Rumble.
Until one hears otherwise, assume that this is a mistake. WWE isn't going to push back Lesnar vs. Cena any further than that. Fast Lane is not exactly the grand stage this collision deserves.
Examining Latest Buzz Around Elimination Chamber and More
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