WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar and More

Questions about Steve Austin's current relationship with WWE and Brock Lesnar's blood are the sources of two of the biggest rumors in the sports entertainment world following WrestleMania 31.

Why wasn't Austin at the event as WWE expected him to be? Did company officials give Lesnar the nod to cut into his own brow that night? Backstage reports and visual evidence provide only partial answers to those questions. 

What's next for Sting is also a major question mark. The latest word on that situation and possible changes coming to the Divas division round out the WWE rumor mill this week.

We begin with The Beast Incarnate and how he ended up looking like Carrie after the prom.

Did Brock Lesnar Blade?

The practice of wrestlers taking blades to each other's heads is something WWE did away with years ago. But in WrestleMania's main event, the company may have made an exception.

A GIF (h/t PWMania.com) making its way around the Internet appears to show the referee handing something to Roman Reigns. That's not proof of anything, of course, but the prevailing speculation is that this was a razor blade for him to use on Lesnar's head.

Lesnar did bleed in the bout, and not just the little trickle he had going on his cheek from Reigns' first offensive flurry. It smeared across his face later in that match. WWE chose to make several photos of the action black and white to hide the blood.

Credit: WWE.com

It's certainly possible that WWE could have allowed Lesnar to circumvent the rules here. This was a huge match, and the blood made sense for the story.

The company can get away with occasional blood and keep its TV-PG rating, as we have seen in the recent past, most notably when Lesnar and John Cena battled at Extreme Rules in 2012.

Until there is confirmation from a trusted source, however, the statement should read, "Brock Lesnar bladed?" and not, "Brock Lesnar bladed!"

Sting's Future

Is Sting going to be one-and-done with WWE? After battling Triple H at WrestleMania 31, uncertainty looms for the TNA Hall of Famer.  

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reports, "There have been no decisions made as to whether he will be wrestling going forward. Sting is open to doing more if WWE wants him to."

In an interview after Monday's Raw, Sting essentially said the same thing. He told fans, "I don't know what the future holds."

So we are back to where we were when Sting and WWE's relationship began—in the dark.

Undertaker's health is going to have a lot to do with what's next for Sting. If both men can go at next year's WrestleMania, WWE is going to heavily consider that path. It's a tempting match from a hype standpoint.

The longer this situation stays unsolved, though, the less likely that we see Sting have a second WWE match.  

Changes Coming for Divas Division?

Apparently, WWE does listen to outcries from fans. After fans responded negatively to a Divas tag match lasting just 31 seconds a few weeks back, the company is reportedly looking for ways to better the division.

According to PWInsiderElite.com (h/t Wrestling Inc), the #GiveDivasAChance trend caught officials' eyes. That has led to a lot of behind-the-scenes talk, and major changes are reportedly in the works. 

We have seen the women get slightly longer matches as of late. The shift hasn't been dramatic, but there has been more space for AJ Lee, Nikki Bella and company to tell their stories. It's hard to imagine actual wholesale changes taking place, though.

WWE has ignored the potential of its women's division for so long. Rather than let the female wrestlers be warriors and monsters just like the men, the company has used them as filler and eye candy.

The talent is there if WWE is serious about actually revamping its Divas division. Sasha Banks, Charlotte and Bayley are tearing it up at NXT. Women such as Paige, Natalya and Alicia Fox can be central pieces to an improved women's scene.

Until WWE shows a consistent desire to highlight its women, though, fans will be doubtful about future change, rumored or otherwise.

Steve Austin, Issues with WWE? 

There appears to have been a battle going on off-camera at WrestleMania 31. Issues between Austin and WWE reportedly led to him not showing up to the massive show.  

Writing for PWInsider, Dave Scherer reports, "As late as the middle of the week WWE had expected he would be at the show. He even had his own a room with his name on it earlier in the week."

As to what caused him to pull out of an appearance, Scherer writes, "The story going around was that it was an issue between Vince McMahon and Austin, perhaps about using Austin's podcast on the WWE Network."

The fact that WWE is now advertising that Chris Jericho's podcast will air on the WWE Network indicates it could be taking Austin's spot. That only leads to more speculation that there is a major riff between McMahon and Austin. 

It's not hard to imagine two stubborn, strong-willed like McMahon and Austin butting heads. They have certainly done so in the past, most notably when Austin walked out in 2002.

The podcast being at the center of it has yet to be confirmed, though. For now, this should be treated as a developing story where the details will emerge over time. WWE has a good amount of time to patch things up before WrestleMania travels to Austin's home state next year.