WWE Rumors: Breaking Down Buzz on Undertaker, Sting at SummerSlam

With WWE arguably needing a major shot in the arm ahead of SummerSlam, rumors have begun to circulate suggesting two huge stars are on the verge of returning to the company.

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reports that The Undertaker could well be set to return to WWE in the next week to build toward a program for a match at SummerSlam this year—a phenomenal development.

That in itself is huge news, but it was followed up by the emergence of rumors linking not only Taker with SummerSlam but another man who hasn't been seen since WrestleMania season: Sting. 

Per Dave Meltzer (h/t WrestlingInc.com), The Icon's return has been planned for awhile and will lead to a match at SummerSlam as well. But with all the hype and excitement concerning two legends seemingly returning, what can we expect about their likely plans?

First of all, let's look at the buzz surrounding The Undertaker. His return is arguably the more exciting given how he hasn't wrestled at SummerSlam since 2008 and was widely expected to only return to build a feud for WrestleMania next year.

It's interesting that Johnson notes about Taker potentially being at Battleground this weekend too, something that's also been suggested online by Richard Gray of WrestlingNewsWorld.com:

If he is going to emerge this weekend to kick off a feud, that all points to an involvement in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar. There's the possibility he could go after Lesnar following the shock outcome at WrestleMania XXX last year where Lesnar ended the streak, but the smarter and more likely option could concern Rollins.

If Lesnar goes over as champion, Rollins will be in need of a new foe. Given how Rollins mocked Kane when he was injured at the hands of Lesnar on Raw this past week, and then subsequently attacked him whilst he lay dormant, perhaps Taker is out to avenge Kane's beating.

Given the obvious relationship between Taker and Kane, it is a possibility that he's returning to go after Rollins and The Authority. Plus, with Lesnar now a babyface, it would be strange to enter him into a program with Taker when he's clearly over at the moment. That's despite Lesnar being the one that broke Kane's ankle; in terms of kayfabe and storyline development, it doesn't really seem to fit together all that well.

But what of Sting? There's little buzz surrounding him being at Battleground, and all the signs point to just the one high-profile return to keep Sting's in the bag for a taping of Raw.

While there's an obvious path or two back into WWE for Taker, Sting's next opponent seems less clear. If we are to presume Sting is returning as a babyface like Taker, then a young up-and-comer like Bray Wyatt would have been a great opponent.

Not only would the interaction between the two have been must-see, but it would have been pretty interesting to watch in the ring too. Sting could easily come back and gift Roman Reigns a win by distracting Wyatt, but you feel that Wyatt vs. Reigns has legs left to run and will probably go through to SummerSlam. 

You then have to consider whether WWE would consider putting Sting into a championship feud. Given his (likely) part-time schedule, it's difficult to imagine that, although Meltzer notes (again per WrestlingInc.com) that an "undisclosed injury" to one of the parties involved in Sting's return means plans have had to be changed.

That immediately makes you think of Ryback, who will not be at Battleground and is expected to miss a chunk of action after being forced out of his Intercontinental Championship defense against Big Show and The Miz this Sunday.

The U.S. Championship picture looks stacked out with John Cena, Kevin Owens, Antonio Cesaro and even Alexander Rusev at the moment, so you can rule that one out too.

But what about the huge elephant in the room: Sting vs. The Undertaker? It's the match many dream will happen someday, with WrestleMania next year always looking like the obvious location for it, with the option always there to revisit it when WrestleMania season rolls around again next year.

But if WWE is keen to really address the falling ratings and make SummerSlam a show to remember, this could be the perfect setting for the meeting of two wrestling icons.