WWE Rumors: Buzz on Road to WWE Payback 2016 for Week of April 29

This weekend, WWE will take over the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, for Payback—an event that's being billed as "the first pay-per-view of a new era."

It remains to be seen what exactly that tagline is teasing, but it has the rumor mill running at full capacity.

The expectation is that WWE is gunning to surprise its fans with this Sunday's show. Here are the most persistent rumors doing the rounds ahead of Payback.

Ric Flair Dons Crimson Mask in an Airport

Getting color was a key element of Ric Flair's in-ring exploits for decades, but today's WWE frowns on intentional blood-letting between the ropes. However, it wasn't company officials who had a problem with The Nature Boy's latest crimson mask, it was airport security.

Flair was waiting for a flight in Boston's Logan Airport this week when an unspecified injury caused him to bleed from the head, according to a report from TMZ. Previously, the site had indicated that the wound was on his hand, but a subsequent update confirmed that it was a head injury.

Eyewitnesses reported that Flair was exhibiting unusual behaviour and suggested he might have been intoxicated—but airport police on the scene deemed him sober enough to get on a plane, so he boarded his flight as normal.

This situation comes in the same week that Flair was splashed across social media for his controversial outburst directed toward Natalya during an in-ring promo that took place at Tuesday's SmackDown tapings.

Given his erratic behaviour, it will be interesting to see whether he'll remain an on-screen character in the coming weeks. At Payback, he'll be in Charlotte's corner opposite Natalya's uncle Bret Hart, and WWE could use the match to write Flair off television.

Bray Wyatt's Expected Return Date

The Wyatt Family is all over promotional materials for Payback, but an injury suffered by Bray Wyatt on the recent European tour means that the faction is unlikely to appear on Sunday's show.

Credit: WWE.com

Wyatt was battling Roman Reigns at a live event in Italy when he suffered an injury to his right calf on April 13. This week, Bryan Alvarez noted on a broadcast of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t Lords of Pain) that the Eater of Worlds is expected to miss six to eight weeks of competition as a result.

If that forecast turns out to be correct, Wyatt would make his return just after the Extreme Rules pay-per-view on May 22. However, it's difficult to say how well the group will function without workhorse enforcer Luke Harper.

Brand Split Incoming?

One of the biggest talking points going into Payback is Vince McMahon's decision regarding which of his offspring will receive permanent control of Monday Night Raw. Rumor has it that Mr. McMahon has an even-handed solution to the dispute.

Cageside Seats reports that the likely outcome is a brand split, with one sibling getting Raw and the other getting SmackDown. WWE last experimented with this kind of setup when it gave the two shows distinct rosters in 2002, a situation that endured until 2011.

Credit: WWE.com

With the deep roster the company has at its disposal, it would make sense to put a brand split into action in an effort to give everyone a chance at the spotlight. It also offers up opportunities for WWE to differentiate its product for different sections of the audience.

Balor Teases Debut at Payback

Longtime fans of Finn Balor will remember that during his time with New Japan, the former NXT champion had a penchant for teasing fans about a move to WWE. Now that he's signed with the company, the man from County Wicklow, Ireland can't help but work fans into a frenzy ahead of his main roster debut.

After losing his title to Samoa Joe, Balor told some fans that he would "see them on Monday." Of course, this week's Raw came and went without The Demon making an appearance.

However, with his former Bullet Club stable mates threatening to insert themselves into Sunday night's main event, there's a distinct possibility that Balor's debut might take place this weekend. A recent Twitter exchange between Balor and Kevin Owens points toward that outcome:

"

@wwebalor See you soon, buddy.

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) April 22, 2016"

All this being said, Balor is a master of using social media to muddy the waters. There's always a chance that he's simply stirring the pot—the best way to keep fans distracted from what's actually going on is to give them plenty to talk about.