Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on Guevara/El Idolo, LA Knight and More

A backstage skirmish in All Elite Wrestling is again stealing headlines after Sammy Guevara and Andrade El Idolo escalated their Twitter spat into a physical showdown Wednesday.

What details have come to light surrounding the altercation that led to Andrade being sent home and what was the reaction to Guevara being allowed to stay, headline the show and pick up the win?

That topic headlines a collection of wrestling rumors that also includes the latest on LA Knight, an update on creative plans for Cody Rhodes prior to his injury and whether WWE had any interest in Bandido before his recent signing with AEW.

Latest on Sammy Guevara and Andrade El Idolo's Backstage Altercation

Andrade El Idolo and Sammy Guevara engaged in a backstage altercation that turned physical Wednesday prior to All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite Anniversary broadcast, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported.

The altercation was the culmination of a beef that began on Twitter a day earlier, the result of an interview Andrade conducted with Mas Lucha in which he criticized Guevara for complaining about him hitting too hard.

"Those that we spoke to say that there was verbal altercation that got physical, with Sammy Guevara shoving Andrade, and Andrade throwing a punch, though the order of operations and specifics are certainly foggy," Sapp wrote. "We're not sure if the punch actually connected, but we're told it was not part of a grander work."

While both Sapp and TMZ initially reported both men were sent home from the tapings, that proved inaccurate as Guevara worked the Dynamite main event as scheduled.

Steven Muehlhausen of DAZN reported that some backstage were upset that Guevara was not sent home while Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com suggested that if there was truth to the reports, he would not have been allowed to compete in the main event.

This is the latest instance of AEW's backstage environment being called into question. The first was the post-All Out melee between CM Punk and The Elite that led to their suspensions and a subsequent internal investigation as to what caused the events that unfolded.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter questioned how Guevara and El Idolo were allowed near each other in the first place.

He is absolutely right. Guevara and El Idolo's issues were aired in public. There is no way those in power were unaware of the problem that existed between them. Why they were allowed to even lay eyes on one another without someone from management intervening and working toward a resolution is a valid question.

This latest incident shines a brighter light on the AEW hierarchy's ability to manage and lead the locker room. Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson reportedly led a talent-only meeting shortly after All Out that appeared to set things back on track, according to Sapp.

Some backstage felt Andrade and Guevara's initial argument and subsequent fight were disrespectful to those men and their attempts to bring the locker room together. At some point, though, the fault lies at the feet of those in charge.

If there are no repercussions, no leadership on the part of the highest-ranking officials, the performers themselves will continue to test limits and engage in these brawls. Some may argue, "Let the boys settle it themselves."

The problem with that is it overshadows everything AEW sets out to accomplish on its television product. Suddenly, people care more about backstage drama than the shows Tony Khan is putting together every week.

It undermines the company, its creative efforts and the work of those who compete every week. And that all falls at the feet of those in charge of managing, leading and maintaining a professional environment.

Sure, not everyone is going to like everyone. That is true of any workplace, nor should it be expected in an industry where individual ego all too often gets in the way. At some point, though, the AEW president must step up and make a statement.

Not some evergreen tweet or a podcast appearance that is more empty verbiage. He needs to bring the hammer down or these dust-ups will continue, with questions about his ability to succeed in his role becoming louder.

As for Guevara, this is the second backstage altercation he has been apart of, and if math class taught this writer anything, it's the idea of the common denominator.

If you find yourself in the middle of too many of these things—and two is too many—you might actually be the problem. It's time Khan addresses that, too.

LA Knight Returning Sooner Rather Than Later

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that, after last Friday's SmackDown in which Max Dupri physically broke up with his Maximum Male Models teammates, he is now listed as LA Knight internally.

Knight was a top-tier competitor in NXT and easily one of its most charismatic performers. His call-up was met with great excitement, but the revelation he would be filling the role of spokesman for the MMM, a gimmick that has not worked since the days of Rick Martel, instantly diminished any hope fans had for him to succeed on SmackDown.

The ascension of Triple H, who was highly influential in the 39-year-old's rise through NXT, was the best thing that could have happened to Knight.

Now, he has a second chance at a first impression and will hopefully find the success everyone knew would not come as Dupri.

Latest on Pre-Injury Plans for Cody Rhodes

Sapp also reported this week that, prior to his retirement, Vince McMahon had not indicated Cody Rhodes would be the man to dethrone Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

"Instead, we were told that Vince McMahon was 'all on board' for the Roman Reigns double title reign, and there weren't ideas floated from Vince that would have indicated he was ready to move on from that this summer," Sapp wrote.

It is not really a surprise. Rhodes had such momentum and was booked so strongly that fans likely gravitated to him as the man to knock The Tribal Chief off his pedestal.

We were never told The American Nightmare would be up next. We all just jumped the gun and fantasy booked an outcome we thought made sense.

Maybe that scenario still plays out. Maybe Rhodes returns, wins the men's Royal Rumble match and defeats Reigns for the title, ending his two-plus-year run as top dog in WWE.

Perhaps he doesn't.

However, Rhodes certainly makes the most sense of the available options at this point.

WWE Also Had Interest in Signing Bandido

Following his match with Chris Jericho on the September 28 episode of Dynamite, former Ring of Honor champion Bandido was offered an AEW contract on the spot, per Meltzer.

Sapp reported Wednesday afternoon that the luchador had signed with AEW.

Based on his ability, he is unquestionably a strong addition to the roster. Unfortunately, he arrives in an AEW that has too much talent and not nearly enough for all of its performers to do. There are the usual suspects competing consistently every week, but everyone else's television exposure is inconsistent at best.

Adding another impressive and physically gifted star to a roster full of them is not quite as big a win as it may seem on the surface.

Look no further than Brian Cage, who made just his second Dynamite or Rampage appearance since June 2021 this past Wednesday when he unsuccessfully challenged Wardlow for the TNT Championship.

A heavyweight capable of things no other man his size could possibly execute, he should be a bigger star than he is. When he is surrounded by more recognizable stars, some of whom are favored by management more than he is, it becomes very difficult to break through no matter how strong your performances are.

Bandido is likely to find himself in the same boat, no matter how much he shows up and shows out when given the chance.