Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura, and More

Randy Orton will return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames, joining Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins as they battle Damian Priest, Finn Bálor, JD McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio and Drew McIntyre.

Why did the company opt to announce The Viper's comeback in advance rather than waiting until Saturday's pay-per-view at Allstate Arena in Chicago, though?

The answer to that question headlines this collection of wrestling rumors, which also features the latest on Shinsuke Nakamura, Jade Cargill's training partner and the controversial blood-spitting moment from the Texas Deathmatch at AEW Full Gear.

Latest on Why WWE Announced Randy Orton's Return in Advance

Cody Rhodes concluded Monday's WWE Raw by revealing Randy Orton will be the fifth and final member of the babyface team in the men's WarGames match at Survivor Series.

Sean Ross Sapp reported that the decision to announce The Viper early instead of keeping his return a surprise was to temper expectations that CM Punk would be the mystery member for the babyface team.

It would seem the return of 14-time world champion Orton would be enough for the Chicago fans, but considering the subtle teases—intentional or not—and the location of Saturday's show, there were heightened expectations of a Punk appearance.

Orton will still get a huge ovation, the fans will be fired up the moment he levels an unsuspecting member of The Judgment Day with an RKO, and the match will be awesome.

But it's a shame that the added element of surprise will be missing.

Who is Shinsuke Nakamura Calling Out?

Shinsuke Nakamura has spent weeks now calling out an unknown Superstar.

Sapp reported that even WWE talent has been kept in the dark as to who it is.

Of course, that only serves to stoke the flames of those fans holding out hope that Punk will still make an appearance, despite the advance announcement of Orton.

While Punk vs. Nakamura sounds like a dream match for fans, it's likely WWE and Triple H do not know yet who will be revealed as The Artist's target or are just trying to tighten things up creatively to prevent leaks.

Either way, WWE is a worldwide global entertainment company and most definitely is not spending all of its energy devoted to a guy who is not even under contract with the promotion.

Besides, given how great this incarnation of Nakamura has been, do we really want the guy revealed to be his target to come in, beat him and thwart his momentum?

Who Has Been Training Jade Cargill at the Performance Center?

There is a great deal of anticipation for Jade Cargill's first in-ring appearance for WWE and while we do not yet know when or where it will happen, WrestlePurists did report that she has been training at the Performance Center alongside Roxanne Perez.

Perez is a former NXT women's champion and is among the best on the gold brand. Trained by Booker T, there is a reason the 22-year-old has been recognized as a prodigy of sorts, mostly thanks to her commitment to the fundamentals and near-perfect execution of them.

Those little things that every great performer does well are the foundational areas Cargill needs to shore up. She has the look, the presence and physical gifts. She just needs to master areas such as timing to tighten up her in-ring performance.

Working with Perez and the rest of the team in NXT will get her there.

Do not be surprised if Cargill's first match comes against The Prodigy, since they will have had time to lay out something special.

Update on Blood Spot at Full Gear

One of the most controversial moments of the AEW Full Gear pay-per-view saw Hangman Page seemingly drink the blood of a battered Swerve Strickland before spitting it into the air, a la WWE Attitude Era great Gangrel.

Sapp wrote: "We can confirm that the day following AEW Full Gear, Fightful was informed that the spot was planned and pitched by the participants, and was approved by the match producer. We're told that people within AEW were very happy how the match was received and executed."

Page and Strickland may have crossed the line once or twice in their Texas deathmatch Saturday night, but it was a mostly excellent contest that effectively paid off what had become one of the most intense feuds in the promotion.

Like it or not, the blood spot set social media abuzz and helped establish that bout as the most memorable of the night.

Best of all, Strickland emerged from it a bigger star than ever while Page retained his status as a picture of consistency in big-time AEW PPVs. For all its flaws, it is a Match of the Year contender.