Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on Drew McIntyre, Kazuchika Okada, More

Drew McIntyre has seized the opportunity to be the top heel on WWE Raw and run with it over the last three months, developing into one of the most entertaining and intriguing characters on WWE television.

The Scot is also working without a contract beyond WrestleMania 40, a show he figures to have a key role in based on recent creative.

The status of his contract negotiations headlines this collection of pro wrestling rumors, which also looks at free agent Kazuchika Okada and two NXT stars who have impressed management in recent weeks.

Latest on Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre has been the talk of the wrestling world since his performance on Monday's Raw, during which he told CM Punk that he prayed for his injury and then proceeded to stomp on his rival's torn triceps.

Despite such a clear setup for a return program for Punk when he returns sometime between June and September, Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer reported that WWE still does not have The Scottish Warrior locked into a contract extension beyond WrestleMania 40.

That is somewhat surprising given the role McIntyre has taken with Raw, where he is the clear top heel of the brand and receives considerable television time.

Add in the fact that Triple H has booked him to beat two world title contenders (Sami Zayn and Damian Priest) in consecutive weeks and have the enormous spotlight of the Punk segment, and the idea that there would be so much time committed to him without having him locked in is strange.

His social media game has been savage of late, too, making him as over with the internet fans as those in the arena.

The idea that McIntyre has been set up perfectly to challenge Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at 'Mania and may not be signed to a deal beyond the event is astonishing to the point that one has to wonder if the company and performer have not worked something out under the radar.

Otherwise, the creative team risks a repeat of 2021, when Daniel Bryan rose to the main event spot of WrestleMania 37 and feuded with Roman Reigns and Edge for the Universal Championship, only to leave shortly thereafter and sign with All Elite Wrestling.

Maybe history repeats itself here, but one has to believe this is a good omen for fans who want to see McIntyre stick around the company for which he has twice been WWE champion.

WWE Creative Impressed by Trick Williams Reaction

Trick Williams made his first main roster appearance on the January 26 episode of SmackDown, saving Carmelo Hayes from a beatdown at the hands of Austin Theory and Grayson Waller.

And Nick Hausman of Haus of Wresting reported that WWE Creative was very impressed by the reaction he received:

"Haus of Wrestling has learned from a tenured WWE source that the WWE SmackDown creative team was blown away by the reaction Williams got. The belief among some influential people in the company now is that Williams has "future WrestleMania main eventer potential."

Williams has been a revelation on NXT, consistently evolving and improving as an in-ring performer en route to becoming one of the most organically over competitors on the roster.

The "Whoop That Trick" chants heard Friday night on SmackDown for the first time have dominated NXT broadcasts for months, leading to the 29-year-old's opportunity to compete for the NXT Championship at Vengeance Day on Sunday, when he will challenge Ilja Dragunov.

Williams, like Hayes, is poised to be a part of WWE's next wave of stars ready to step up. He has the look, the natural charisma and elusive X-factor that cannot be taught.

He has picked up the on-ring game incredibly fast, and it should surprise no one if his match with Dragunov ends up being an early Match of the Year candidate.

The world is Williams' and after witnessing the way the fans reacted to him on SmackDown, WWE officials realize it.

And speaking of young stars ready to seize the moment...

Tiffany Stratton Call-Up Coming Soon?

Tiffany Stratton has passed every test put in front of her in NXT to this point.

She picked up professional wrestling quickly, won the NXT Women's Championship, had a hell of a fight against Becky Lynch at the No Mercy premium live event, and her recent work with Fallon Henley in a farm skit proved she is not afraid to be the butt of the joke.

The 24-year-old appeared in the women's Royal Rumble match on Saturday night, and her performance, and the audience's reaction to her, may land her a spot on the main roster.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite reported that Stratton is being discussed for a call-up to Raw (h/t Cageside Seats).

She has exceeded every expectation that could have been set for her when she first debuted in a series of vignettes that positioned her as a spoiled-brat daddy's girl.

She has exhibited the ability to ramp things up with an appropriate amount of intensity and aggression, and she has delivered in the pressure-packed situation of the main event at a premium live event and against a future Hall of Famer in Lynch.

Stratton is ready for prime time right now and delaying a call-up until after WrestleMania risks putting her through a few meaningless weeks of NXT TV that do nothing but cool her down following her big Rumble moment.

If the plan is to call her up, do it now, give her a vignette on the WrestleMania card to keep her in the fans' view and run with her after The Showcase of the Immortals.

AEW's Offer to Kazuchika Okada

Kazuchika Okada officially became a free agent on February 1, making him the hottest commodity in the business and the subject of conversations within both WWE and AEW.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select confirmed the conversations:

"AEW has been fairly confident over the last month that they would land Kazuchika Okada, to the point to where there were tentative plans in place to debut Okada, which would be well over a month from now. We're told that AEW made what they consider a 'substantial offer.'

"WWE sources confirmed that there have been talks between Okada's side and WWE. There have been WWE talent that confirmed that over the last few weeks, Okada has been in contact with others on the roster to gauge his offers, WWE's approach, and to help weigh a decision. We have not heard of any creative plans in place for Okada, or any specific pitches that may or may not have been thrown his way."

Okada is one of the best wrestlers in the world and has been the face of New Japan Pro-Wrestling for the better part of the last decade.

The Rainmaker had an iconic series of matches with Kenny Omega that helped further confirm their status among the best in the business, while bouts with Tetsuya Naito, Will Osprey and others helped carry the promotion.

It's no surprise both AEW and WWE would be eager to add a star of that magnitude to their rosters.

AEW would likely be the favorite, if only because the 36-year-old has friends there, has worked with Tony Khan before and knows what to expect.

However, WWE is an intriguing prospect because it would provide him the opportunity to compete at WrestleMania, an event he has always wanted to compete in, per Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated.

Where Okada ultimately lands will be one of the hottest topics among fans for the foreseeable future, but whichever promotion it is will be getting an international star worthy of the financial investment and with the ability to deliver against any opponent.