Buying or Selling Rumors on Mercedes Moné to AEW, Latest on Kazuchika Okada and More

It turns out that the CM Punk saga wasn't, in fact, the end of the massive pro wrestling free-agency buzz that continues to dominate the rumor mill.

Case in point, yet more buzz about Mercedes Moné and Kazuchika Okada potentially going to either WWE or AEW dominating the headlines—which is impressive, considering the calendar only just exited the Royal Rumble and heads for WrestleMania.

And that's hardly the end of the buzz when one considers actual in-ring wrestling rumblings featuring names like Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre and others.

Here's a look at the most noteworthy recent buzz and whether fans should buy or sell each item.

Brock Lesnar Update

Brock Lesnar is once again one of the biggest names making the rounds during WrestleMania season, though this time it's due to his shocking absence from the Royal Rumble.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Lesnar was actually supposed to be in the rumble and eliminated by Dominik Mysterio, setting up a feud for Elimination Chamber before he went on to fight Gunther at 'Mania itself.

Instead, per Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, who also talked about some of those details surrounding the proposed plans, Lesnar has been removed from creative plans completely.

The floated plans for Lesnar, considering his past feuds with one Rey Mysterio and the showdown that would've been a matchup with historic Intercontinental champion Gunther make perfect sense. If Lesnar was in the plans for 'Mania, he wouldn't have missed the rumble without official word from the company.

Verdict: Buying

Mercedes Moné to AEW

Another week, more rumors on Mercedes Moné.

Granted, this week is pretty different than the others, considering the Royal Rumble just happened. If she was returning to WWE, surely she would have been one of the big surprise returns in the women's rumble, right?

Adding to this, PW Insider (h/t Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats) reported that Moné would return to pro wrestling in March, albeit not for WWE. That would seem to imply an AEW debut, though nothing official has been said as of this writing.

Even so, we're selling on it once again. It doesn't feel like AEW has anything to gain by letting this drag out any longer, especially while 'Mania season dominates the conversation. If the plan is March, perhaps fans see a Sasha Banks return on the annual juggernaut that is the Raw after WrestleMania?

Verdict: Selling

'Mania Start Time Changed?

It sounds like WrestleMania is moving up by exactly one hour this year.

According to WrestleVotes, WrestleMania 40 will start at the new time of 7 p.m. ET, up one hour from the normal start time—a change that would apply to both nights.

It makes perfect sense, too. Even with WWE smartly moving 'Mania to a two-night affair that makes it all the more special, things seemed to drag on too long last year.

And given the younger audiences want to see these main events too, there's a good chance many missed the ending of Roman Reigns-Cody Rhodes last year. Starting earlier and potentially ending earlier might just help the in-crowd audience, too.

Verdict: Buying

Drew McIntyre-CM Punk Rumblings

Drew McIntyre's altercation with an injured CM Punk on last week's Raw seemed like a standard continuation of a feud that started with a war of words before the Royal Rumble.

But according to Meltzer (h/t Ortman), it was a strange segment for WWE to roll out considering Punk won't likely be back until the fall due to the torn tricep he suffered during the rumble and that McIntyre isn't under contract for that timeframe.

At this point, though, it feels like another sell on the McIntyre extension front. WWE (and even Punk) were trying to get McIntyre as much heat as humanly possible from the unfortunate real-life injury that has derailed 'Mania plans. That's especially true with Seth Rollins currently occupied with Cody Rhodes in segments as Rhodes "decides" between challenging him or Roman Reigns at 'Mania.

For a while now, it has seemed like McIntyre has already put ink to an extension and the heat boost via Punk only seems to reaffirm it more.

Verdict: Selling

Kazuchika Okada Bidding War

Much about the future of Kazuchika Okada remains a mystery.

A surprise entry to free agency after announcing his departure from NJPW, Okada feels like a natural fit in either WWE or AEW.

Interesting, though, is Fightful (h/t Ortman) reporting that AEW has already put some tentative creative plans together for him, whereas WWE has not. Meltzer (h/t Ortman) followed this up by reporting that while AEW has the higher offer, WWE has gone with the strategy of "if Okada wants to come to WWE, he'll come to WWE."

Frankly, it's an easy play and buy from both sides. AEW knows it has connections with The Elite and others that Okada will love, but that WWE presents the bigger stage. WWE currently enjoys a new golden era in which they don't really need anyone, so if Okada goes elsewhere, things will keep rolling right along.

It all makes so much sense that if one were to suggest even Okada doesn't know his destination just yet, that too would be an easy buy.

Verdict: Buying