Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on The Rock, Darby Allin, and More

The Rock's return to WWE and the subsequent tease of a match with Roman Reigns at WrestleMania sparked backlash from fans, who initiated a #WeWantCody movement and eventually forced the company's hand, nixing the planned dream match in favor of booking two-time Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes in a rematch of last year's show against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

As it turned out, the fans' revolt may very well have been in WWE's favor, beyond the obvious red-hot product at the most crucial time of the year.

That topic headlined a collection of wrestling rumors and innuendo that also features the latest on Darby Allin's health, the WWE Hall of Fame, and news on a veteran performer in AEW with an expiring contract.

Rock Backlash "Blessing in Disguise"

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LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 08: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ten-Time WWE World Champion during the WWE Wrestlemania XL Kickoff on February 08, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PXimages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE officials believe the backlash that faced the company and The Rock on the heels of the teased match with Roman Reigns was a "blessing in disguise" in that it potentially prolonged The Great One's involvement with the company (h/t Cageside Seats).

Instead of Rock coming back for a one-off match with The Tribal Chief, he will now presumably work a tag team match with Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, as well as the prospective showdown with The Head of the Table at a later date.

The fans reacting so negatively toward the dream match, out of loyalty and love for Rhodes, would seem to have extended Rock's stay with the company. That means at least one more box office smash, at least, and more television ratings successes.

It means involving one of the most visible and recognizable stars in the world on WWE programming longer than the company expected.

If the long-term plan is still to present Rock vs. Reigns, be it at SummerSlam or at WrestleMania 41, it is no wonder that the company would consider the opportunity to work with one of its greatest exports a "blessing in disguise."

Darby Allin Health Update

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

The most unforgettable moment of Sting's retirement match against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson at Revolution, for better or worse, was partner Darby Allin's leap from the top of a ladder through two panes of glass on the arena floor.

Regardless of one's opinions of it, the spot dominated social media conversation and left a mark on fans watching live and around the world.

Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live reported that Allin only needed 12 stitches, despite all of the small lacerations that immediately appeared across his back and arms in the wake of the spot.

The daredevil of the AEW roster is lucky that there was not more damage done, especially since there was nothing to break his fall.

The match already had plenty of emotion and story behind it without needing the addition of the glass and more importantly, the moment overshadowed Sting's last dance.

There is an alternate argument to be made that it elevated the urgency of the match.

Whatever argument one supports, it is both welcome and relieving to hear that Allin avoided significant injury of any kind.

Latest on WWE Hall of Fame

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Paul Heyman watches Cody Rhodes wrestle Roman Reigns for Undisputed WWE Universal Title Match during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 02, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Associated Press revealed Monday that Paul Heyman will be the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2024.

The announcements continued Tuesday with the revelation that former WWE Women's Champion Bull Nakano will join the class, per ESPN.

Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that this is the first Hall of Fame class that Triple H is solely in charge of and as such, Heyman is essentially his first choice to be inducted.

He added that this year's class may include former King of WWE, Haku, also known as Meng to longtime WCW fans.

Heyman is a revolutionary promoter and one of the greatest wrestling minds in the history of the industry. He is a virtuoso on-screen performer who does all of the little things to perfection and has been instrumental in elevating the characters of both Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.

Nakano is a trailblazer whose extraordinary performances against Alundra Blayze gave an entire generation of young fans a taste of what women's wrestling could be and inspired the likes of Bayley, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair to revolutionize the sport two decades later.

Both are deserving of the honor and if Triple H is intent on taking that approach, rather than inducting the same Superstars as part of different factions, then fans should be excited about the prospects of the Hall of Fame process and ceremony moving forward.

Perhaps he will even do right by one of his close friends and give Sean "X-Pac" Waltman his solo induction.

Matt Hardy's Contract Expiring

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

The arrival of Kazuchika Okada on Wednesday's Dynamite, and the expected debut of Mercedes Mone on the March 13 episode, have fans buzzing about All Elite Wrestling but with those debuts come potential departures.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that, "Fightful has learned that former WWE, WCW, TNA, ROH world tag team champion Matt Hardy's current contract with AEW is set to expire in March."

He added, "We've heard that Hardy and AEW were in contact recently about the deal, but we haven't heard if it's expected to be extended."

Hardy has seen his role on television diminish significantly here in 2024, with the veteran and future Hall of Famer working just one match, a January 5 trios match with his brother Jeff and Mark Briscoe against The Butcher, The Blade, and Kip Sabian on Rampage.

The former tag team, ECW, and United States champion during his time with WWE previously expressed frustration with his role in AEW, so it is not particularly surprising that Tony Khan would be in a hurry to do right by Hardy and put him in a high-profile position.

As for Matt's brother Jeff, Sapp reported, "Originally we were told that Jeff Hardy's AEW deal was set to match up to Matt's deal as far as length, but injuries and inactivity led to that no longer being the case and there's time added to the deal."

The Hardys are one veteran act that has come through AEW who, save for a moment here or there, never really realized their fullest potential. If this is the end of their run, and there is no guarantee that is the case, it would certainly be a disappointing one.