Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on Drew McIntyre, Giulia, Miro, and More
Drew McIntyre signed a sizeable new contract to remain with WWE in April, and we now know how close he came to heading elsewhere.
The latest in The Scottish Warrior's contract saga headlines this collection of rumors, which also looks at the recent injury to Giulia and how it affects her upcoming debut for NXT, as well as the status of two All Elite Wrestling stars we've not seen in the ring for some time.
Drew McIntyre Contract Update
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The Rock revealed in an April 27 Instagram post that Drew McIntyre had re-signed with WWE, ensuring he would stay with the company that made him a star for the foreseeable future.
In an interview with Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com (subscription required), the Scot said he never saw himself wrestling outside of the company.
The former world heavyweight champion's words echo those of Seth Rollins, who told Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp something similar during the WrestleMania Kickoff event in February.
"WWE is my home," he said "I love this place. I love this industry. I'd like to spend more time with my daughter as she gets a little bit older, but at the end of the day, I want to stay here. I want to be here for the rest of my life."
Rollins recently re-signed with the promotion, too.
It's a testament to the backstage environment that Triple H has curated as chief content officer and head of creative that top stars want to stay put rather than explore options elsewhere.
Rollins and McIntyre are two high-profile stars whose departures would have been major blows for the company. WWE avoided both of those, and a contract for reigning women's world champion Becky Lynch is up next.
Giulia Injury Update
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Not even a fractured wrist can hold Giulia back from debuting for WWE.
Corey Brennan of Fightful Select reported that "WWE still currently targeting an NXT Women's Title match with Roxanne Perez for the [NXT Heatwave] event on July 7th."
The injury came while the 30-year-old wrestled a match for Marigold, the new promotion from Rossy Ogawa. Despite her impending WWE arrival, she has commitments to the upstart company and worked at one of them when the injury bug struck.
Brennan notes that, while the expectation is for the match with Perez, the severity of the injury and those commitments will ultimately determine if the timetable is met.
Giulia has the aura and in-ring potential to be among the biggest stars in the industry within five years as long as she progresses and develops as WWE expects her two.
She got the big free agent signee spot at NXT Stand and Deliver when she was shown at ringside before, and during, Perez's NXT Women's Championship victory over Lyra Valkyria.
A match with Perez, herself one of the faces of the company's future, would be a big enough attraction to headline Heatwave should it happen.
Where Has Miro Been?
3 of 4Miro has been noticeably absent from AEW television for months and Sean Ross Sapp of FIghtful Select provided an update, revealing that his injury rehabilitation is "behind schedule."
It's another blow for a competitor whose AEW run has been anything but what he expected. Long absences for several reasons have kept him off of television and unable to build the momentum needed to become a top-tier talent in any promotion.
Despite a run with the TNT Championship, he has underwhelmed simply because of his lack of presence on the shows, some of which had little to do with him and more with the creative (or lack thereof) in place.
There were great expectations for Miro upon his arrival, with many hoping he would be the unstoppable force and potential main event attraction in AEW that he never achieved in WWE. That hasn't happened and the longer he is away, the more likely it never will.
Tay Conti Back in the Ring
4 of 4After giving birth to her first child with husband Sammy Guevara, Tay Melo is back in the ring.
Sapp reported that while she is back training for an in-ring return, there are no imminent creative plans in place for her.
It is not surprising considering AEW suspended Guevara for failing to follow the company's concussion protocol during his match with Jeff Hardy in February, with no real indication that The Spanish God is set to return to the ring anytime soon.
Melo showed considerable promise during her in-ring opportunities for AEW, including a women's title match against Britt Baker at Full Gear 2021.
But she hasn't competed for the company since January 11, 2023, when she and Anna Jay lost to Ruby Soho and Willow Nightingale in a Street Fight on Rampage.
Based on the report, it does not appear as though she will be competing for the company imminently, either.
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