Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on Rhea Ripley, The Bloodline, and More

Rhea Ripley has spent the last two years developing herself into one of the biggest stars in WWE. She has won championships, headlined premium live events and established herself as one of the premier talents on Raw.

Her contractual status, as well as that of two other competitors in the women's division, are at the forefront of this collection of wrestling rumors.

Joining Mami and Co. are the latest on a potential new Bloodline member, an update on one of the greatest Superstars in company history, and a foundational piece of the All Elite Wrestling roster.

Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax Contract Updates

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CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 3: Liv Morgan enters the ring as Rhea Ripley looks on during SummerSlam at Cleveland Browns Stadium on August 3, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)

Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite reported that WWE has approached Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Nia Jax about extending their current deals.

It's an aggressive new approach from the company as it attempts to lock up talent even if their current deals are not set to expire imminently.

WWE received understandable scrutiny for how late in the game it re-signed Drew McIntyre and the fact that Becky Lynch's contract was allowed to run out completely.

It's a testament to the work of Ripley, Morgan and Jax that WWE is taking the appropriate steps to get them under contract.

Ripley and Morgan are centerpieces of the Raw brand, around whom the overarching Judgment Day storyline revolves, while Jax has outperformed expectations since returning to the company a year ago.

Ripley and Jax headlined February's Elimination Chamber premium live event while Morgan has breathed new life into her on-screen persona with a heel turn that saw her carry out her revenge tour, aligning with Dominik Mysterio as a member of the revamped Judgment Day.

All three have earned the trust of the company and should factor into the long-term evolution of women's wrestling in WWE.

The Bloodline to Expand?

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 01: Hikuleo reacts during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Korakuen Hall on October 01, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE is waiting for the right time to debut Hikuleo and that the former New Japan Pro-Wrestling big man will likely be the latest member of Solo Sikoa's Bloodline.

The 33-year-old former Strong Openweight singles and tag team champion has reportedly been signed with WWE since July 19, sparking questions about the timing of his debut.

With Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns uniting to battle Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Jacob Fatu, including a match at Bad Blood on October 5, it would not be surprising to see the heels turn to the 6'8" competitor as reinforcement against the two of the most prominent stars on the roster.

It would be a logical next step in the development of the revamped Bloodline and put the babyfaces in peril, something that needs to happen to keep fans invested in what otherwise looks like a one-sided rivalry in terms of star power.

Regardless of when he debuts, Hikuleo should be in line for a considerable push upon his arrival that sees him in the same stratosphere as some of the top stars in pro wrestling.

AJ Styles Update

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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JUNE 14: AJ Styles looks on during WWE Clash at the Castle Kickoff in SEC Centre Hall at the Scottish Event Campus on June 14, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported that, "AJ Styles is healthy and just isn't being used on WWE TV. He was on the WWE overseas tour, but wasn't featured on television. He worked five straight nights in world title matches against Cody Rhodes. He also worked last month's Japan tour in world title matches."

On the surface, the idea that WWE would have Styles at its disposal and not do everything in its power to utilize him to his fullest potential is ridiculous. He is a legendary competitor whose star power is undeniable and whose body of work ranks him among the best in-ring performers of all time.

Dig a little deeper, though, and it may be for the better.

Rather than bringing The Phenomenal One back and throwing him into a program for the sake of having him on television with or without any real plan is equally wasteful. Styles is a star and one of the greatest of all time.

Maximizing the number of great matches he has left in him at this point rather than wasting them on empty contests is the right call.

With that said, working with him to craft a story that befits his future Hall-of-Fame status should be a priority for Triple H and Co.

Latest on Dustin Rhodes' AEW Status

Credit: All Elite Wrestling

Dustin Rhodes may be a reigning Ring of Honor tag team and world trios champion, but his future with All Elite Wrestling is uncertain.

The 55-year-old's contract with the company is up at the end of September and he has yet to re-sign, per Sapp:

"Last year, Fightful Select reported that Dustin Rhodes' AEW contract runs through September 2024. With him winning numerous championships in ROH, many had assumed that had changed. However, as of AEW All Out, we confirmed that his deal with the company is still up in the fall."

Rhodes is an AEW original, a competitor whose contributions both as an in-ring performer and coach date back to the beginning of the promotion.

His performance against Cody Rhodes at Double or Nothing in May 2019 remains one of the best in company history, and his work has been steadily strong.

The future Hall of Famer has consistently proved a willingness to put stars over while working with others to better and evolve themselves.

Rhodes is an asset to AEW and someone the company should do everything in its power to retain, especially considering he holds two championships with the company's second brand.