WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Shelton Benjamin, CM Punk and More

Shelton Benjamin and CM Punk dominated the rumor mill despite no longer being a part of WWE.

Rumors of Benjamin potentially returning to the company floated around the Internet. Don't get excited about seeing the former tag team champ in a WWE ring again, though. This looks to be a case of a story with little substance catching fire.

As for Punk, his interview with Colt Cabana last week is still causing reverberations. A backstage report gives insight into how some at WWE viewed his comments about Ryback.

Whether other wrestlers will join Punk in switching to MMA and what WWE has planned for Undertaker and Rey Mysterio round out the other stories the Internet is buzzing about. 

More Wrestlers Headed to MMA?

Following word that Punk signed with UFC, Bellator reportedly wants to welcome more folks from the squared circle into the world of MMA.

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reports, "Bellator MMA is also looking into bringing in professional wrestlers for their MMA promotion." Johnson notes that Bellator is looking to boost its roster with both current and former pro wrestlers.

It's not surprising to see the promotion head in this direction, as TNA star Bobby Lashley is already fighting for Bellator.

He has amassed a 12-2 record thus far, in an entity far different from the one where he earned his fame. That's not a transition every pro wrestler can make, but those with a collegiate background like Lashley will have a much easier time. 

Reaction to CM Punk's Comments

Speaking with Cabana on his The Art of Wrestling podcast, Punk fired a number of shots at WWE, its doctors and Chris Jericho. He was especially harsh to Ryback, accusing him of hurting him on purpose, among other tings.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required, h/t Wrestling Inc), the general backstage feeling regarding those comments is that they were cheap and unprofessional. No one believes that Ryback intentionally broke Punk's ribs, and few folks have sympathy for Punk having to deal with so many injuries.

Ryback responded to Punk in an interview on The Franchise 107.7. He said the comments were "not accurate" and "very disturbing."

Adding that to what the reported backstage reaction was makes this a less black-and-white issue. Clearly, Punk had issues with Ryback, but how much of this can be blamed on a lack of communication? How much of this is personal animosity shaping Punk's version of the story?

It's a non-issue for now, as neither man is going to step into the ring with the other for the foreseeable future. Punk has other fights to focus on. 

Rey Mysterio on His Way Back?

Mysterio fans have had to subsist on hope and rumors for the majority of the year. That could soon change.

According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc), WWE expects Mysterio to be back on TV soon after he and Vince McMahon came to an agreement on his future with the company.

Don't bank on this coming to fruition just yet, though. There has been so much talk about this situation with nothing concrete coming about. This is the first we have heard that the meetings between WWE and Mysterio have gone anywhere.

Credit: WWE.com

There's not an equivalent alternative for Mysterio to turn to; perhaps that's what will have him relent and continue to work with McMahon despite their issues.

It looked like he was headed back to Mexico at one point; however, that plan appears to be on hold. 

Undertaker Update

Undertaker hasn't been around since losing to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. After that bout, questions about whether that was his last match emerged.

The reported plan says otherwise. Johnson writes on PWInsider, "Sources indicate that The Undertaker is currently slated for WrestleMania 31." He adds that the plan is still to have a match against Sting.

That's the bout Sting has been lobbying for. That's the "dream match" one would expect WWE to go with.

It all hinges on The Deadman's health, as is the case each year at WrestleMania time. He deserves a proper farewell, and going out in a double-retirement match would be just that.

Shelton Benjamin Return Rumors

There's no indication that Benjamin is coming back to WWE. Folks have been talking about that possibility, though, because WWE applied for a trademark for Benjamin's name, per Entertainment Newsweekly (h/t 4Traders.com).

That led to speculation that this move was a precursor to welcoming him back. If the trademark is the only basis for thinking he's on his way to WWE again, go ahead and dismiss that idea.

Other sites point to that trademark not being valid anymore.

Justia Trademarks, for example, lists the Benjamin trademark as cancelled as of Nov. 21. PWInsider's Johnson refutes the rumor as well. He writes, "Quick research on that trademark number actually shows that WWE filed a notice of cancellation that were no longer claiming ownership on 11/14."

There's always a chance that anyone in good standing could come back for a spell, but Benjamin isn't likelier to do so than anyone else. Remember that when his name pops up again come Royal Rumble time.