WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe and More

Fans aren't likely to enjoy the information the newest batch of WWE rumors has to offer, especially when it comes to Daniel Bryan and Samoa Joe. These are the kind of stories one would expect Bad News Barrett to read from his podium.

It looks as if we won't see Bryan on TV in the coming weeks in any form. He'll be busy prepping for his potential return to the ring. As for Joe, it's suddenly looking less certain that he will end up heading to NXT and WWE after Triple H cleared up recent rumors.

A rumored conflict between Scott Hall and independent bookers isn't exactly positive news either. 

Only Sheamus fans will be pleased when digging through this collection of backstage wrestling stories. He's said to be in line for a big opportunity in the near future.

Backstage Words on Returns

Bryan won't be delivering any promos or leading any "Yes!" chants in the short-term. WWE has pulled him from the road to focus on recovering from his injuries.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson writes, "The belief among those I spoke with this afternoon is Bryan won't return to television until he is cleared to wrestle or the time comes to promote his upcoming DVD and autobiography—whichever comes first."

His book is due out in July, so it looks like that's when he'll be popping up on WWE TV again. That is, of course, unless he can shake off the nagging physical issues that have kept him from wrestling.

There are some who doubt that he will ever compete again, though. Johnson adds, "One of the major topics of conversation at Raw today was whether Daniel Bryan would ever be returning to the ring."

That's just speculation, but not speculation born out of nowhere. The longer Bryan is out, the more this possibility will be discussed.

Johnson provided some info on when fans might be able to expect two other stars to be back. He wrote that Big Show is "slated to return at this coming week's TV tapings" and that The Miz should be back somewhere within the next month.

Those guys stepping through the ropes is no replacement for Bryan, but the roster will be deeper when they get back. 

Reported Trouble for Scott Hall

It's not clear what happened in Ashbury Park, New Jersey, over the weekend, but it's surely not something Hall is proud of.

The Hall of Famer was scheduled to perform at an indy event but was reportedly too intoxicated to do so. That apparently led to a conflict between him and the bookers. TMZ reports "According to our sources, Hall was given multiple chances to sober up...but never did. Organizers told Hall to leave...but he refused, demanding to be paid."

TMZ posted video of Hall's appearance in the report linked above. It certainly looks like Hall has been drinking, but there's no footage of him making demands or arguing with promoters.

Things clearly aren't right, regardless of if everything TMZ reported is on tape or not.

Hall won't be getting the benefit of the doubt from many folks, though. He has a history of substance abuse, as detailed in a E:60 documentary on ESPN from 2011:

Hall himself has yet to comment about the situation, so consider it an in-progress story. New details may emerge, but the narrative of Hall's alcohol problem has largely remained the same for years. 

Triple H Addresses Samoa Joe Rumors

Don't start fantasy booking NXT matches for The Samoan Submission Machine just yet. Rumors of him signing a developmental deal don't look as believable anymore.

During a conference call (h/t F4WOnline) to promote the latest live NXT special, Triple H took a succession of questions, including ones about Joe. 

Triple H indicated that WWE has not signed Joe. He confirmed that Joe did visit the WWE Performance Center recently, as Wrestling Inc noted:

Most telling was that he said he didn't know if WWE and Joe would do business together at all.

That doesn't mean that he's not headed to Full Sail University at some point, but it's time to start lowering one's hopes about that happening. Whether it's WWE not offering the former TNA world champ enough money or the company believing that he is too old, something is serving as a blockade here. 

There's no guarantee that the two sides can move that aside.

NXT has other options to choose from. And Joe has a number of other viable routes that he can take, including heading to Japan. 

Front-Runner to Win the Intercontinental Championship?

The Celtic Warrior is the safest bet to leave the Elimination Chamber with the IC title in hand.

Apparently, he is the subject of backstage discussions about who to crown next. Johnson writes for PWInisder, "There's a ton of talk that Sheamus ends up with the Intercontinental title."

That report came out before Monday's Raw. That show backed up the talk Johnson was hearing as Sheamus was the first one to stake his claim to the belt on Monday night.

Credit: WWE.com

The Authority later entered him into the IC title Elimination Chamber bout. Per WWE.com, he's set to face Dolph Ziggler, Rusev, Ryback, King Barrett and R-Truth. Even without that rumor floating around, he would be among the favorites in that field.

WWE has featured him a lot more than R-Truth, for example. And Ziggler and Rusev's rivalry may distract them from the goal of victory.

Sheamus is also a top-level star who would bring added attention the IC title. Of course, he's no replacement for Bryan, but nobody is.