BS Meter on Kevin Owens, Randy Orton WWE Return Rumors, Latest SummerSlam Buzz and More

As expected, the final days before WWE's SummerSlam produced some of the biggest rumors of the year. 

Some of it filed under the predictable column. There's stuff making the rounds about possible big-name returns for guys like Randy Orton. That always headlines the mill, but cranks up another notch for the second-biggest event of the year. 

Other stuff? Like The Rock getting a mention? Totally out of left field. 

To help fans catch up with one of the most heavyweight rumor mills of the year, let's throw the biggest rumors on the BS Meter, with 10 being the highest form of unbelievable buzz fans can safely dismiss.

Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill buzz

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The Rumor

Fans were understandably pretty surprised to see that Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill didn't make the SummerSlam card. But according to WrestleVotes (h/t Geno Mrosko of Cageside Seats), this is due to the likelihood that one of them wins the Women's Championship in the ladder match. 

Reaction

Fair enough. Flair and Cargill are a few of the names involved in the interim championship ladder match, which also features Tiffany Stratton, Chelsea Green and others. A one-on-one match deserves a full-blown build and frankly, being able to have it open for next year's WrestleMania makes sense. 

BS Meter: 1

Good news: Maybe fans wanted the solo match. But Flair and Cargill are bound to have some fun in-ring moments together either way. One of them could exit the show with a title and both could exit in a feud after one cost the other or other shenanigans unfolded. 

More Danhausen plans?

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The Rumor

At a time when Danhausen seems to be cooling off, WWE might have other plans. According to Self Made (h/t EliteRockerz), there is now a "mandate" within the company to get him on all major shows. 

Reaction

Danhausen seems to be cooling off with fans, especially after that erratic, not-so-great and overly long segment with Joe Hendry on the lead-up to SummerSlam. He's a hit with live crowds, but the vibe can change in a hurry if the much bigger television audiences keep seeing him in segments that last too long without much in the way of positivity. 

BS Meter: 1

This one makes plenty of sense. Consider that WWE tends to lag in its response to fan reactions, after all. Danhausen has been a unique, breakout star. It makes sense the higher-ups would want to capitalize. But part of the boom was how fresh he was. He's not anymore, only has so much he can do and overexposure would just make things worse, so the company will need to handle this with care. 

The Rock and TKO status

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The Rumor

Maybe don't expect The Rock at SummerSlam. According to Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp (h/t Cain A. Knight of Cageside Seats), there are signs that Dwayne Johnson and TKO aren't exactly on good terms when it comes to the wrestling business right now. 

Reaction

This report attempted to follow up on prior suggestions that everything isn't great in paradise. But fans can see the proof for themselves, at least a bit. Why didn't The Rock, a TKO board member, do a shred of promo for WrestleMania 42 this year?

BS Meter: 3

Maybe this is just a shrewd way to keep the surprise of an eventual Rock return. But his past few showings, whether it was Travis Scott or the John Cena retirement fiasco, have been disasters. So, maybe there's legit beef for the way things have gone down and how other future plans changed as a result. 

Randy Orton return?

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The Rumor

Is a Randy Orton return finally going to happen? According to Wrestling Observer (h/t Wrestle Ops), the expectation is that Orton will return to programming soon. Whether that means at SummerSlam itself is hard to say. 

Reaction

Around SummerSlam's orbit always felt like the decision for Orton. Speculation about injuries aside, it's no secret that the aging legend has had back issues in the past. It's also not a secret that Orton's WrestleMania program with Cody Rhodes, bogged down by Pat McAfee stuff, didn't exactly hit well. 

BS Meter: 1

With Orton, especially, absence always makes the heart grow fonder. That's true even after the odd 'Mania program. Since he wasn't part of the build-up to SummerSlam itself, this sort of vibes like he'll show up on a Raw or SmackDown after the big event to start building up for whatever comes next. 

Kevin Owens update

The Rumor

Here's a shocker: According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer (h/t Wrestle Ops), Kevin Owens will return soon from his lengthy absence related to injury. 

Reaction

Fans haven't seen Owens in a wrestling ring since early 2025. An injury led to neck fusion surgery and multiple missed WrestleMania events. Given how neck injuries have hit names like Daniel Bryan and Big E, among plenty of others, fans were right to wonder if and when they'd see the 42-year-old star again. 

BS Meter: 1

Doubts aside, Owens gave fans a few appearances here and there on things like "WWE LFG" and watch parties for PLEs. But a lot of major landmarks have passed during his absence, so SummerSlam and even Sami Zayn winning a major title didn't move the needle that much on possible return buzz. 

And yet, with SummerSlam here, the rumor mill throws out a must-know item on Owens, so it's something to watch very closely.