WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around The Rock, Kevin Owens and More

Will The Rock be at SummerSlam? Does a WWE producer have it in for Kevin Owens? The newest round of WWE rumors initiates those questions but doesn't exactly provide satisfying answers.

A comment in a recent interview has fans wondering if the stacked SummerSlam event is going to also include The Great One. The Rock showing up at an event WWE has billed as "The WrestleMania of the Summer" wouldn't be a shocker.

Owens will be there. He has a showdown with Cesaro lined up.

There is seemingly more interest in how Owens is perceived backstage than what will happen in that match, though. The Internet is flush with talk of why Randy Orton called Owens "fat" on last week's Raw. It turns out it's the unsubstantiated variety, however. 

Other rumors point to what WWE's plans are for the return of Divas Search and which guests fans can look forward to during SummerSlam weekend.

Kevin Dunn vs. Kevin Owens Rumor Killer

Word spread quickly last week that WWE's longtime producer had issues with Owens and instructed Orton to take shots at his weight on last Monday's Raw. The story going around was that Dunn sought to undercut Owens, as he was not a fan of his.

Many fans took it to be true, thanks in part to it being attributed to Dave Meltzer, who has run the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for decades. The only problem is he didn't write it.

Meltzer denied reporting the Dunn-Owens story:

Closer inspection reveals that no credible outlet published the story. Some of the momentum of the rumor seems to have stemmed from a discussion on Reddit.

Dunn may or may not be a big Owens supporter, but this was a case of fans taking an unsubstantiated rumor and running with it. There's no evidence to support the story.  

Divas Show Update

Months ago, word surfaced that the Divas Search competition was set to return. There has been little new info since on what the show will look like.

A new report sheds a bit of light on that subject.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com), WWE plans to bring back the show as a WWE Network exclusive later this year. Reportedly, the initial thought was to model it after the new Tough Enough format, but with that show having issues, that has changed. 

Tough Enough's blend of live and taped programming has led to a disjointed feel for the program. The biggest issue, though, has been the fan voting.

Some of the best talents went home early due to fans voting them off. Mada and Patrick, two of the favorites to win the whole thing, sit at home. It's not surprising to hear WWE is thinking about going in a different direction.

Having fan input and interaction is a good way to increase interest, but the quality of the show has suffered, with the audience picking less talented prospects such as ZZ to stick around.

SummerSlam Weekend Star Power

WWE talent galore is headed to New York City for SummerSlam weekend. Steve Austin, who has been at the center of the WWE 2K16 ad campaign, is said to be among those set to travel to the pay-per-view's host city. 

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported, "Austin is scheduled to be in New York this week for some of the Summerslam festivities. We are told that Austin is not slated to be at the PPV but will be coming in to work on some of the other events taking place over the weekend."

Meltzer added on F4WOnline, "Steve Austin will be in New York at least for the 2K video party on Thursday night."

WWE may have a surprise in store, but it looks like Austin's gig doesn't include showing up at the SummerSlam event. That may be true for some of his old rivals as well.

According to PWInsider Elite (h/t Wrestling Inc), WWE is bringing both Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to New York for the weekend. They may just be doing signing events and panels.

Austin, Hall and Nash were all far more involved at WrestleMania. There's no early indication that SummerSlam will be a repeat affair. Then again, if there were plans for The Texas Rattlesnake to play a part at the event, WWE would certainly do its best to keep it secret.

The Rock On His Way As Well

In The Rock's case, there appears to be more of a chance he will show up at SummerSlam.

Roman Reigns may have provided a hint of what's to come on that front. In an interview with Fox Sports' The Buzz with Jimmy Traina podcast, Reigns was asked about whether The Rock was going to be at the PPV. Reigns said, "I wanna tell you, but I don't want to give anything away."

Not saying "no" or "I haven't heard anything" here has set off a chain reaction on the rumor mill. Fans are buzzing about the possibility of The Rock making his way to SummerSlam.

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

According to Meltzer of F4WOnline (h/t WrestlingInc.com), there were rumblings to that effect even before Reigns' interview. 

Don't take that report and Reigns' comment as a certainty that The Rock is heading to the Barclays Center on Sunday, though. Rumblings aren't the same as getting something confirmed from an inside source. And who knows if Reigns was just teasing fans with how he phrased that answer?

Still, it's hard to shake the idea now. Until SummerSlam goes off the air, some fans will be keeping their eyes out for The Rock and his People's Eyebrow to appear on the screen.