WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Randy Orton, Tyler Breeze and More

Why WWE pulled Randy Orton from Monday's Raw and whether Tyler Breeze is reportedly on the cusp of the main roster headline the rumors heading into Hell in a Cell 2015.

The company offered a storyline reason for The Viper's absence and why he's no longer on the pay-per-view. In true pro wrestling fashion, that turned out to be only partially based in reality.

As for Breeze, the NXT's recent whereabouts generated buzz. They also seemed to confirm what is thought to be his imminent promotion.

Other stories touch on Rusev's alleged heat with Vince McMahon and the story that won't die about a potential marquee match at WrestleMania 32. The following is a dive into all that, picking apart what is plausible from what is just Internet noise.

Prince Pretty on His Way?

After yet another loss at a TakeOver event, fans had to be wondering if Breeze would be stuck on the second tier of NXT for good. His supporters, though, will be happy to hear that there is plenty of reason to believe that he is instead bound for the main roster.

On F4WOnline, Dave Meltzer reported, "I don't know when he will officially start on TV, other than it is supposed to be really soon, but Tyler Breeze is now considered on the main roster. He could start this week, although I was told it could be bumped a week or two."

In addition, PWInsider's Mike Johnson noted that Breeze was backstage at Monday's Raw.

A further sign of Breeze's move to the main roster is that he traveled with WWE recently. On Oct. 10 and 11, Breeze competed at WWE house shows against R-Truth, as noted by CageMatch.net.

This all points to a coming call-up. With Finn Balor holding the NXT title and Samoa Joe likely sticking around to provide star power to the brand, Breeze makes sense as the next man to make the move to WWE proper.

He's been at NXT a long time and is thriving with his gimmick. It makes sense to bring up him, give him a go and see what happens. He won't be a highly touted rookie but is plenty talented enough to carve out a niche on the roster.

Brock Lesnar vs. Steve Austin Talk

It is the match that won't die. Despite Austin's not having wrestled in 12 years, the idea of him and The Beast Incarnate locking horns at WrestleMania continues to linger.

According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc), there are some people within WWE who think that Lesnar and Austin will face off at WrestleMania 32.

Is this just wishful thinking from officials? Is this based on something they heard from Austin himself?

Everything he's said publicly indicates that the match will not happen. When a report from Cageside Seats, citing the Wrestling Observer, emerged about Austin being on a list of potential WrestleMania foes for Lesnar, The Texas Rattlesnake denied it on Twitter (warning: NSFW language):

Earlier this year, he took to his podcast (h/t PWInsider) to say that his comments to Paul Heyman on a previous edition of the podcast on the match weren't meant to build toward it. Heyman's question merely caught him off guard, and he went into promo mode.

Lesnar-Austin talk is just that. Wait for something concrete before getting excited about that possibility.

Austin's wrestling at WrestleMania is a long shot. And Sting's suffering scary injuries at Night of Champions has to give WWE pause about putting a retired 52-year-old in the ring with a beast like Lesnar.

Rusev's Reported Friction with Vince McMahon

Last Monday, news of Rusev's real-life engagement spilled onto the screen. WWE shockingly worked that into a storyline wherein Rusev was supposed to be engaged to Summer Rae.

The sharp left turn in the narrative may not be the biggest talking point, though. Letting word of his relationship with Lana get out may have put Rusev in the doghouse.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported (h/t Wrestle Zone) that Vince McMahon wasn't happy, as this public engagement broke the rules of playing one's character at all times.

That's insane. WWE has its Superstars break character in the public world all the time. McMahon's own daughter does it habitually, regularly going from corporate tyrant to charitable executive.

One hopes that this simply isn't true. If it is, it paints McMahon as out of touch. He can't treat Rusev as if he's performing in an era where kayfabe was sacred. 

If McMahon is upset with him, he at least didn't punish him in terms of booking on Monday's Raw. Rusev was on the winning team that night in six-man action. That's worlds better than being trapped in a squared-circle soap opera, as he has been for the past few months.

Where is Randy Orton?

Dean Ambrose found himself without a partner on Monday's Raw. Orton was missing from the show, which the announcers blamed on mystery attackers ambushing him. Ambrose believed The Wyatt Family was behind it.

In reality, it looks like the dangerous nature of the wrestling business did him in. According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestling Inc), Orton is scheduled to have an MRI soon to examine the extent of a shoulder injury.

JP Yim/Getty Images

That's reportedly why he wasn't around. It makes perfect sense that WWE would prefer to blame the injury on The Wyatt Family, using it as a way to get them some heat. Just announcing that Orton had to be pulled from action isn't nearly as exciting.

WWE has since nixed the Orton and Ambrose vs. Braun Strowman and Luke Harper match, opting instead for a new six-man bout to kick off the show.

The fact that Orton hasn't competed since Oct. 12, as seen on CageMatch.net, gives one added reason to believe that he's legitimately hurt. WWE, however, has yet to officially announce what's wrong with him. That makes the report that he's waiting for an MRI seem even more plausible.

If he's out for an extended stretch of time, WWE may switch out The Apex Predator for The King of Cuteville, letting Breeze fill out the roster while Orton's away.