WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Roman Reigns, Brand Split and More

The reality about Roman Reigns' surgery and the possibility of a brand split headline the latest batch of WWE rumors. 

Backstage reports shed light on whether Reigns is really out with an injury or whether WWE is just trying to perform sleight of hand on the audience. As for a potential brand split, it looks as if Raw and SmackDown going their separate ways again is not just something fans are speculating on. WWE is reportedly talking about heading down that road once more.

Other stories touch on what Shinsuke Nakamura is making with the company and what WWE has planned for The Miz at WrestleMania.

Let's dive into those topics, Reigns' nasal surgery and the potential reemergence of Raw and SmackDown functioning on their own, trying to make sense of the information available.

Shinsuke Nakamura's Contract

WWE is making it clear how much it values the newly arrived Nakamura. Not every new signee's arrival is celebrated with as much hoopla as The King of Strong Style's.

Beyond that, his salary is reportedly higher than that of NXT peers. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc), Nakamura is getting paid main event-level money. 

That would seemingly mean he's not going to be with NXT for the long term. Why else would WWE pay him like a member of the main roster? Perhaps just a pit stop at the developmental brand awaits him.

That would be the right move. Casual WWE fans may not be familiar with Nakamura yet, but he's too talented and charismatic not to be featured on Raw and SmackDown each week.

Brand Split Coming?

Shane McMahon's return and his subsequent squabble with Vince McMahon as the two executives vie for control of the company has fans wondering if a major chance is afoot.

Shane-O-Mac is set to face Undertaker at WrestleMania 32 for the right to control Raw. If that happens, one has to wonder if The Authority wouldn't then take control of SmackDown and make it a separate entity. 

Rumors are fueling that speculation. PWInsider.com (h/t Wrestle Zone) reported there has been talk within WWE of doing a brand split once more.

With the Shane vs. Undertaker match on the way, it's easy to see how that would play out. It's an ill-advised idea at this point, though. WWE is not in a position to fill two self-sufficient shows. It hardly has enough top-level star power as it is.

Keep an eye on the Shane-Deadman feud. WWE will surely offer ample foreshadowing of a brand split if that is indeed the plan.

Backstage Word on The Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler

The Miz defeated Ziggler on Monday's Raw in an odd, quick matchup. That result may not have just been a randomly thrown-in element of the show. Surprisingly, it may be part of a master plan involving both men.

According to F4WOnline (h/t Wrestle Zone), this result came about partly because The Miz is set to be a part of a major match at WrestleMania 32. The report also noted that Ziggler may be involved in that bout.

Could Ziggler's frustrations and The Miz's bragging lead to a showdown at some point, then? 

It's easy to imagine WWE trying to work this rivalry into a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. That would allow the company to throw Big Show, Kevin Owens and a number of others into a single contest.

That's not the ideal path to take, however, as it doesn't give Owens the stage he should be getting, but it wouldn't be surprising if things worked out this way.

Suddenly, fans have reason to pay attention to what Ziggler and Miz are up to in the coming weeks. Just what will this major match reportedly in the works turn out to be? 

Roman Reigns on the Mend, for Real?

Last week, Triple H assaulted Reigns after his match against Sheamus. The beatdown that occurred led to the company announcing Reigns would need surgery.

It's unclear where fiction ends and reality begins here. While The Game's attack didn't lead to it, Reigns may have really gone under the knife.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc), word emerging from last Tuesday's SmackDown taping is that Reigns was dealing with a pre-existing condition with his nose. 

The real surgery could then be woven into the storyline. That would explain why Reigns missed Monday's Raw. 

If the surgery was legitimate, credit WWE for getting a good bit of drama from that reality. While Reigns' suffering at the hands of The Game earned a mixed reaction, it was certainly a big moment. And it was a thousand times more exciting than WWE simply announcing that Reigns had to take a week off to get his nose worked on.