WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Randy Orton, Kurt Angle and More

Returns were the hot topic in the WWE rumor mill this week, whether they involved when Randy Orton will be back from injury or whether Kurt Angle will reunite with the company where his pro wrestling career began. 

Orton is expected to rejoin his WWE peers before long. His comeback from shoulder surgery may be in time for the SummerSlam pay-per-view, opening the door for him to face a marquee opponent at the event.

Angle, on the other hand, won't be at SummerSlam or WrestleMania or Raw. Despite recent rumors (which he helped perpetuate) about a return to WWE, the latest word indicates he'll stay away.

In addition, there are stories going around about former cruiserweight champ Yoshihiro Tajiri signing a new deal with the company. However, the tale lacks credibility. It's a reminder not to believe everything you read online.

Before we break down the reports and rumblings surrounding all those potential returns, let's first take a quick dive into a story from last week.

A Quick Look Back

Simon Gotch may have suffered an injury scare but isn't injured.

Fans of the mustached bruiser of The Vaudevillains began to worry when reports circulated last week about his getting hurt during a house show in Jacksonville, Florida. The fact that Gotch didn't wrestle on last Monday's Raw only intensified concern.

Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline reported, "Gotch was shaken up after being kicked in the face. We don't have an update past the point that after the kick, he rolled to the floor and never got back in the ring and needed help to the back, and they put up an 'X' sign."

WWE didn't offer any updates. It wasn't clear what was wrong with him and how severe any potential injury was. 

Now Gotch appears to be just fine. He wrestled during WWE's recent tour of Japan and Hawaii, per CageMatch.net, and joined tag team partner Aiden English against The Golden Truth on Monday's Raw.

As long as WWE isn't more upfront about its Superstars' injuries, online rumors will buzz loudly and often.

Angle to WWE Update

It's looking more and more like Angle isn't coming home to WWE. 

After spending a decade with TNA, the former WWE world champ is now a free agent. Speculation about WWE's need for veteran talent to boost its rosters following the Raw-SmackDown brand split had many fans envisioning Angle's return to WWE. 

He brought up the topic himself, too. In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard, Angle said of a WWE return, "Possibly in the future, most likely next year, but that is not a guarantee."

But the company may not want to bring him aboard. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc), WWE is hesitant to bring in talents with any sort of controversy in their pasts. That is reportedly one of the reasons officials don't want to re-sign Angle.

The 1996 Olympian has a well-known history with substance abuse.

Angle told Rick Dayton in an interview for CBS' Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA, "Started taking painkillers, and the painkillers got out of whack, and I started taking so many I can't even count how many I was taking a day."

While Angle is clean today, it's understandable that WWE would be wary of his suffering a setback. The company may not believe that Angle's star power is worth the risk of any potential bad publicity. 

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Fans will have a hard time swallowing that idea, but they aren't the ones with a company at stake. They just want to see one of the best performers in the industry do his thing with WWE again.

Don't Bet on a Tajiri Comeback 

Tajiri's stay in WWE promises to be short, even if there are reports floating around saying otherwise.

The Japanese Buzzsaw is taking part in the current Cruiserweight Classic tournament. That's the extent of his WWE involvement right now. There is nothing to the talk that he will stay on afterward and sign a new deal with the company.

Looking at what sparked the ongoing buzz over Tajiri's return reveals a hollow cycle.

Sudhir on Sportskeeda cited Wrestle Zone concerning Tajiri's potential comeback, and Mike Killam of Wrestle Zone cited "several reports going around online." There is nothing of substance on the topic, though.

Besides, Tajiri himself has said he doesn't believe another WWE run is in the cards.

In a Reddit AMA from two months back, Tajiri said of the idea, "I was able to do everything except heavyweight and intercontinental titles, so there's not much left for me to do. Many who were fired seem to want to come back, but I don't feel that way. I think I've done everything I can as a Japanese guy this size."

It may seem like just yesterday that Tajiri was teaming with William Regal and battling for the WWE cruiserweight title, but as a reminder of how time flies, the veteran is now 45 years old. There is little chance he will be part of the New Era.

The Viper's Return

The long wait for Orton to start issuing RKOs again looks to be (almost) over.

He has been out of action since last December following shoulder surgery, but The Viper is rumored to be close to stepping back into the ring. PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported, "Orton is slated to go to the WWE Performance Center next week to work out in anticipation of being medically cleared for his return to the ring later this summer."

Johnson also added, "There is a belief among some we've spoken to that Orton could be facing Brock Lesnar at Summerslam." 

It won't be long until WWE fans find out if that rumor is true. WWE announced on Monday's Raw that it will reveal Lesnar's SummerSlam opponent on this week's SmackDown.

Orton is a safe bet to get that spot. He is one of the few top-tier stars that The Beast Incarnate hasn't clashed with since his WWE return in 2012.

While it's not certain that Orton will get a crack at Lesnar, one can bet that every Monday's Raw will make fans wonder if this is the night they'll see The Viper storm back into the squared circle.