WWE Rumors: Buzz on Road to WWE Backlash 2016 for Week of August 22

We’re on our way to the first WWE Backlash in seven years, thanks to the brand split.

Backlash is now a SmackDown exclusive and will take place on September 11, a mere two weeks from now. That’s not a lot of time for a proper build, but Tuesday’s SmackDown was an excellent start.

There’s going to be an incredible main event: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose for the WWE Championship. Combine that with the Six-Pack Challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship and the tournament for the SmackDown tag team titles, and there are the makings of a solid card with high stakes.

Meanwhile, Raw is struggling after the injury to its WWE universal champion, Finn Balor. Raw's Superstars are probably thanking their lucky stars that they don’t have to wrestle a PPV two weeks from now. And although Monday’s Raw was messy and uneven, next Monday’s Raw is a new opportunity. It will be a test of how well the roster can recover from its setbacks.

What’s in the long-term plans for both brands? Here are the biggest rumors generating the biggest buzz this week.

The Rebuilding of the Roman Empire

The Fatal 4-Way for the universal title will take place on next week’s Raw. The competitors are Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, Big Cass and Roman Reigns. Cageside Seats reported that Roman Reigns is currently the backstage favorite to win the title.

It’s hard to blame WWE Creative for getting gun-shy; Roman is a big, durable and a hard worker. He’s the safe choice. But he’s also 180 degrees removed from Finn Balor.

There will likely be a backlash (get it?) from fans who cheered Balor’s SummerSlam triumph and saw it as the beginning of a new era within the New Era.

Shane Might Be Hitching a Ride to Suplex City

Despite all the speculation over Lesnar vs. Orton at SummerSlam, no one questioned whether the F5 to Shane McMahon was a work; it clearly was.

And now, Cageside Seats reported that McMahon might face Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble. If it’s true, it’s the latest example of McMahon taking health risks that probably he shouldn’t be.

The last time McMahon did an ridiculous high spot at WrestleMania, “Superstar” Billy Graham called him on the carpet for it.

Stepping in the ring with Lesnar, even in a worked fight, is a dangerous proposition.

Putting the Belt on Nikki Bella

Nikki Bella made her surprise return at SummerSlam. She recovered from an injury that could have ended her career and was received by the notoriously tough Brooklyn audience as a babyface despite being booked as a heel.

Now, Cageside Seats reported that Nikki Bella is the favorite to win the Smackdown women’s title at Backlash. Bella haters, however, can rest easy: She isn’t expected to hold the belt for very long, opening up the opportunity for Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss and even Carmella to make names for themselves.

Vin Diesel vs. The Rock

According to an insider source at Life & Style, the vicious social media war between The Rock and Vin Diesel might culminate in a match (maybe at WrestleMania?).

The public feud between the two men was out of character for The Rock, who has a reputation for being a professional, crossover star. Like the best wrestling storylines, this feud may have been grounded in truth before it was intentionally blown out proportion.

Vince McMahon Is High on Bayley

According to a source at Daily Wrestling News, Vince McMahon was in “full-blown panic mode” on Monday Night Raw. And who can blame him?

His big gamble—giving Finn Balor the universal title—had backfired on him. And as someone who likes his shows highly produced, scripted and controlled, it must have freaked him out to have to rebook everything on the spot.

The WWE chairman needed a hug. And Vince’s mood reportedly improved after Bayley made her surprise in-ring debut on the main roster.

She got a massive, warm reception; out of all the things that have gone wrong over the past week, Bayley was a notable exception.

Hopefully, this bodes well for the former NXT women’s champion’s career, as Bayley was the last of The Four Horsewomen to move to the main roster.

Miz Promo Was a Work

The Miz promo that has been making the rounds on social media is professional wrestling at its best.

It was uncompromising and angry, and it had the bitter ring of truth to it. It dealt with a substantive debate: Is it better to have a long, steady career or a short, brilliant career? To what extent do fans expect their favorite wrestlers to sacrifice their health and safety?

David Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirmed the promo as a work, even if it was unscripted. But planned or not, Daniel Bryan and The Miz were debating real issues that affect both of them, and the social media response supports the notion that wrestlers should be creating their own promos instead of reading them from a script.