WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Vince McMahon, Alberto Del Rio and More

On the heels of a Backlash pay-per-view that earned rave reviews and saw several internet favorites crowned champion, it is not AJ Styles nor Becky Lynch who grabs the headlines but rather Vince McMahon who generates buzz this week.

The owner of World Wrestling Entertainment was injured during a workout and underwent surgery, though he was not the only significant name to make headlines for health-related reasons.

After officially being released by WWE on Friday, Alberto Del Rio revealed the reason he was suspended for 30 days, a decision that certainly affected his choice to depart McMahon's company.

Finally, Ryback sat down with Sports Illustrated for a revealing interview that documented his frustrations with WWE.

Vince McMahon Injured

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Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com reported Monday that McMahon suffered an injury while training over the weekend. According to the insider, the internal story is that he suffered a torn quadriceps. 

"WWE has confirmed that McMahon did get injured and in fact had surgery, but the nature of the injury and surgery are still unknown," Meltzer wrote. "The story going around in the company is Vince suffered a torn quad while squatting."

It is a speculative report in terms of the exact injury, but if it does prove true, it is a significant injury for the CEO and one he has experienced before.

In 2005, McMahon rushed the ring at the botched conclusion of the Royal Rumble match and tore both quadriceps, requiring surgery and time away from the everyday running of the product.

One quadriceps tear is difficult to overcome, as fans became aware of when Triple H went down with the injury in 2001. A second to a leg already surgically repaired could be catastrophic to his ability to get back in the gym and train at the intensity he once did.

Cause of Alberto Del Rio's Suspension Revealed

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During an interview with Mas Lucha (h/t WrestlingInc.com for the translation), Del Rio revealed the cause of his 30-day suspension was testosterone replacement.

"But when it is like in my case, a testosterone replacement, where I am a 40-year-old man and it is a medical matter that I have proof of from my doctors," Del Rio said. "I don't think it is something fair."

In the same interview, Del Rio admitted that the suspension played a role in his decision to leave the company for a second time. He also had an interesting revelation on a current NXT star:

"

I talked to my good friend Manny and poor guy, he wants to come back. Unfortunately, when you go into that company you have to abide by their rules. That's just how it is. It's the nature of our business. I always put it like this. There is a problem with all the talent that goes there, it's the inability to speak the language.

"

"Manny" refers to Manny Andrade, better known to fans as Andrade "Cien" Almas, the Mexican-born Superstar who has struggled to catch on with fans despite a superb skill set and a history of strong performances in his native country.

If true, could Del Rio be a major tool in recruiting Andrade back to Mexico, or even to a competitor such as TNA or Lucha Underground?

The Big Guy Opens Up

Credit: WWE.com

Ryback sat down with Sports Illustrated for a revealing interview in which he discussed his departure from WWE and the frustration he faced in the four years he starred for the company on the main roster.

Of interest was WWE management's reaction to his mocking of CM Punk in Chicago this past May:

"

So I decided I would mock Punk to get some heat from the Chicago crowd, and it worked brilliantly. I knew, at the end, Kalisto was going over – and the bigger heel I could be in the match, then the bigger the babyface will be at the end of the match once he goes over on me. After the match, they were furious with me that I was doing anything to get heat. It was so unprofessional on so many levels. I asked, 'What do you want me to do? I'm a heel, let me go out and make the babyface in the best way I can.'

"

That quote alone gives insight to the political manipulation that goes on behind the scenes in WWE.

Did Ryback likely strike a nerve by channeling Punk, a Superstar management has tried to step away from in recent memory? Yes. But it was an honest attempt at getting heat for a match that WWE Creative did a horrendous job of building up. How can the performer be faulted in that scenario?

Even more stunning was the revelation made by McMahon about hard work in WWE and its translation to success.

"In one of our last talks, Vince told me, 'You're the hardest-working guy that I have here. ... But hard work doesn't always pay off here.' I looked at him and said, 'Well then, I need to go to a world where my hard work will pay off.'"

That an employer would admit that to an employee demonstrates the warped "professional" world that exists beyond the black curtain on Monday and Tuesday nights.