WWE Rumors: Buzz on Road to WWE Survivor Series 2016 for Week of November 7
We're a little over a week away from WWE Survivor Series 2016 on Nov. 20, and for all its hype, it seems like WWE is settling into a routine—wheel-spinning feud after wheel-spinning feud. It's a pattern that will likely persist until January, when the build to the Royal Rumble kicks off WrestleMania season.
But still, there's some great gossip to keep things interesting. The smart marks know that the backstage story is often more interesting than the onstage one. Here are the best rumors that are circulating around WWE this week.
Eva Marie Won't Be Back...Yet
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Whenever The Red Queen prances her way onto the ramp, she is met with a chorus of boos. It started in NXT, and it's continued on Smackdown. But her push got delayed by her untimely violation of the company's wellness policy over a month ago. And now, it might be delayed again.
Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats reported that Eva Marie is currently filming a WWE Studios movie and that she won't be back on the active roster until December. For many wrestling fans, this will come as a relief—that the weakest worker on the roster is off doing something else. Eva Marie has presence and a look. But until she develops her ability (which has improved since her earlier days but not by enough), a different role in the company might be the best step—at least for now.
Is the Cruiserweight Division Going Blue?
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Let's be real. The cruiserweight division has been a bust on Raw. It seemed cursed from the beginning; on its Raw debut, general manager Mick Foley had to read the wrestlers' names off cue cards to get them right, and the champion of the division didn't even make a cameo. And these days, the cruiserweight matches begin and end to the sound of dead air.
Ortman reported plans are in the works to move the intercontinental title to Raw and move the cruiserweight division to Smackdown. One can only hope that, after Survivor Series, things will shake up a bit, and we'll see these high-flyers get some of the praise they deserve.
A Kinder, Softer Bulgarian Brute
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For years, Rusev has been a one-dimensional foreign heel—the monstrous anti-American. It's a reliable character that WWE used to rely on all the time—from The Iron Sheik to Yokozuna. But it's also made Rusev stale. There are only so many ways he can say "I hate stupid Americans" before we all start checking our watches.
Ortman reported that WWE is considering a face turn for Rusev, which may be why he squared off against Brock Lesnar in Mexico City. If so, it'll be interesting to see how the writers decide to spin it. Does he start to love America? Does his personality stay the same while he starts attacking different people? And does Lana turn face, too? She seems like a natural heel. Time will tell.
Fewer Pay-Per-Views in 2017
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This has been a voluminous year for pay-per-views, partially due to the brand split. There will have been 15 PPVs by the end of 2016, along with five network-exclusive shows.
But according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc), WWE is looking to cut back on that number as a result of declining WWE Network subscriptions.
Maybe WWE can get the number down to a manageable 12—one PPV per month ought to give the storylines and various feuds enough room to breathe.
Sin Cara Needs Help
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Sin Cara has gotten into one too many fights. First, it was a backstage fight with Simon Gotch on the evening of the brand split. And now, it's a backstage fight with Chris Jericho during the European tour this past weekend.
In the old days, this might have been allowed to go on, or it would have been settled with (you guessed it) another fight. But this is the friendlier, corporate WWE, and Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Marc Middleton of Lords of Pain) reported that Sin Cara will undergo anger management classes. Hopefully, they go better than Daniel Bryan and Kane's.
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