WWE Rumors: Buzz on Road to WWE Royal Rumble 2017 for Week of Jan. 12

It's WWE's busiest time of the year, with the road to WrestleMania 33 well underway and the Royal Rumble pay-per-view just around the corner.

And all that excitement means more speculation online and more rumors about which dream matches fans can expect to see at the biggest shows of the year over the next few months.

But the WWE rumor mill isn't strictly limited to WrestleMania plans. This week, there's news about an injury setback that could be a bigger blow for the company than initially feared.

There's also news of a potential big-name recruit from another promotion, which could be seen as a major coup for WWE by some.

Here's this week's rumor roundup.

Paige Not Back Until the Summer?

As good as WWE's female wrestling scene is right now, there's little doubt that a fit and in-form Paige would give the whole division an extra dynamic.

Paige's absence may not have been that sorely felt due to the strong performances of stars like Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks, but when she does make her return to in-ring competition, she'll be a major boost for Raw.

Unfortunately, though, it looks like WWE fans will have to wait to see her back in action.

Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats reported earlier this week that WWE officials recently met with Paige, who is rumored to be out until the summer. 

That's a big blow for WWE and Paige. When she does return, WWE will be a much better place—at least in terms of the strength of Raw's women's division.

Ring of Honor Star Coming to WWE?

Is WWE about to land another significant recruit from the indy scene at the start of 2017?

The current WWE roster is a wrestling lover's dream, with guys like Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and Shinsuke Nakamura all plying their trade with the company.

However, it looks like WWE might expand that dream roster even further with the acquisition of former Ring of Honor star Kyle O'Reilly.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc) reported earlier this week that ROH officials "expect O'Reilly to be heading for WWE." If true, it represents another major acquisition for the company.

As it stands, it remains to be seen whether O'Reilly would immediately compete on the main roster or if he would serve an apprenticeship in NXT. No matter where he is wrestling, though, he represents a major move for the company. 

Undertaker to Face Braun Strowman at WrestleMania?

The Undertaker's shock announcement on Raw this past Monday that he would be entering the Royal Rumble match for the first time in several years has people questioning what his future has in store.

Taker confirming his entry into the match automatically makes him one of the favorites on merit. However, some news that has emerged in recent days about his WrestleMania opponent may alter his chances in the eyes of some.

Ortman reported earlier this week that WWE could be leaning toward an Undertaker vs. Braun Strowman match, which would weaken Taker's chances of winning the Rumble.

It doesn't seem likely that Strowman has a chance of winning the WWE Universal Championship between now and WrestleMania 33. That means that, if this match is the one WWE has chosen, it is probably not going to involve a championship.

Plans can change drastically in WrestleMania season, however, so it's probably best to take this with a grain of salt.