WWE Rumors: Examining Latest Buzz Around Adam Cole, Enzo Amore and More

SummerSlam 2017 is on the horizon, and the rumor mill has been buzzing with news on two potential surprises involving longtime NXT associates.

Just days before he is scheduled to ascend to the heavens inside a shark cage while former tag team partner Big Cass battles The Big Show, Enzo Amore made the news for a potential surprise that could affect his future with the Raw brand.

The same could be said of former valet Carmella, who has made a name for herself away from Enzo and Cass on the SmackDown Live brand. The current Miss Money in the Bank, she will certainly be watching closely as Naomi defends her women's title against Natalya.

Could she strike, cash in and win gold Sunday?

Perhaps the biggest news to come on this Road to SummerSlam is in regards to a former Ring of Honor champion and plans for his introduction to the WWE fanbase.

What could Adam Cole mean for WWE and, more specifically, its NXT brand?

Adam Cole Signs with WWE

The hottest free agent in wrestling, former Ring of Honor world champion Adam Cole, has signed with WWE as PWInsider.com reports.

"Former Ring of Honor champion Adam Cole, 28, has signed with WWE for the NXT brand, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources. Cole is slated to begin at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida this week."

The signing is a big one for WWE's developmental brand. Cole is a talented performer whose work in ROH speaks for itself. He is a three-time world champion with that promotion and rose to prominence as one of the better talkers in the independents.

A performer with star potential, who can play both heel and babyface effectively, he has the opportunity to become one of the premier competitors on a roster loaded with talent.

The move continues the recent influx of Ring of Honor talent to NXT. Roderick Strong has done a fantastic job of building momentum for himself and earning championship opportunities as lead babyface opposition for current NXT champion Bobby Roode.

Cole's former tag team partner Kyle O'Reilly and former ROH television champion Bobby Fish also recently joined the brand.

Enzo Amore to Turn Heel at SummerSlam?

Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats reports a big swerve in the saga of Enzo Amore and Big Cass could occur Sunday night at SummerSlam.

"There’s talk of Enzo Amore turning on Big Show and reuniting with Big Cass at SummerSlam."

If true, fans would certainly be surprised, but booking would make little sense.

If the intent was to turn both Amore and Cass heel, why not keep them together and have them attack The Hardy Boyz? Matt and Jeff are stronger babyfaces than Big Show, and turning on them would certainly mean more to the audience than beating down a giant.

There is even the ready-made story of Matt and Jeff returning at WrestleMania and stealing championship opportunity from The Certified G and his seven-foot-tall buddy. Going through the entire Big Cass heel turn, the subsequent match and the setup to the swerve would render the last three months of television meaningless if Amore is to turn heel and reunite with his longtime partner.

It is curious booking, for sure, but it will be interesting to see how WWE Creative utilizes them in that role. The duo was originally a heel act in NXT, but their popularity became so immense the brand had no choice but to make the switch to babyface.

Will history repeat itself, or will WWE Creative be able to successfully execute a lasting and effective heel run for the team?

Only time will tell.

The Likelihood of a Money in the Bank Cash-In at SummerSlam

Ortman also reports over at Cageside Seats that a Money in the Bank cash-in is likely for SummerSlam.

"It's looking more likely Carmella will cash in her Money in the Bank contract at SummerSlam than Baron Corbin."

The cash-in has been a month in the making. With James Ellsworth back on television and Carmella scoring a big win over SmackDown women's champion Naomi on the August 8 episode of SmackDown Live, the Princess of Staten Island has been building momentum rolling into SummerSlam.

Considering Naomi vs. Natalya is hardly the star-studded match many would have expected for the second-most important show of the year, a newsworthy cash-in would allow the SmackDown women's division to stay at the forefront while giving the show a memorable moment to hang its proverbial hat on.

Such an occurrence would also be payoff for Carmella's rise to the top of the division this summer and solidify her as the lead heel in the division.