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WWE WrestleMania 2018 Rumors: Top Reports on Shane McMahon, Sasha Banks and More
March 29, 2018
Shane McMahon could be ready for a swift return to action at WrestleMania 34 after recent fears about his health.
The SmackDown commissioner was brutally beaten by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn on March 13 and was then admitted to hospital with diverticulitis while on holiday, per Konstantinos Lianos of the Daily Express.
However, McMahon will join forces with SmackDown general manager Daniel Bryan, who was recently medically cleared for an in-ring return, against Owens and Zayn at The Show of Shows on April 8.
Randal Ortman of Cageside Seats reported Shane-O-Mac could return to WWE television ahead of WrestleMania, but confusion remains about his fitness.
WWE provided footage of Owens and Zayn's attack on McMahon in which he took a couple of huge bumps:
Sasha Banks' rivalry with Bayley has been building for weeks, and the pair have continued to clash on Raw as a battle of wills has overtaken their friendship.
A recent altercation suggested The Boss and Bayley would take their storyline to the next level, but it appears WWE has changed direction with the plot.
Journalist Dave Meltzer noted on F4WOnline.com's message board Bayley was due to turn heel, but the company has scrapped the decision (h/t Andrew Ravens of SE Scoops).
Meltzer wrote:
"Bayley was scheduled to turn. The MSG card had her teaming with Elias vs. Cena & Nikki right until the decision was made to hold up the turn. It wasn't a red herring, it was a plan written for a turn by that date that they changed. It appeared Banks did the turn however. Plans like that change weekly.
"The Banks heel turn was scheduled well before the 2017 Mania at first. People who act like this stuff doesn't change 100 times are mental because you have to ignore everything every wrestler tells you in every inside interview to believe that."
Both former world champions will compete in the first-ever women's Battle Royal at WrestleMania, and it will be intriguing to see how the company fuels the tension between the pair.
Banks is the natural heel, but both fighters need a fresh creative direction before SummerSlam on August 19.
In other news, Charlotte Flair is set to return to WWE programming after undergoing oral surgery, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.
The daughter of wrestling legend Ric Flair is expected to be ready to defend her SmackDown women's title against Asuka at WrestleMania without any further trouble.
Asuka remains undefeated and a loss to Flair appears unlikely. However, The Empress of Tomorrow is a Raw wrestler, and she might have to swap brands if she defeats The Queen.