Backstage WWE Rumors: Latest on AEW, Brock Lesnar and More

With WWE Crown Jewel on the horizon, two of the titans slated to do battle at Thursday's extravaganza in Saudi Arabia are at the forefront of the wrestling rumor mill.

Just what are the plans for Brock Lesnar's reign as WWE champion, and what is the contractual status of heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury?

The answers to those two questions lie ahead, as do the plans for the All Elite Wrestling Women's Championship match at Full Gear and a potentially historic role for Tessa Blanchard over in Impact Wrestling.

Brock Lesnar-WWE Championship Update

Geno Mrosko of Cageside Seats reported, "Brock Lesnar isn't expected to lose the WWE championship anytime soon, so expect some sort of schmoz finish at Crown Jewel."

With so much effort put into the debut of Cain Velasquez and his star potential in WWE, it is unlikely he will be making the trip to Saudi Arabia just to lose to The Beast Incarnate.

The involvement of Rey Mysterio and his son, Dominick, points to a screwy finish that allows Velasquez to save face, Lesnar to hang on to the title and the ongoing storyline to propel forward.

If not, and Lesnar remains the face of Friday Night SmackDown by defeating Velasquez, WWE Creative runs the risk of killing the reputation and credibility of a potential star right out of the gate.

Given the manner in which it booked The Fiend at Hell in a Cell on October 6, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that is exactly what happens.

AEW Women's Championship Match for Full Gear

Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats noted Riho is expected to defend her AEW Women's Championship against Emi Sakura at Full Gear on November 9.

If accurate, it is a curious decision creatively.

So much has been put into wins and losses being of the utmost importance in AEW, but Sakura was most recently seen losing to Britt Baker in tag team action and has yet to collect a significant singles win of her own to justify her spot in the match.

That could well change with one last episode of Dynamite to go before the pay-per-view, but one has to wonder if someone like Allie, who has a win on AEW Dark in recent weeks, would not be better suited here.

Sakura is highly touted in Japan, but her credibility with AEW audiences unfamiliar with her international work is almost nonexistent.

Tyson Fury's WWE Status

With regards to Tyson Fury's clash with Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel, Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported: "As of this week, that is his only planned WWE appearance and he is not signed to anything with the company. We are told that he's absolutely loved his time with the company and is open to doing more down the line, however."

The heavyweight boxer is slated to face The Monster Among Men in the co-main event in Saudi Arabia, bringing his unique brand of showmanship and mainstream sports credibility to the show.

It is not at all surprising that the Briton has enjoyed his time in WWE. Mike Tyson, another star from the boxing world, found great enjoyment during his time in McMahonland and is now a member of the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.

It remains to be seen if Fury sets foot back in the squared circle after Thursday's event, or if he can find the sort of success Mike Tyson did during his runs with the company, but he certainly has the charisma to be an effective guest star going forward.

His in-ring performance against Strowman will likely dictate how willing WWE is to have him back in the fold, though.

Tessa Blanchard to Make History in Impact Wrestling?

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported Impact Wrestling's goal with Tessa Blanchard is for the third-generation star to make history by winning a men's title.

It appeared as though she may do just that at Slammiversary XVII in July, when she came within a fingertip of capturing the X-Division Championship, only for Ace Austin to utilize a baton and knock her to the ground.

The Undeniable has been at war with Sami Callihan and oVe for months, routinely battling The Death Machine, Jake and Dave Crist and Madman Fulton in singles and tag team matches.

With Callihan defeating Brian Cage for the Impact Wrestling World Championship on Tuesday night and Blanchard immediately confronting him after the match, the seeds have been sown for a showdown between the frequent rivals.

Whether Impact officials have the intestinal fortitude to do what no promotion has done before by having a woman hold the men's world title remains to be seen.

If ever there was a woman to do it, though, it would be Blanchard, whose performances over the last year are comparable to any star of any gender in terms of quality.