So apparently Owens (and his son) have caught a terrible bug and had to be sent home. Edit: Oh shit son: "As noted, WWE Intercontinental ChampionÂaKevin Owens revealed in a recent interviewÂathat a dream match for him at WrestleMania 32 would be to faceÂaBrock Lesnar. Owens added he wants to see if he can “hang” with and “hurt” Lesnar in a singles match. Owens’ interview might have stirred the creative pot in WWE as according to former WWE creative writer Court Bauer, on the latest episode ofÂaMLW Radio, WWE has been discussing the idea of Brock Lesnar vsÂaKevin OwensÂaat WrestleMania 32. Bauer noted that as a result of current WWE roster injuries, the company is “starting from scratch”, so to speak, with some of the planned WrestleMania 32 bouts, and Brock Lesnar is a top priority in the company. The feeling is that Owens would get a huge rub from working with Lesnar, as the promos between Owens and Paul Heyman have great potential, and the match itself would likely be very physical. As noted,ÂaThe RockÂaandÂaThe UndertakerareÂanotÂaoptions for Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania next year, making Owens a viable opponent for The Beast. Other ‘Mania matches being discussed areÂaRoman ReignsÂavs.ÂaTriple HÂaand TheÂaUndertaker vs.ÂaJohn Cena."

^ Stupid shitty phone.

Once again, I can agree with that, but I'd say that works a bit better on faces than heels. Tommy Dreamer, Daniel Bryan, Mick Foley...these guys were all about defying the odds and never giving up even when everyone said they should. That doesn't work for heels. A good heel is always a threat, and are consistently successful(not always, but certainly more consistently than the Wyatts have been lately).

I'm sure I'm alone, but I'd like to see an ugly, hard hitting match between Lesnar/Sheamus.
I was also hoping Survivor Series would end the way it did, and am glad they've started making modifications to Sheamus as champion. Monotony definitely hurt him in the past, but I think he's been pretty underrated. A proven top level champ who they can rely on.

Owens could definitely work, but it's too soon for me. I'd like to see him build up more equity in WWE with some strong feuds that don't involve crying about Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

It worked for Roman Reigns, apparently. Eughhh.

He overcame the odds, tater tots!

Suckerin' succotash! #VinceScrewedVince

Somebody say, "shriveled up prunes"?

I don't think there are many that are on board with Roman Reigns, WWE champion, but damn it, this Raw felt right.

Damnnnnn!

- Chris Jericho back and entering the Rumble.

- Royal Rumble currently to be a WWE Championship defense for Roman Reigns.

- John Cena injured shoulder, surgery, could miss Mania.

- Bullet Club rumored to be signing with WWE. AJ Styles & Nakamura big contracts.

Personally I'm hoping they change the Rumble stipulation before Jan 24th. I think Reigns needs to keep getting stiff, memorable matches under his belt. Would've liked a title loss in the undercard in a stiff rematch with Sheamus. Move on to a title-less marquee match with Triple H at Wrestlemania. Parlor tricks will get eyes where they need to be short term, but it's a weak long game for the dubious top dog.

Related - shame about Cena's injury! 2015 was arguably his best year in a decade or more.


I hope his new year's resolution was to stop focusing on everyone's testicles.

Testicles are so 2015. It's all about the rootie tootie booty...

Indeed a shitty development for Cena. Even the marks were starting to miss him during his vacation. If absence truly makes the heart grow fonder, he's gonna be the top guy for another decade.

Not sure how I feel about the Royal Rumble/world title stipulation. Do they really believe they made Reigns THAT over, that they won't boo the man out of the building again? I have a hard time believing they put the belt on someone else. We shall see.

Y2 mother effin J! Never sad to see Jericho make a comeback.

Sorry, but Jericho is getting tired. He's a legend and future Hall of Famer for sure, but his recent appearances have been duds.

Shame about Cena. I really wanted to see him vs Taker.

I would agree with you on this, but Jericho's return this Monday was actually pretty cool to see. He didn't seem bored to be there and he felt a little '99 Jericho to me on the stuff he was saying and how he was saying it. He's been pretty stale with his returns imo, but this one seemed different and genuine to the rest. I'm glad he's back again. He was one of my favorites especially in 2000/2001.

The Cena thing is pretty crappy I must admit, even though im not a Cena fan in the slightest. I definitly don't hate the guy, but, man. Talk about bad timing.

As for the Rumble, I was interested in it at first. Got a little hype for a few minutes, then I just remembered what this meant. This will be an entire Royal Rumble to make Roman Reigns look strong. Agaaaain. He's gonna be down to the final 4 and blah blah blah. I'm not hyping myself anymore for the RR. Keeping my expectations low.

^ Well I admit I didn't watch Raw this week. I was basing my argument on his past few appearances.

In other "another one shelved" news, Konner of the Ascension is out with a dislocated jaw.

I'm still sore Jericho didn't win the 2012 Rumble, and lost to Fandango at Mania. It's definitely been more miss than hit the last few years, but there's a whiff of desperation in the air, and hopefully that means getting the most out of things. Even if they've squandered Jericho as the big draw he could've been.


Definitely could've been the year for it! Real shame.


If only Test were still with us - they could've kept it alive as a team!


It'll be interesting to see what the grand plan is. How does the title Rumble play into Reigns' two potential opponents for Mania: Triple H or Lesnar. Is all of this to avoid a legit title loss while sidestepping Reigns into a Mania program? If Reigns doesn't leave with the title - who does? Could it be Lesnar? Who does Lesnar go with if Reigns stays tied up with Triple H? Is there any way Rock has a match while in the middle of filming Baywatch?

If Rock's off the table - I like the idea of Sheamus and Brock Lesnar in the undercard.

On Rock -- seems like all the conversation is that he either does do a match, or he's just there to wave to people. Based on what we've seen in recent years, I'm surprised nobody's talking another Rock/Triple H showdown to build to finally doing a match next year, with the contracts signed and Rock's 2017 schedule booked. Which may also be a realistic option to get Rousey involved, as well. Plausible, plausible.

Jericho apparently revealed on his podcast that this run with the company is gong to be more long term as opposed to the month or two stints he's been doing in between Fozzy tour dates.

Say what you want about Jericho's runs lately, but if more big name guys like him were actually willing to do what guys at his stage of his career should be doing(putting the younger talent over), we wouldn't be swimming in a pool of low to mid carders with only one or two guys occupying the main event scene.

Side note is Fozzy actually any good?

Rumors say Sasha Banks may be on the injured list now as well.

I kinda disagree, if only because Jericho's willingness to lose to new guys doesn't really do anyone any favors.

Jericho could've been a main event level draw coming back if he was booked like a guy who was the first Undisputed Champion and the main event of Wrestlemania in 2002. Instead, he's the guy who always jobs out in the undercard and lost to Fandango (who?) in a ridiculous Wrestlemania debut.

It's awesome to see him back, and you hope something interesting will come of it with things in the state they are, but his ability to give back and support new talent is rapidly diminishing. He certainly doesn't come into Royal Rumble 2016 as a remote challenge to Roman Reigns' title. Which is kinda ridiculous! That's the level he should be!

He's a lot more valuable as the winner he should be, engaging in meaningful feuds with a younger talent and having competitive matches with them. His run with CM Punk in 2012, arguably his last enduring contribution.


To me, recent Fozzy sounds a lot like the band a fourteen year old fan puts together after years of listening to bands in his bedroom. Serviceable, but a lack of depth, with some really weak ideas that only that fourteen year old fan could think are bad ass.

Which might relate back to Jericho's struggles in being booked strong. I think the more you 'spend time' with him, the more you sense the silly fourteen year old mark. Which is gonna work great for some folk, but really kills his mystique as a professional. If I listen to his podcast too often, I might enjoy it, but booking him to lose to Fandango starts to make sense.

[Deskstop Studio Mystique Killer 5000]


Ugh. That's brutal if it's true!

So rumor has it that AJ Styles was supposed to be a surprise Rumble entry, but WWE nixed it because of the amount of fire the recent Bullet Club signings has caught.

Thanks internet.

I see what you're saying here, which goes back to what I was saying about Bray Wyatt a page or two back. If you're not winning, you're not a threat, you're not taken seriously, thus, people lose interest. I'm a Jericho mark, so pretty much any Jericho is good enough for me, but I understand that, without results, his schtick wears thin.

I would not complain about a Jericho heel turn/surprise world title reign. He's got the credentials, WWE is short on big names...book that shit.

Ehhh. Things being the way they are, you really think that would derail those plans?

It's still AJ Styles, it's still Orlando, it's still random entry, it's still the Royal Rumble. We knew Taz was coming and that was still an all-time reaction. If it was ever really on the table, surely it still is. C'mon. C'mooonnn.

Mind you -- if the rumor of Brock Lesnar entering the Rumble is true, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing for some of these guys to miss out. I'm wondering what the hell they've got for the undercard, though. I really hope we don't have another short card dud. Not sure I want to see more than 30 added for the title stip.


My big differences there would just be two different types of character, and the fact that Jericho is already made. There's an established expectation there that could/should be met. A guy like Bray Wyatt's still waiting to be made. If he can plausibly go toe-to-toe with a (still valuable) Jericho (or any made man) in a meaningful feud or contest -- even if he loses -- that's positive development. Losing's growth if you've still got somewhere to grow.

They're still setting Wyatt up for losing matches that don't mean anything, though, so I'm with you in practise. Dude needs some wins. Putting the four of those guys in the Rumble has me leery. Format makes it an excusable loss, but I've gotta think a Wyatts win in the undercard would be more valuable to everyone. Put 'em in a squash over Social Outcasts, or something. None of those idiots need to be wasting slots.

He back

Oh wow. Shouldn't MK5.org just delete threads over ten years old?

Very unlikely to be true, considering much of that fire was created by WWE itself, with tweets and straight up articles on WWE.com.

Lets remember how straight up MOST OF THE TIME the "rumors" reported on wrestling sites are absolute bullshit.

Oh don't get me wrong, I also believe 99% of dirtsheet reports are crap.

The amount of times wrestlers, commentators, managers etc have debunked a story is almost hilarious.

Ka-Tra