Edge Issues WrestleMania Open Challenge: References, AJ Styles, Fin Balor And Cody Rhodes

Edge returned to WWE on Monday night for the first time since beating Miz and Maryse alongside Beth Phoenix at Royal Rumble. Unsurprising that he skipped Elimination Chamber as Edge has been fairly outspoken on how uncomfortable he feels about the Saudi shows. On Raw, Edge issued an open challenge for WrestleMania, and while the challenge wasn’t answered, there were plenty of hints as to who might step up.

Edge spoke to the camera and dropped words like phenomenal and demon, hints that the person to step up to his challenge might be AJ Styles, or Finn Balor. However, the hint that stood out above the others was the mention of undeniable, and smoke and mirrors, very deliberate references to Rhodes. If the former AEW star really is coming back to WWE, a WrestleMania match against The Rated R Superstar certainly sounds like the sort of thing that would have tempted him to sign.

Will The American Nightmare be the one to answer the call?

The Rhodes saga has been fascinating thus far, and whether he really is re-signing with WWE or not, the company is certainly having fun with it. To the point that it seems he will almost definitely show up some time otherwise there wouldn’t be so many overt references to him. Like Rhodes or not, if and when he does show up, it will be a huge moment.

Source: TheSportster

Vince McMahon Reportedly Has Huge Plans For Cody Rhodes WWE Comeback

WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon is planning to give Cody Rhodes “a major match at WrestleMania” if Rhodes were to return to WWE, according to Wade Keller of PWTorch.

On his latest audio show, Keller noted how McMahon views Rhodes’ AEW exit “as a big deal” and wants to treat it accordingly.

“Cody and WWE haven’t confirmed it but Cody is going to WWE and he’s going to get a big push,” Keller said. “Vince McMahon is going to treat this as a big deal. Everybody I talked to thinks Vince loves the idea of acquiring a co-founder and EVP and, you know, main event wrestler. He just held their secondary singles title not that long ago, and having him show up on WWE TV is something that Vince is very interested in taking advantage of and making money on it. It could even be a situation where Cody is in a major match at WrestleMania.”

Keller said he had “four plus hours of conversations” with his sources within AEW and WWE, which led him to believe that Rhodes is expected to be on the WrestleMania 38 card.

“I fully expect Cody to be on WrestleMania either as a wrestler or making his first appearance,” Keller said. “I don’t know if they can hold back on putting him on TV so I could even see him appearing on Raw or SmackDown next week. I’m not aware of there being any kind of non-compete at this point since he’s been a free agent for a while so Cody could appear. I wouldn’t be shocked if there’s even some augmentation to the booking plans for WrestleMania perhaps related to the Elimination Chamber in order to set the stage for Cody to do something really big at WrestleMania.”

Keller continued, “I think Cody will get a big push, at least at first. You know, there’s different opinions on whether Vince is going to resent Cody for creating competition or admire Cody for his entrepreneurial spirit and being classy about it the whole way. You know, Paul Heyman, Eric Bischoff, Jeff Jarrett, they all competed with Vince [and] they all got jobs again. So, you know, we’ll, we’ll see how it goes. Vince saw Cody as a mid-carder. He saw Christian as a mid-carder. Christian went to Impact Wrestling and won a world title…He came back, he got a better push, but it wasn’t at the level of Edge, which is what, you know, Christian always wanted. He wanted to be at the Edge level.”

It is being widely reported that Cody Rhodes is in talks with WWE about a potential comeback. Since Rhodes is not under a non-compete clause with AEW, he is free to appear on WWE TV immediately.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Rock Teases WWE Return On Social Media

It appears The Rock plans to follow his Super Bowl LVI opener up with another electrifying promo.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson appears to have teased a return to WWE via a social media post.

The wrestling legend turned Hollywood star has some history with football and, though he never made it to the NFL, got last weekend’s Super Bowl LVI off to an electrifying start as he cut quite the promo to usher the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals out to the pitch.

Johnson’s promo included a few signature catchphrases, such as his “finally!” and “millions… and millions” of fans around the world bits. The latter would typically include a pause for the audience to respond – that pause wasn’t observed on Sunday, however.

Folks took notice of the absence and, after it was pointed out on social media, The Rock responded with claims that the pause is coming soon. Of course, WrestleMania 38 is around the corner, leading speculation The Great One could be part of the show.

The Rock is just one of a few big names thought to be candidates for a WrestleMania appearance this year. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has noted that the actor will be pretty busy during the Show of Shows, but whatever happens on that front remains to be seen.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Cody Rhodes are also rumored to be set for comebacks. It’s been reported that WWE is keen on having Austin present, as well as another legendary name on his level, while Kevin Owens is rumored to be the one he will face after K.O. cut a promo talking down Texas on Monday night.

Rhodes, meanwhile, parted ways with AEW this week and reports suggest Vince McMahon wants him back. The WWE chairman is also said to be intent on giving Rhodes a major push right away, which should include a WrestleMania match.

Source: TheSportster

WWE Planning Another Huge, Stone Cold-Level Surprise For WrestleMania 38 [Rumor]

WWE is reportedly keen on having another legendary name feature in the upcoming WrestleMania PPV.

WWE is reported to be planning to bring in another legend on the level of “Stone Cold” Steve for WrestleMania 38.

It’s believed that the Hall of Famer will be the subject of a shocking in-ring return for this year’s iteration of the Show of Shows, with Kevin Owens suspected to be his opponent for the major event.

According to Dave Meltzer (H/T Sportskeeda.com), WWE is working on having another legendary name feature when the event comes around, noting whoever it is will be of the same caliber as Austin. He pointed out that The Rock will be busy while John Cena also has other commitments.

The Wrestling Observer insider deduced it could be Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, or The Undertaker as those are the only other available names on the same level as Austin, though he wasn’t entirely sure.

WrestleMania 38 will be a two-night show, as it has been since 2020, and is set to air from the AT&T Stadium in Texas on April 2-3. Two matches have been confirmed for the time being and another will be by the end of Elimination Chamber this weekend.

Brock Lesnar will square off with Universal Champion Roman Reigns following his Royal Rumble win but could face a different opponent if Reigns loses his title to Goldberg at this weekend’s PPV.

Women’s Royal Rumble winner Royal Rumble winner Ronda Rousey will face Charlotte Flair. The pair will go at each other at Elimination Chamber as well, but as part of a tag team match. Rousey will partner up with Naomi against Flair and Sonya Deville.

Becky Lynch is yet to learn her opponent as that’s set to be decided by a six-woman affair inside the Elimination Chamber.

Source: TheSportster

WWE NXT Stand & Deliver, WWE Hall Of Fame And More Confirmed For WrestleMania 38 Week

The second WWE NXT Stand & Deliver event has been confirmed for WrestleMania 38 Weekend near Dallas, TX.

WWE announced today that NXT Stand & Deliver, without the Takeover name, will take place in the Dallas area leading up to WrestleMania 38, which takes place on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

The previous Stand & Deliver event was a two-night event, but there’s no word yet on if Stand & Deliver II will take place over two nights.

WWE also confirmed that RAW, SmackDown and the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in the Dallas area during WrestleMania 38 Week. There will also be “an unprecedented” Superstore Axxess for fans.

WWE will be announcing full details on the WrestleMania 38 Week events in the coming weeks.

Source: Wrestling Inc.