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Credit: WWE.com
Returns of former world champions dominate the conversation in this collection of wrestling rumors, with Edge, Kenny Omega and Bayley at the forefront.
The latter two have missed substantial time due to injuries, while Edge has been off of television for two or so months, plotting a comeback following his dismissal from The Judgment Day.
When might those three performers explode back onto our screens and instantly elevate the quality of the shows on which they appear?
The answer awaits in this roundup of sports-entertainment rumors.
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Edge is coming back soon and according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, his return to WWE programming after being beaten down and kicked out of the Judgment Day faction that he created will occur Monday night on Raw from New York’s famed Madison Square Garden.
Wrestling Observer Live’s Bryan Alvarez added that WWE has merchandise for the Rated R Superstar, suggesting Edge will be returning under his classic gimmick.
It is seriously disappointing for the performer himself that he was not able to see his vision for Judgment Day through, but the recent vignettes showing him taking a journey through his career and the many iconic competitors he has wrestled throughout it have been extremely well done.
When he comes back, he will be greeted like the star he is and presumably set up what should be a dream match of sorts with Finn Balor, the former world champion who replaced him as the “leader” of the faction.
Edge will always have a place in WWE thanks to the very strong matches he is still having and his ability to connect with audiences through his great mic work. The feud with Balor and Priest will work both for him and the opposition, who have been treading water while waiting for the Hall of Famer’s return.
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AEW fans have not seen Kenny Omega since he last appeared on Dynamite following his world title loss to “Hangman” Adam Page last November. Lingering injuries were the main cause but other duties as AEW EVP also contributed to his absence.
Sapp reported that several AEW officials were made aware of plans for Omega to return and team with the Young Bucks on September 5 at All Out.
No opponents were mentioned and there were no further details offered up, but the idea that Omega may be back for the biggest pay-per-view of the year is a huge deal.
Especially taking into consideration the relative unknowns surrounding CM Punk, Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole’s availability. A year ago, those three stars shook the wrestling world to its foundation by jumping to the company right about this time.
Omega would bring some star power back to the promotion while quenching the thirst of fans who have waited a long damn time to see The Best Bout Machine back in the ring, creating magic and collecting titles.
Teaming with the Bucks is a great way to ease him back into the squared circle, too, without forcing him to carry the weight of the match on his shoulders, one of which is surgically repaired.
Whatever that match looks like, fans in Chicago will be ecstatic to see one of the most popular wrestlers in the world back on AEW television. That is, as long as everything goes according to plan and the report comes to fruition.
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Former women’s champion Bayley has been out of action since last July, leaving WWE fans to wonder where The Role Model is and when she will be coming back to television.
While not indicative of an on-screen return, Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that she is scheduled to be in Nashville for SummerSlam weekend.
WWE’s women’s division got a boost with the recent cash-in by Liv Morgan and subsequent SmackDown Women’s Championship victory, but both the Raw and SmackDown rosters could use the spark that a return by Bayley would give them.
She would almost certainly be treated like a babyface by fans initially, but whether she fills the role of babyface or heel would be the long-term question. Considering how great she was the latter, one could only hope she would explode back onto television as a ruthless antagonist for either Morgan or the red brand’s Bianca Belair.
Whatever her role, expect her to make the most of it and embark on a journey to remind fans of why she is one of the most influential women’s wrestlers of all time in fairly short order.
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A new stable featuring Ariya Daivari, Parker Boudreaux and Slim J debuted at the recent AEW Dark tapings and, according to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, Tony Khan is excited about the act.
Daivari will reportedly play a spoiled brat who uses his trust fund to hire both Boudreaux and Slim J to compete for him.
Boudreaux previously performed in NXT 2.0 as Harland, a seemingly can’t-miss breakout star who, well, missed with the brand. Renewed life, presumably in a role that better fits him than the silent, menacing threat behind Joe Gacy, should help him find the success he did not under the WWE umbrella.
It will be interesting, if Khan is really that excited about the act, to see how long it takes before it pops up on an episode of Dynamite or Rampage. With so much talent already missing those weekly television properties because of a bloated roster, one has to beg the question: is there really room for them at this point?
Perhaps sticking to Dark and Dark Elevation, where they can shore up the act a bit, would be the best fit for them at this time.
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