We're back with another exciting WWE News and Rumor Roundup. A top star — currently out of action — has given a health update ahead of her potential return.
A multi-time world champion recently highlighted his past with WWE President Nick Khan. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns received some praise from a veteran on the current roster.
Today's roundup will also feature Triple H's in-ring status, as well as a released talent stating that the company cut time for one of Jeff Hardy's matches.
Without further ado, let's take a closer look at these news and rumor stories.
#5. Bayley teases her WWE in-ring return
Bayley hasn't wrestled since June 2021, as she suffered a torn ACL while training at the WWE Performance Center a month later.
In a recent Instagram live stream, The Role Model gave an update on her recovery and mentioned that she could "be coming back soon."
"People are asking how my knee is. So, my knee is doing great, my leg's doing great, my ankle's doing great, my shin is doing great, my hip is doing great, my mind is doing great... so, I mean it's only a matter of time. I'm not gonna tell you when, and I don't want all these idiots watching to know when, but I'm gonna be coming back soon, maybe, you know... you better be ready, better be ready," said Bayley.
Bayley with updates on her injury. She's coming back soon, it's just a matter of time. We just have to watch the shows and see when it will be 👀🔥⏳ pic.twitter.com/fhJjN97Yh7
— Ted (@TedBayRose) December 12, 2021
In July, WWE stated that Bayley would be out of action for approximately nine months. Judging by her recent comments, could she come back to the company well before April 2022?
The former SmackDown Women's Champion is yet to fully experience the return of live crowds this year, as her latest match went down inside the ThunderDome. She last tagged alongside Seth Rollins to defeat the duo of Bianca Belair and Cesaro on the blue brand.
#4. The Rock reflects on spending time with WWE President Nick Khan decades ago
WWE legend The Rock recently made a heartfelt post about Nick Khan and the latter's sister, Nahnatchka Khan. As per the multi-time world champion, the trio spent a lot of time together as children in the mid-1980s.
Since then, The Rock has become an important name in sports entertainment and is now a Hollywood megastar, while Nick Khan is the current President and Chief Revenue Officer of WWE. Nahnatchka is a well-known writer, producer, and director in Hollywood, who also created a television sitcom based on Dwayne Johnson's life experiences, called 'Young Rock.'
Check out The Brahma Bull's heartfelt post below:
According to reports, Nick Khan is likely to replace Vince McMahon as the WWE boss in the long run.
A few months ago, Khan gave his take on a potential dream match between The Rock and Roman Reigns. He acknowledged that it is 'something everybody would like to see' and that the company is constantly in touch with the Hollywood megastar about 'different opportunities.'
While a dream clash between the two superstars seems unlikely for next year's WrestleMania pay-per-view, many speculate that it will happen at some point in the distant future.
#3. Kofi Kingston praises WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns
Kofi Kingston recently stated that Roman Reigns had taken his character “to new heights” on WWE SmackDown.
Speaking to the Milwaukee Radio Group’s Don Black, The New Day member highlighted Paul Heyman’s role in elevating The Tribal Chief’s stock since last year.
“Roman has taken his character to new heights. He’s just so confident with himself out there and he’s grown so much. You always knew when Roman was with The Shield, he was gonna be the guy. But him stepping into this Tribal Chief role, he plays it so well. To have the addition of Paul Heyman out there, it elevates him so much," said Kofi Kingston.
Kingston also said he sees The Bloodline (Reigns and The Usos) as a pretty powerful faction. He then brought up The New Day’s rivalries with Jimmy and Jey Uso and added that the latter duo gets increasingly better each time they step inside the squared circle.
The former WWE Champion is no stranger to crossing paths with The Bloodline, as he, Xavier Woods, and Big E came up short against them during a six-man tag team match on RAW back in September.
#2. Note on Triple H's in-ring future in WWE
A few months ago, WWE EVP Triple H (real name — Paul Levesque) underwent a successful medical procedure after suffering a cardiac event. While updates since then have noted that he is doing well, reports suggest one shouldn't expect him to wrestle on television anytime soon.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer wrote about the remaining star attractions in Vince McMahon's company. Among names like The Undertaker and Steve Austin, Meltzer briefly mentioned Triple H's in-ring status:
"I doubt Paul Levesque will be wrestling and Undertaker is done, although Undertaker and Austin are on huge money deals (as Ric Flair was) just to keep them part of the promotion "forever.""
Has Triple H retired from wrestling in WWE? https://t.co/ih3J8O6OvA
— Wrestle Tracker (@wrestletracker1) December 13, 2021
The Game had pushed the pause button on his wrestling career long before the recent cardiac event. His last proper televised match went down on June 7, 2019, at WWE's Super ShowDown event. Randy Orton defeated him in a one-on-one contest at the pay-per-view.
A few days later, on June 29, Triple H wrestled at a live event in Japan. He has not taken part in another match since then, excluding the bizarre, inconclusive melee against Orton earlier this year.
#1. WWE cut down on time for Karrion Kross and Jeff Hardy's first match
Jeff Hardy and Killer Kross (f.k.a. Karrion Kross in WWE) clashed for the first time on the July 19, 2021, episode of Monday Night RAW. The bout lasted less than two minutes, with The Charismatic Enigma emerging victoriously over the former NXT star.
Scarlett Bordeaux, Kross' fiancée, recently said during a K & S WrestleFest virtual signing that WWE wanted the match to be 10 minutes long as per the original backstage plans:
"Originally, I can say this, the match was supposed to be ten minutes. The first match with him [Killer Kross] and Jeff [Hardy] and then they get out there and it’s, ‘You have 90 seconds.’ Time got cut. That happens all the time out there."