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Welcome to the latest edition of WWE Rumors, where we talk about the whirlwind of scuttlebutt churning from the wrestling rumor mill. Brock Lesnar has become the talk of the town once again, and an update on his status has come to the fore. Meanwhile, Triple H appears to have given up on the absent superstar.
The Judgment Day is in full effect, but the word making the round is that a member could be removed from the faction soon. On the other side of the fence, SmackDown has been lacking star power since Charlotte Flair got injured. We recently learned a positive update on her return.
And last but not least, will AJ Lee be back in WWE anytime soon? Continue reading as we dive into the top five rumors of the week.
#5. Hopefully True: WWE has discussed bringing back Brock Lesnar
WWE has steered clear of mentioning Brock Lesnar on TV since his name was allegedly alluded to in Janel Grant's lawsuit against Vince McMahon.
But that changed on this week's Monday Night RAW when Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes referenced The Beast Incarnate during their respective segments. The subtle namedrop left fans pondering whether Lesnar is on his way back to the Stamford-based promotion.
During the live Q&A on Backstage Pass, Hall of Fame journalist Bill Apter said his sources within WWE told him that the wheels are in motion for Brock Lesnar's return:
"I can't tell you definitely yes but my inside people in WWE have told me they're talking. That's the most I know."
However, Fightful Select learned that there are no creative plans in place for The Beast Incarnate. The 47-year-old legend last wrestled against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam in 2023. Whether fans have seen the last of him remains to be seen.
#4. Hopefully Not True: WWE has no plans to use Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin appears to have been stuck in limbo.
Since moving to SmackDown as part of the 2024 Draft, the former King of the Ring hasn't been used prominently on television. Baron Corbin began teaming up with Apollo Crews, but the duo has mostly wrestled in dark matches.
The newly formed tandem hasn't been seen on TV since the August 30 episode of SmackDown, when they lost to Angel and Berto.
According to Fightful Select, the management hasn't been keen on using Crews and Corbin of late. Interestingly, the 6'8" Lone Wolf wasn't initially sold on the idea of pairing with Apollo Crews but grew to like it.
It will be interesting to see when or if the company will put them back on television anytime soon.
#3. Hopefully Not True: WWE plans to remove Carlito from The Judgment Day
Carlito has been linked with a number of factions since returning to the Stamford-based promotion last year. After parting ways with LWO, the veteran started associating himself with The Judgment Day.
However, he wasn't made an official member until this summer when Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley were kicked out of the group. Despite being the most entertaining guy in the group, Carlito could be removed from the faction.
As per WrestleVotes via Backstage Pass, WWE has discussed pushing the Puerto Rican wrestler as a singles star at some point in the future:
"We are hearing discussions to potentially remove Carlito from the Judgment Day and get him back into a singles competitor, possibly a singles push...There is no timetable, we haven't heard much. I'd expect by the end of the year maybe a singles run by Carlito is in the fold. But we do know those plans have been discussed to separate him from the Judgment Day," WrestleVotes said.
As much as intriguing it sounds on paper, Carlito, at 45, is likely to get lost in the shuffle and may not even get TV time once RAW moves to Netflix. At least with The Judgment Day, he can feature on the flagship show every week.
#2. Hopefully True: Charlotte Flair's WWE return timeline
Charlotte Flair is another wrestler on the injured list.
The Queen has been out of action since late December 2023. During her last match, she tore her ACL, MCL, and meniscus, which put her on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.
However, she has since been training hard to get medically cleared to wrestle again. WWE initially announced that Charlotte Flair would be out of action for nine months.
WrestleVotes via Backstage Pass recently reported that the 38-year-old multi-time Women's Champion is likely to be on the card for WrestleMania 41 next year:
"Another WrestleMania question, that's a good one. I haven't heard too much...about potential women's matches at WrestleMania. I do know that Charlotte Flair is going to be in the fold and at the top of any women's wrestling card that they present for WrestleMania."
The 2025 Royal Rumble could be the time and place for Charlotte Flair to step back inside the squared circle and set up a blockbuster WrestleMania program.
#1. Hopefully True: WWE is interested in bringing back AJ Lee
CM Punk's WWE return appears to have opened the door for AJ Lee to make her way back to the Stamford-based promotion. Since parting ways with the sports entertainment juggernaut in 2015, the Black Widow has rarely been seen in a wrestling capacity.
During a live Q&A with Bill Apter and WrestleVotes via Backstage Pass, WrestleVotes said WWE would welcome AJ Lee with open arms if she decides to come back for one more run:
The answer to that is as far as I know, WWE is totally on board for it, they would welcome it. She picks up the phone, she says 'I'm in,' they're going to say 'yes, what took you so long?' I would say the only two people that probably know that answer are AJ Lee and CM Punk, and whatever that answer may be, it's up to them so we'll see."
It looks like the ball is in the former Divas Champion's court. Will she make a sensational wrestling return like her husband? Only time will tell.
