Rumors on Ronda Rousey; Brian Kendrick asks for his release; Top star expected to return to SmackDown –
Per PWInsider, at least one WWE official flew to California last week to meet with Ronda Rousey.
The report also notes that according to WWE sources, Rousey’s WWE makeup artist – Abraham Esparza, is scheduled to be at the Royal Rumble this Saturday and Raw next week. It was also said that that this has been locked in for several weeks.
Furthermore, PWInsider says that when they spoke to a number of sources who are very aware of Royal Rumble plans, that “it’s all on Rousey” and whether she wants to pull the trigger on the return, and they WWE is ready for it and wants it for WrestleMania.
Rousey’s last WWE appearance was at the Wrestlemania 35 PPV. Back in September of last year, she and her husband Travis Browne welcomed their first daughter together.
Brian Kendrick has reportedly requested his release from WWE and is waiting to have the request granted.
According to both PWInsider and F4WOnline, Brian Kendrick requested his release from WWE weeks ago. It was noted that Kendrick has not been at recent NXT 2.0 and 205 Live shows after requesting his release.
Kendrick was supposed to return to the ring on the December 28 episode of NXT 2.0 to square off with Harland, but the match never took place. Instead, an angle happened in which Harland tossed Kendrick down a flight of stairs.
Last March, Kendrick, 42, transitioned from an in-ring talent to being a producer for NXT and 205 Live.
Xavier Woods is expected to return to the road for the company as of this Friday’s Smackdown taping in Kansas City, PWInsider.com has confirmed.
Per PWInsider, Xavier Woods is expected to be back regularly on the road going forward. However, it is being said that it is unclear if he has been cleared to return to in-ring action.
Woods announced back on his January 13 G4 live stream on Twitch, that he suffered an injury to his plantaris muscle of his calf while executing a DDT from the outside into the ring during the Street Fight Match with the Usos on the January 7 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Woods did note on his live stream he was expected to be “good to go” in 4-6 weeks. With a possible return, its very unlikely he would participate in the Men’s Rumble match this Saturday.