If you've been a tad underwhelmed by WWE of late, rest assured that the product is about to heat up in a big way with RAW's debut on Netflix (we're also very nearly back on the Road to WrestleMania).
Unsurprisingly, the rumour mill is beginning to churn out some exciting claims about what's on the horizon and we've now rounded up some of the most noteworthy rumblings for you this New Year's Day.
We'll start with an update on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. According to Sean Ross Sapp on the Fightful Select podcast, Netflix has requested the American Nightmare be part of RAW. That explains why the SmackDown star has been in so much of the marketing materials, though it sounds like WWE plans for him to remain part of the blue brand on the USA Network as well.
WrestleVotes reports that Randy Orton is expected back on WWE television either at the Royal Rumble PLE or sometime before it. However, The Viper may not win the 30-man match if he's in it because Sky Bet says John Cena is the current favourite.
Fightful Select adds that Chelsea Green is being praised backstage for her work as the new United States Women's Champion and, according to PW Insider, there's still no set timetable for Jade Cargill's in-ring return (instead, she's spent the holidays with her family in Hawaii).
Dave Meltzer has also chimed in on some recent WrestleMania rumblings. "The idea of Punk and Roman Reigns is certainly a thing that’s been going around in the past week," he said. "And I think there’s something to it."
As for Cena vs. Rhodes, that's "not etched in stone" but rumours of the Leader of the Cenation going after a world title at the Show of Shows are said to be "very legit." Meltzer added:
"It absolutely was a major thing, [people] talking about WrestleMania being John Cena going for the 17th Championship and breaking Ric Flair’s record. So it could’ve been Gunther, it could’ve been whoever beats Gunther, it could’ve been Cody. Probably wasn’t going to be Cody if Rock was doing the show. Right now, it is Cody. If Dwayne wants Cody, it’s probably going to happen that way. Maybe Dwayne will go for Roman. It’s up to Dwayne, that’s up to Dwayne. So there’s a lot of possibilities. But Punk and Roman’s one of them."
As always, let us know your thoughts on these rumours in the comments section below.