<body><div><p>The WWE rumor mill has a way of firing things up even when the temperatures start to dip in September.</p><p>Much of it has to do with an absolutely stacked schedule of WWE and AEW events in a short timeframe.</p><p>WWE, after all, just got back from Bash in Berlin the week prior and has only a handful of weeks before the Bad Blood PLE on October 5.</p><p>And AEW has condensed some of its biggest special events of the year into the span of just a few weeks. Bryan Danielson just won the big one at All In on August 25 and now a ridiculously personal feud headlines All Out on September 7.</p><p>Add in some other typical items that usually feature on the rumor mill and the pace might be tough for fans to match, so here's a quick look at the most notable and whether they're worth buying or selling as legit.</p><h2>WWE Makes Changes to House Shows?</h2><p>1 of 4</p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oWLVRtq8js8?autoplay=0&amp;cc_load_policy=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;playsinline=1&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;height=100%25" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p>Smart modernizations have been a staple of the new WWE era under Triple H's guidance, whether it's the approach to time off, the structure of PLEs and other items.</p><p>Next up? House shows, with Fightful (h/t Randall Ortman of Cageside Seats) reporting that there are only a few house shows on the docket for the remainder of 2024.</p><p>That feels like a big change in behavior for WWE, considering it's only early September. And yet, it rings true, too.</p><p>Those house shows, while important when it comes to fan outreach, being affordable for fans and moving merchandise, are a big part of the huge workrates for talent who don't get an offseason like a normal sport.</p><p>That's one of many reasons a reduced schedule for the remainder of the calendar year, at least, would make some sense.</p><p><b>Verdict:</b> Buying</p><h2>CM Punk vs. Gunther on the Way?</h2><p>2 of 4</p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pbz0UbAELrA?autoplay=0&amp;cc_load_policy=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;playsinline=1&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;height=100%25" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p>Everyone knew that no matter what CM Punk said, his feud with Drew McIntyre wasn't actually over in the wake of his strap match triumph at Bash in Berlin.</p><p>The biggest question was <i>when</i> the two might lock up in the ring again.</p><p>According to PW Insider (h/t Ortman), though, it's not even McIntyre as the main focus before the end of the year, as there are "discussions" about Punk instead challenging Gunther at Survivor Series.</p><p>This one feels like a pretty big sell, though, if only because both guys don't have much to gain by locking up, even if that PLE isn't scheduled until November 30.</p><p>Punk is going to need to be in a title scene eventually, sure, but that feels almost more like a WrestleMania thing, perhaps against Seth Rollins. And there's a whole lot of yarn left to pull on his feud with McIntyre.</p><p>Gunther, too, feels like he needs an extended reign with the title and while beating Punk would be a nice notch in his belt, it might not go over so well with fans.</p><p>Much can change between now and November, of course, but the two might be better off away from each other.</p><p><b>Verdict:</b> Selling</p><h2>Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa Again?</h2><p>3 of 4</p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jrodMR58--I?autoplay=0&amp;cc_load_policy=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;playsinline=1&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;height=100%25" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p>Fans who worry about Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa fatigue might be able to rest easy.</p><p>According to Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer (h/t Ortman), WWE doesn't have any plans to book the two against each other at the upcoming Bad Blood PLE.</p><p>That's probably for the best, as the two, as expected, didn't match the energy or hype of the times Rhodes squared off with Roman Reigns.</p><p>Granted, there is plenty of bad blood there. But Rhodes will likely go off and do other things while that theme instead focuses on the budding Bloodline civil war now that Roman Reigns is back in the swing of things.</p><p>That doesn't mean the two won't have another match in the near future, even on a special upcoming episode of SmackDown even, but the organic-feeling thing right now is for the self-contained Bloodline narrative to start progressing away from the title scene.</p><p><b>Verdict:</b> Buying</p><h2>All Out on Burning Down the House</h2><p>4 of 4</p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RdTgnsi3Blo?autoplay=0&amp;cc_load_policy=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;playsinline=1&amp;rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;height=100%25" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p>AEW turned up the heat in a big way over the last week or so, making sure that All Out has some wild, card-carrying matches at the very top for the big event.</p><p>Hence, "Hangman" Adam Page making things more personal than ever by burning down Swerve Strickland's childhood home on Dynamite.</p><p>Of course, pulling off such a thing is tricky, even in the land of pro wrestling. But according to Fightful Select (h/t Ortman), AEW has a storyline secure that will explain why Page won't have to deal with the law due to his sudden case of arson. It also confirmed that any purchase of the house was a work.</p><p>On the one hand, it's a little disheartening to see so behind the curtain of pro wrestling sometimes. On the other, it makes sense, and one can suspend the disbelief for such a good tale.</p><p>While Danielson's match against Jack Perry is a big deal at the pay-per-view, too, Page and Strickland have crafted something memorable and super-personal that is quickly climbing the ranks of 2024's best storylines.</p><p><b>Verdict:</b> Buying</p></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Buy or Sell Latest on Rhodes vs. Sikoa, Hangman Burning Swerve's House, More Rumors

The WWE rumor mill has a way of firing things up even when the temperatures start to dip in September. Much of it has to do with an absolutely stacked schedule of WWE and AEW events in a short timeframe. WWE, after all, just got back from Bash in Berlin...

Buy or Sell Latest on Rhodes vs. Sikoa, Hangman Burning Swerve's House, More Rumors

Comments / 0