More Released WWE Stars Returning On SmackDown, New WWE Couple Dating, Bray Wyatt Return Plans – News Bulletin – August 12, 2022

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More WWE released stars are set to return on SmackDown, a new WWE couple has revealed they’re dating, the latest update on plans for Bray Wyatt’s return, and more.

It’s Friday which thankfully means the weekend is approaching, and what better way to start the last day of the week than taking a look at all the latest wrestling news – I’m Liam Winnard for WrestleTalk.com, and this is our news bulletin for August 12, 2022.

This article does contain a potential spoiler for a return on tonight’s SmackDown, so this is your chance to stop reading if you don’t want to be spoiled.

Spoiler On Released Stars Returning on SmackDown

Even though Triple H has only has a small handful of shows in charge of WWE creative under his belt, we’ve already seen him shaping the roster into his own vision, most notably by bringing back released stars Dakota Kai, Karrion Kross, Scarlett Bordeaux, and Dexter Lumis.

Well, it seems he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon, as two more names are reportedly set to be at the August 12 SmackDown tonight.

PWInsider first reported that ‘Top Dolla’ AJ Francis, who was released last November along with the rest of Hit Row, was set to be at the tapings, although initially it was believed it may have been something to do with the A&E ‘Most Wanted Treasures’ series that he used to host.

However, very shortly after that, PWInsider posted a follow-up story, noting that Dolla’s former teammate in Hit Row, Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis, was also set to be at SmackDown, which certainly seems to imply they’ll be reuniting as a tag team.

There has been no word yet on the status of B-Fab, and of course the other member of Hit Row, Swerve Strickland, is signed to AEW.

WWE’s Newest Couple Reveal They’re Dating

Everyone pretends they don’t care about which wrestlers are dating, but really everyone does care, so here you go.

A new couple emerged last night as Cora Jade shared a photo on Instagram of her and NXT Champion Bron Breakker out on a date.

A lot of people have pointed out that they thought Jade was dating former NXT star Blake Christian/Trey Baxter, which she was, but they actually haven’t been together for months.

Both Jade and Breakker are featured prominently on NXT TV each week, with Jade recently turning heel and set for a match with former tag partner Roxanne Perez next week at Heatwave, and on the same show Breakker will defend the NXT Championship against JD McDonagh.

Jade and Breakker are the latest high-profile wrestling couple to reveal they’re in a relationship, shortly after Tenille Dashwood (Emma) and Madcap Moss did the same a few days ago.

Congratulations and best wishes to all the happy wrestling couples out there.

Latest On A Potential Bray Wyatt WWE Return

The latest news has emerged on potential plans for a Bray Wyatt WWE return after fans had speculated that a comeback may be more likely now that Triple H is at the helm(sley).

There were two sides to the coin – those who very much believed that HHH being in charge led to a bigger chance of Wyatt coming back, and also those who thought even with HHH running things, there was too much of a burned bridge between Wyatt and the company itself.

Well, it seems the people who believed the former were correct.

Fightful Select reported that several sources noted that Triple H being in charge means it’s a “clean state”. There were a whole host of issues in the relationship between Vince McMahon and Bray Wyatt, but that’s no longer a factor.

Most of the sources Fightful spoke to actually said they very much believe Triple H is willing to ‘throw whatever issues’ particular talents like Wyatt had with Vince McMahon ‘out the window’ if it means the show will be better.

Fightful was able to confirm that Wyatt’s name has at least been pitched for a return, but that doesn’t guarantee that he’ll be back because apparently there are multiple names who’ve been pitched. But it’s definitely a step in that direction and shows that there’s interest.

Other Stuff

In other little bits of news…

Despite Adam Cole returning to AEW TV last week, Dave Meltzer reported that he actually still isn’t cleared to wrestle, but should be “relatively soon”.

Meltzer also noted that the original plan he’d heard for All Out was Bryan Danielson vs Chris Jericho, so it does look like we’re still on track to get that.

Speaking with DAZN, Tony Khan said that WWE has been putting on “better shows” under Triple H, and the competition is good for everybody.

The reason for Tay Conti’s TV name change to Tay Melo is because Conti was her ex-husband’s surname. Even though they hadn’t been together for a while, she’d kept the name on TV for the sake of familiarity because that’s what everyone knew her as, but now that she’s married to Sammy Guevara, she’s changed to her pre-marriage surname.

The Scotiabank Arena is still advertising Cody Rhodes in a new tweet for the August 22 episode of Raw, and still hasn’t taken the tweet down.

Speaking of Rhodes, Fightful reported that his “Mattel Creations Ultimate Edition” action figure sold “incredibly well, very quickly” and was among the highest pre-order totals since the start of the relationship between WWE and Mattel.

Kris Statlander has confirmed that she’s set to undergo knee surgery again, but this time on the other knee. According to PWInsider, she was set for a “major push” before this setback.

NXT’s Amari Miller returned to Twitter and posted an apology tweet after the Sasha Banks controversy on Wednesday.

Among the names on the main poster for WrestleMania 39 tickets is Brock Lesnar, seemingly confirming (but not actually confirming because card subject to change) that he’s set for the show.

Fightful noted that CM Punk’s return was kept such a surprise that even some of the talent involved in the segment at the end of the show didn’t know about it.

Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics identified that the total and timing of the latest Vince McMahon payments by WWE that should have been classed as company expenses – $5 million in two payments made in 2007 and 2009 – seem to match up with contributions made to the Donald J Trump Foundation.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett are indeed written into tonight’s SmackDown show after they returned last week, according to PWInsider.

WWE’s officially announced lineup for tonight’s SmackDown has Gunther defending the Intercontinetal Title against Shinsuke Nakamura; a Liv Morgan and Shayna Baszler contract signing for their match at Clash at the Castle; and Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez vs Shotzi & Xia Li in the Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament.

For NXT Level up tonight, Ikemen Jiro will face Myles Borne; Sol Ruca takes on Elektra Lopez; and Andre Chase & Bodhi Hayward of Chase U face the debuting Bronco Nima & Lucien Price.

And for AEW Rampage, we have appearances from Bryan Danielson and HOOK; Austin & Colten Gunn vs Danhausen & Erick Redbeard (Rowan); Parker Boudreaux vs Sonny Kiss; Ari Daivari vs Orange Cassidy; and Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo defending the AAA Mixed Tag Team Title against Dante Martin & Skye Blue.

Be sure to stay tuned to WrestleTalk.com throughout the day to keep up with all the news from the world of pro-wrestling, and I’ll see you Monday morning for another round-up.

If you’re in the UK but didn’t manage to get tickets to Clash at the Castle on September 3, WrestleTalk is hosting a watch party at The Joiner on Worship in Shoreditch, London, and we’d love for you to join us! Click here for more details.

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