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Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Rollins, Lynch Talk Contract Status and WWE Future
Amid reports that their contracts with WWE are set to expire in 2024, the husband-and-wife duo of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch discussed where they stand with the company Thursday.
According to Fightful's Jeremy Lambert and Sean Ross Sapp, Rollins was asked Thursday at the WrestleMania 40 press conference in Las Vegas about his contract reportedly expiring in June, and he expressed confidence that he will sign a new deal in the near future:
"It's all there in writing. We're going to get a new deal. Something is going to get worked out. WWE is my home. I love this place. I love this industry. I'd like to spend more time with my daughter as she gets a little bit older, but at the end of the day, I want to stay here. I want to be here for the rest of my life. I love this place. I am sure that the powers that be feel the same way about me. Otherwise, we wouldn't be sitting here with this title on my shoulder. I'm sure the compensation will be fair and just."
Lynch, who is also reportedly set to see her contract run up in June, provided a comment to Lambert and Sapp as well, saying: "That's just what you do. I think, more than anything, it's about deciding what the future looks like. What is the best avenue for the future, and what are the goals and what do you want to achieve? Then, you make decisions intelligently."
Rollins and Lynch are unquestionably two of WWE's top stars, as Rollins is the reigning world heavyweight champion, while Lynch teased at Thursday's press conference that she will challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women's World Championship at WrestleMania, provided she wins at Elimination Chamber.
Although Rollins took a bit of a backseat to the angle involving The Rock, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes at the press conference, his importance to WWE is undeniable, as he is a five-time world champion and has been on the main roster since 2012.
It can be argued that Lynch is the biggest female Superstar that WWE has ever had as evidenced by her six women's world title reigns.
She was also part of the first women's main event in WrestleMania history, beating Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair in the main event of WrestleMania 35.
It is difficult to envision WWE letting Rollins and Lynch go elsewhere, especially in the wake of the company signing massive rights deals with Netflix, NBCUniversal and The CW for Raw, SmackDown and NXT.
WWE has the finances needed to re-sign both Rollins and Lynch, and their comments suggest they are both at least open to remaining with the company.
WWE Reportedly Hasn't Discussed Punk Joining Commentary Team
Despite comments to the contrary made by his longtime friend Ace Steel, CM Punk working as a commentator while he recovers from a triceps injury has reportedly not been considered by WWE.
During an appearance last week on the Wrestling Perspective Podcast (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News), said "they want him on commentary" in reference to WWE and Punk:
Steel went on to suggest that he didn't think Punk on commentary would be a good idea since WWE ran on injury angle that saw Drew McIntyre attack him.
Per Fightful Select (h/t Carrier), there has been "no discussion" in WWE of Punk doing commentary, and Steel talking about it was a "suggestion" on his own part.
Punk shockingly returned to WWE in November, and at the Royal Rumble last month, he competed in his first WWE match in a decade when he participated in the men's Royal Rumble match.
The 45-year-old veteran finished as the runner-up to Cody Rhodes, and he suffered a torn triceps during the match, meaning he will not be able to perform at WrestleMania 40 in April.
On Thursday, Punk was part of a panel at the WrestleMania press conference along with Big E, Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, and he further proved that he could thrive in that type of role while he rehabs his injury.
Punk has been a guest commentator many times over the years, and given his top-notch promo ability, it comes as no surprise that he excels at the announce desk.
WWE apparently isn't planning to make Punk on commentary a regular thing, but the company has a fantastic asset on its hands if it decides go in that direction in the coming months.
Rollins Reportedly Planned to Defend World Title at Elimination Chamber
Rollins has been on the shelf for nearly a month due to a knee injury, but WWE is reportedly planning to have him return to the ring before WrestleMania.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), the belief among his sources is that Rollins will defend the World Heavyweight Championship at the Elimination Chamber premium live event on Feb. 24 in Perth, Australia, against the winner of an Elimination Chamber match that same night.
Sapp reported last month that Rollins suffered a torn MCL and partially torn meniscus during a title defense against Jinder Mahal, putting The Visionary's WrestleMania status in question.
However, Rollins declared one week after suffering the injury that he would make it back in time to defend his title at WrestleMania.
If plans are in place for Rollins to wrestle in two weeks at Elimination Chamber, then it bodes well for his health and rehabilitation, and it would also add some much-needed star power to an Elimination Chamber show that will be without Punk and likely without Reigns, who isn't being advertised.
While Rhodes made his WrestleMania decision on Thursday by choosing to challenge Reigns for the undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40, Rollins remains a marked man.
In particular, Drew McIntyre has made it his stated goal to beat Rollins for the world title, which suggests he could be Seth's opponent at Elimination Chamber if WWE moves forward with the reported plan for Rollins to wrestle at that event.
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