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Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
WWE Reportedly Not Yet Making Plans for Bliss’ Return
Alexa Bliss has not been seen on WWE programming since losing a Raw Women’s Championship match against Bianca Belair at the 2023 Royal Rumble in January 2023, but WWE reportedly still isn’t making plans to reintegrate her into the product.
When asked this week about Bliss’ status, Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News) said he hadn’t “heard of plans for Alexa Bliss coming back as of now.”
When Bliss was last appearing regularly on WWE TV, it seemed as though a storyline was being built involving her, Bray Wyatt and Uncle Howdy. However, Bliss announced in May 2023 that she was pregnant with her first child.
Shortly before that, Wyatt and Howdy disappeared from WWE programming as well. It was later revealed that their absence was due to Wyatt experiencing health issues that ultimately led to his death in August 2023.
Wyatt’s brother, Bo Dallas, has since returned to Raw as Uncle Howdy and the leader of the Wyatt Sicks stable, which is a group Bliss has naturally been linked to.
While Bliss is currently spending time at home raising her daughter, who was born in November, she made it clear earlier this year that she intends to return to WWE at some point.
The particulars of when and how her return will play out remain unclear, but Bliss would undoubtedly be a great fit in the Wyatt Sicks if WWE decides to go in that direction.
Cody Rhodes Joins Complex for Sneaker Shopping
Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes went on a sneaker shopping spree this week, racking up a bill of nearly $10,000.
Rhodes joined Complex’s Joe La Puma at Stadium Goods in New York City, and he paid up for six pairs of highly sought after shoes.
The American Nightmare purchased a pair of Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Lows, Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Protro Girl Dads, two similar pairs of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low Canary, the Power Puff Girls x Nike Dunk Low TD Buttercups and the Nike Dunk High SB Doraemons.
His total came to $9,824.88 with $7,436 of that coming courtesy of the Louis Vuitton x Nike collaboration.
Rhodes has been on the run of a lifetime since returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, and he finally finished his story at WrestleMania 40 back in April.
After falling short against Roman Reigns in a world title match in the main event of WrestleMania 39, Rhodes beat him one year later, ending one of the greatest titles runs in WWE history.
Cody also won the one major title his father, Dusty Rhodes, was never quite able to secure during his legendary career.
Despite beating Reigns, Rhodes remains embroiled in a rivalry with the new-look Bloodline led by Solo Sikoa.
Rhodes will put the WWE Championship on the line against Solo at SummerSlam on Saturday, and fans are eagerly anticipating the potential return of Reigns, The Rock or both during or after the match.
Bret Hart Takes Another Shot at Goldberg
WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart’s dislike for Goldberg is no secret, and The Hitman continued to put down his former WCW rival during a recent event.
During an appearance last month on Busted Open Radio (h/t Mukherjee), Goldberg requested that Hart stop publicly shaming him for causing the injury that effectively ended Hart’s in-ring career in late 1999, saying:
“The Bret Hart thing is just it just saddens me as a human being. That’s all. I mean, first and foremost, I would never wish ill will upon any opponent or anyone like that to have an accident like that happen. And end someone’s career, especially someone who’s, you know, one of the best that ever was 100 percent. It sucks. I’m not asking anybody to understand it. I’m just saying, just leave me alone. … Yes, sir [about warning him the kick was coming]. Put your hand up. Do whatever you got to do, man. It is what it is. Come on, man. I love you, Bret. Don’t be such a p—k. That’s all. Grow up.”
When asked last week about Goldberg’s comments during a Signed By Superstars virtual autograph signing (h/t Mukherjee), Hart said: “I don’t pay much attention to Bill. I don’t know anyone that does.”
During a WCW World Heavyweight Championship between Hart and Goldberg at WCW Starrcade 1999, Hart took a kick to the head from Goldberg and suffered a concussion.
Due to the effects of the injury, Hart would wrestle only a handful of additional matches in WCW before retiring.
Hart did return for a run in WWE in 2010, but he was limited in what he could do at that point and was mostly confined to multi-man tag team matches.
The legendary wrestler’s comments suggest he still hasn’t forgiven Goldberg, and there is no sign that he intends to do so any time soon.
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