Backstage news is making buzz in WWE post-Crown Jewel.

The Crown Jewel 2026 delivered several major moments, but the event’s aftermath has also sparked fresh rumors. While Tiffany Stratton surprised many by cashing in on Chelsea Green, the sequence received interesting backstage clarification. Also, Cody Rhodes has expressed interest in leading Team USA at Survivor Series: WarGames.

The latest WWE News also provides a glimpse into the company’s creative direction and plans for its talent across Raw, SmackDown, and NXT. Here is a look at five stories making headlines in WWE Rumor Roundup.

Tiffany Stratton’s Money in the Bank win was the original plan

Tiffany Stratton’s Money in the Bank victory was reportedly part of WWE’s long-term creative plans, despite speculation that the company had changed its decision shortly before the event. Stratton won the women’s ladder match on October 10, securing the briefcase for the second time in her career.

According to Fightful Select, as reported by the Wrestling Observer, WWE had planned for Stratton to win the briefcase and eventually become a challenger for Chelsea Green’s WWE Women’s Championship. This direction had been in place for several weeks rather than being a last-minute decision.

While Roxanne Perez was the heavy favorite to win the MITB briefcase, Stratton’s win was a ‘bummer’ for many fans. Her recent cash-in also questioned the lack of creativity from the promotion.

Gunther vs Finn Balor match for Crown Jewel PLE scrapped

On the Halloween night special SmackDown episode, Danhausen unveiled his creation – ‘the Demon’ who later attacked Gunther, who had been targeting Danhausen for weeks. Rumors hint at a possible matchup between the two stars, as photos from the Crown Jewel venue nearly acted as spoilers.

But as per reports, the creative team scrapped the idea, with people within the company feeling that the match would be better suited to a further build and felt the four-match card was enough for the event.

While the storyline is still building, with no exact dates or event confirmed for the match, fans can enjoy occasional attacks and feuds between two former champions.

Cody Rhodes wants to lead Team USA at Survivor Series: WarGames

Cody Rhodes has expressed his desire to lead Team USA against Rey Mysterio’s Team Mexico at Survivor Series: WarGames 2026. The American Nightmare brought up the possibility during the most recent PLE post-show after defeating Randy Orton in their Last Man Standing Match.

Rey Mysterio had previously discussed a traditional five-on-five elimination match between Team USA and Team Mexico during his appearance on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast. Mysterio indicated that he would lead the Mexican side, opening the door for Rhodes to take charge of the opposing team.

Rhodes welcomed the idea and made his intentions clear during the post-show. He said, “I would love [to lead] Team USA, lead them along, find a team of my own,” before challenging Mysterio to make the match happen at Survivor Series.

However, WWE has not officially confirmed Rhodes as Team USA’s captain or announced the participants. The proposed traditional elimination match would be a major addition to the Survivor Series card if it moves forward.

Cruz Montana’s WWE main roster call-up surprised NXT

Talking about the Survivor Series, a key talking point is the ongoing battle between the 946 faction and Bloodline. In the most recent Raw episode, 946 gained the upper hand with the addition of Cruz Montana. Interestingly, Cruz Montana’s surprise arrival on the main roster reportedly caught the NXT creative team off guard.

According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the decision to move Montana to the main roster was a late development, and people within NXT were reportedly unaware of the plan. Meltzer also suggested that Shawn Michaels might not have known about the call-up beforehand.

NXT reportedly had plans to position Montana as a prominent babyface going forward. He had been involved in a rivalry with DarkState’s Dion Lennox and was expected to remain an important part of the developmental brand’s programming.

Nia Jax reveals plans for life after in-ring retirement

While Montana received a massive boost in his career, a former champion is already looking at life after the in-ring action. Nia Jax has opened up about her future in professional wrestling and revealed that she would like to remain part of the promotion even after retiring from in-ring competition. She recently appeared on the Keep it Aloha podcast, where she discussed her plans for the next few years.

“I don’t know. And it’s a beautiful thing because when I was younger, I’d always want to plan things, and life didn’t turn out the way I planned it – in a beautiful way.”

However, the 42-year-old has a clear idea about one possible career direction. She expressed interest in becoming a coach at the Performance Center in Orlando, helping younger wrestlers develop their skills and prepare for the main roster.

“I definitely wanna stay within the WWE family as long as possible,” Jax said, adding that she would love to coach and offer advice to upcoming talent.

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