WRESTLEMANIA WEEK SCOOPS: Trump, Natalya, Rusev, Media Day, Smackdown (Patreon)

• Sources we spoke to in WWE said that they were impressed with Natalya at Bloodsport, and that Natalya was extremely happy and felt vindicated after the performance.

• Natalya is expected to face Kenzie Paige in NWA at Crockett Cup next month after their post-match fight.

• There were a number of higher ups from WWE at Bloodsport with all of the talent there.

• WWE is heavily scouting the indies this week in Las Vegas.

• Buddy Matthews and Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World) were at the talent hotel. Unfortunately they were not hanging out together, so no Buddy Meets World yet.

• Regarding the possibility of Donald Trump appearing at WrestleMania after the heavy WWE endorsements this week, creative has not been told that it is happening, and we've not been told of anyone who has been informed to prepare for it. There are also additional security and planning measures that would need to be in place.

• As of the day Kevin Owens announced he was hurt, Rusev was not planned to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania. If he does end up facing Orton, it will have came together since then.

• WWE had added deals with Comcast XFinity, Morgan & Morgan, and extended with Cricket Wireless this week.

Smackdown

• Some early Smackdown notes -- as of this afternoon, Seth Rollins was set to open Smackdown.

• Cody Rhodes and John Cena were listed as closing the show, with a producer attached. Producer inclusion usually indicates physicality.

WrestleMania Media Day with Joel Pearl

• GUNTHER said maybe one day he'd like to return to Bloodsport, but it's not a mature approach right now considering his goal is to continue as world champion.

• Dakota Kai spoke about the NXT Halloween Battle Royal and said it was fun to do things that she never thought she would get to do, because it wasn't on TV. She also enjoyed her first scotch egg.

• We spoke to Lyra Valkyria. She and Bayley haven't named their team and have had terrible suggestions. She doesn't think she's getting a special entrance, but she's excited for her gear. Evanescence or Nightwing would play her out if she could pick. She also said she wants Meiko Satomura's last match if she could get it.

• Carlito says the talent have accepted him as an elder statesman and it's a role he's embraced. He said you can't hold on to your prime forever. He admitted being a part of Judgment Day is random, but he feel that they have good chemistry and he fits in anywhere. He called Dominik the Great Mysterio, and Rey a bum. He's very happy that John Cena is retiring on his own terms and thinks he deserves a 17th title. He would also be open to doing stuff with the Colons in TNA.