WWE & AEW Rumours: Update On How WWE Plans To Use AI, Return Expected On Tonight's Raw

WWE's usage of artificial intelligence within the creative process may not be as in-depth as initially believed, while Jacob Fatu may not be out of action for as long as first reported.

On the AEW front, how long Samoa Joe has left on his AEW contract has been revealed and there is a rumour killer on Britt Baker's status with the promotion.

WWE and AEW rumours for Monday, October 20, 2025:

Update On How WWE Plans To Use AI

It was reported recently in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Cyrus Kowsari has been hired by WWE as the Senior Director of Creative Strategy, with Paul "Triple H" Levesque reportedly saying at Kowsari's introduction that he would help lead WWE's transition to AI-based storytelling and integrate AI into videos and graphics.

Furthermore, it was reported that WWE has a deal with Writer AI and the software had so far produced "absurdly bad" storylines like Bobby Lashley returning to the company with an obsession for Japanese culture and history.

In an update on the situation, Fightful Select has reported that AI tools have been utilised by the creative team for years, although it has primarily served as a glorified creative assistant to find out information like when two wrestlers last faced each other. Nobody knew of anyone on the WWE creative team who used the AI tools for longer than a couple of minutes.

On Kowsari, the creative team believe he has been brought in to utilise AI to assist with production, like removing background noise on shots and organising files quickly. Those who work on production in WWE are excited by the prospect of AI.

Fightful noted they were told specifically that AI is not replacing the WWE creative team. A top talent within the company said: "Michael Hayes, Paul Heyman and Ed Koskey are not AI."

WWE Hoping Seth Rollins Will Be Back For WrestleMania 42

Seth Rollins was written off WWE TV on the post-Crown Jewel edition of Monday Night Raw when he was laid out by his The Vision stablemates in Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.

Due to Rollins' previous worked injury earlier this year, there was a substantial amount of doubt as to whether the World Heavyweight Champion was actually injured. Rollins is legitimately injured this time around, though, having suffered a shoulder injury while hitting a coast-to-coast during his match with Cody Rhodes.

In an update, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has reported that Rollins is set to undergo surgery, but WWE are hopeful Rollins will be okay for WrestleMania 42.

"He's having surgery. That's a hundred percent. They don't know all the damage in his shoulder and they will find out the damage when they open him up and when they do the surgery we'll have an idea. I guess the best way to put it is they hope he'll be okay for WrestleMania, there's no way of knowing one way or the other today whether he will be or not. But, he's out for months, for sure, which we already knew," Meltzer said.

Jacob Fatu Likely To Be Back By WWE Survivor Series

Jacob Fatu was written off WWE TV on Friday's episode of SmackDown with a backstage attack, with Fatu being discovered with a bloody mouth and teeth surrounding him on the floor.

While initial reports suggested Fatu would be out until well into 2026, Fatu's hiatus looks set to be nowhere close to that long. Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer has reported that it now looks likely that Fatu will be back by Survivor Series weekend.

Survivor Series will emanate from San Diego's Petco Park on Saturday, November 29.

Spoiler On Expected WWE Raw Return

Tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw from Sacramento, California looks set to be an important one as the future of the World Heavyweight Title will be addressed.

The show also looks set to feature a return as BodySlam has reported that Nikki Bella is expected to be at tonight's Raw. Bella has not wrestled on WWE TV since the September 8 episode of Raw when she lost to Asuka.

Prior to that, Bella had been involved in a feud with Becky Lynch over the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship, with Lynch defeating Nikki at Clash in Paris.

Update On Samoa Joe's Retirement Plans

Like several wrestlers of his generation, Samoa Joe's days in the squared circle look to be numbered and the former AEW World Champion noted to CBS Sports that he'll "most likely" retire when his current AEW contract expires.

"You never want to outstay your welcome in this industry, and I have been fortunate that I have been able to be involved with it for over 25 years now. The other thing, too, is that many of us want to preserve what we can of our health for our later years," Joe added.

While Joe is thinking about retirement, he won't be leaving the squared circle behind in the immediate future. Fightful Select has reported that Joe is contracted to All Elite Wrestling until at least 2027.

Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 Not A Done Deal

Shinsuke Nakamura paid tribute to Hiroshi Tanahashi during WWE's house shows in Japan last week, with the NJPW President acknowledging the tribute from his long-time rival.

People in New Japan reportedly want Nakamura to be Tanahashi's opponent for The Ace's retirement match at Wrestle Kingdom 20, but Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has noted the match is not a done deal. This doesn't mean it is completely out of the question for January 4, however.

"Nakamura, on the first night in Tokyo, he was doing some Tanahashi mannerisms. So there's been a lot, a lot of talk about Tanahashi and Nakamura at the Tokyo Dome show. I would just say it's not a done deal right now. Could it happen? I mean, Nakamura has in his contract he can do stuff in Japan, that was part of the deal that he signed. It's a weird political thing, because obviously New Japan and AEW work very closely together, and Nakamura is a WWE guy," Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio.

"My gut is that, and I could be dead wrong, even though WWE and AEW are feuding, and all the stuff WWE does to AEW constantly, I do think that Tony Khan - I don’t know, people are going like oh he’s going to get really mad and I don’t know - maybe he will but I don't think so. I just think it's Tanahashi's retirement, and if Tanahashi wants to retire against Nakamura, and they can pull that off, I think it should be okay."

Rumour Killer On Britt Baker Removing AEW From Social Media Profile

Britt Baker has not appeared in All Elite Wrestling since the November 13, 2024 episode of Dynamite and there was further speculation about the former AEW Women's World Champion's future last week after it was noted Baker had removed any references to AEW from her social media profiles.

Baker, however, removed references to AEW back in March so this isn't anything new that has happened. The 34-year-old is believed to be under contract until 2026.

As of July, Baker was expected to return to AEW TV at some point.