Backstage speculation has continued to rise about possible returns to the WWE for its biggest show of the year when WrestleMania XXX hits the air live from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on April 6, and the latest backstage talk involves possible returns of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Batista and Rob Van Dam.
It was speculated that Hogan was set to come back and team with John Cena, but Wrestlingheadlines.com reports that the WWE isn't sure if Hogan will be able to wrestle at the biggest show of the year.
According to the report, there is a feeling backstage that even if Hogan was able to wrestle, he wouldn't be able to pass the required medical tests to go out there and wrestle at the big event he helped launch in 1985.
Hogan has yet to sign a contract with the WWE, but it is widely believed that there will be a WrestleMania Moment with Hogan and the backstage implications are that the WWE is confident they'll be able to land the wrestling legend for WrestleMania.
While it is doubtful that Hogan, 60, will be able to wrestle, reports indicate that he will likely be featured on the air in some capacity either in a promo, a knockout of a heel or possibly just an appearance.
Hogan spoke about wanting to bring his wife Jennifer to a WrestleMania earlier this month.
"I haven't been to WrestleMania for years," Hogan told TMZ. "My new wife Jennifer, she's never been to one brother. I'm gonna have to wear masks like Mil Mascaras and sit in the front row," he quipped.
It has been reported that the WWE was hoping to have Shawn Michaels come out of retirement for a match with Daniel Bryan at the big event and that he would make one final appearance. The reports have indicated that the ball is very much in "The Heartbreak Kid's" court as to whether or not he wants to return for one more match at the WWE's premier event.
WWE Hall of Famer and former announcer Jim Ross took to his website and discussed whether or not Michaels would come out of retirement and noted that The Undertaker--who retired Michaels by defeating him at WrestleMania XXVI in 2010--wouldn't be upset if Mr. WrestleMania tuned up the band for one final match.
"I don't think HBK is returning to the ring as a wrestler. If he did it would be at WrestleMania and I'd like to see him wrestle Daniel Bryan or CM Punk. Taker wouldn't be offended whatsoever," Ross wrote on the Q&A section of his site.
Wrestlingheadlines.com also reports that there have been backstage talks within the company about trying to get Batista to return for a match at the event. It wasn't specified as to how far the company has talked about it, whether or not they've contacted Batista or who he'd fight at the show. Batista hasn't appeared in a WWE match since 2010 when he left the company to pursue a mixed martial arts career.
Talks within the WWE are that the company has planned WrestleMania without the inclusion of Rob Van Dam but that it could change. Van Dam signed a short-term contract with the WWE earlier this year but hasn't appeared since the night after the Battleground pay-per-view back on Oct. 6.
It remains to be seen what will happen at WrestleMania XXX, but it seems likely that Hogan will return in some capacity while Michaels may wrestle, Batista is doubtful and Van Dam is currently not in the plans.
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