Backstage WWE and AEW Rumors: Latest on Charlotte Flair, Kevin Owens, and More

May The Queen be back to reclaim her throne soon?

Charlotte Flair's impending return headlines this collection of wrestling insider rumors and reports, which also includes the latest on WWE Raw moving to Netflix, Kevin Owens' contractual status with the company, and when fans may see Kenny Omega back on AEW television.

Dive deeper into these stories with the latest from those in the know.

Charlotte Flair has been off of television since the December 8 episode of SmackDown, when she suffered a torn MCL, ACL and meniscus.

However, her absence from WWE may end soon, with WrestleVotes reporting on Q&A with Bill Apter that her return is near and the former women's champion will lean more into her "Queen" persona.

Flair's return is just in time for Raw's move to Netflix on January 6 and the Road to WrestleMania. This is an important period for WWE, so it makes sense to bring her back to maximize her star power and load up the roster.

One of the best and most influential of her generation, the 38-year-old is a bona fide main event Superstar and someone Triple H and WWE Creative can utilize to enhance any program or develop stories around as the central figure.

The suggestion there will be a renewed emphasis on the "Queen" element of her on-screen persona suggests she will return as a heel, which is the right call considering she has done her best work as a villain.

Sean Ross Sapp reported on the Fightful Select podcast that while he has not been outright told Kevin Owens has re-signed with WWE, it's "safe to assume" at this point.

KO has been at the forefront of the SmackDown brand following a heel turn and subsequent rivalry with Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Throw in his spot in the main event of Saturday Night's Main Event and the continuation of his feud with The American Nightmare following that title match, and you have plenty of reason to believe The Prizefighter is not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

Owens has been one of the top stars in WWE since Triple H took over creative and that does not figure to change.

The 40-year-old has thrived, both as a babyface and heel, and should remain a top-tier performer for the foreseeable future with or without the company's top prize.

Despite rumors to the contrary, WWE talent is still unsure about the running time of Raw when it moves to Netflix beginning January 6, according to Sapp:

"When speaking to talent who were at the last WWE Raw before Christmas, talent weren't told exactly how long WWE Raw would be on Netflix. When Fightful has asked over the last number of months, we haven't got an answer. One source inside WWE did note that Netflix has no hard outs, and it appears there will be plenty of flexibility."

Perhaps therein lies the answer. With no firm "out" time, WWE has the opportunity to run Raw as long as it likes.

While overseas distribution may have an impact on the show's length, since it will not be aired on Netflix everywhere, the decision may not have been made to tell performers exactly how long it will be because it could change every week.

Maybe it will be a firm two or three hours, but one would assume with the wealth of talent WWE is loading up the first episode with, it will need longer than two hours to find space for everyone.

While the shorter broadcasts have been easier to watch, lengthier shows have given talent more television exposure. It's a fine line to walk for WWE, and one it will have to navigate sooner rather than later.

All Elite Wrestling may be getting back its most beloved star in time to wrap up 2024.

Sapp reported that Kenny Omega is expected to be at Worlds End on Saturday.

"Fightful Select reported last week that his return was expected by the World's End PPV, and this week we've heard that the active plan is for him to be at that show, though we're not sure in what capacity," he wrote.

Sapp also noted that the 41-year-old had not been a regular presence backstage in 2024 as he continued to improve from diverticulitis, which nearly cost him his pro wrestling career.

Omega will return to the squared circle on January 5 when he battles New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty, a co-promoted pay-per-view from AEW and NJPW.

Regardless of how he returns to the company, Omega coming back will be an enormous boost for a promotion that is unlike the one he left. It will hopefully inject some life back into AEW and provide fans with that coveted "feeling" they, competitors and owners have missed.