According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Shaquille O’Neal has reportedly been closing in on his WWE WrestleMania deal, and he might have already agreed to terms.
The journal notes that creative has been told to start thinking about weaving O’Neal into storylines, presumably for a match with The Big Show.
Thanks to its John Cena vs. The Rock main-event, WrestleMania 28 is a strong contender to set the all-time buyrate record, and WWE thus wants to do all it can to push the momentum over the edge. Adding Shaquille O’Neal to the mix, especially a Shaq who is as close to his days of athletic competition as would have ever been plausible, should help further the event’s standing as WWE’s biggest WrestleMania of all-time.
In terms of a Brock Lesnar return, no one has been given any reason to expect it will happen at this year’s WrestleMania–next year’s event seems more likely. As for how he would return, Vince McMahon reportedly told at least one creative staff member that it is not a foregone conclusion a Lesnar return would include the return of Paul Heyman as his manager.
