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Welcome to another edition of the top SmackDown Rumors that could have a major impact on the blue brand. With the Elimination Chamber right around the corner, fans have been looking forward to seeing what SmackDown will offer this week.
In today's edition, this article will take a look at a veteran admitting that he was part of a conspiracy against a top SmackDown Superstar. Apart from that, we will also take a look at WWE's original plans for the Mysterio family on SmackDown. This article will also feature a rumor about two big Superstars who may not receive a push.
So without further ado, let us dive in and take a look at the biggest rumors related to SmackDown Superstars:
#5 Paul Heyman says he was part of a conspiracy against SmackDown's Sami Zayn
SmackDown Superstar Sami Zayn was a guest on Talking Smack. Zayn talked about how he has been buried in WWE by the top management. After Zayn left, Paul Heyman said that he doesn't like him. Heyman added that while he was on RAW, he conspired against Zayn every week.
“Sami’s right, there’s a conspiracy against him. I was Executive Director of Monday Night RAW. Sami was on RAW. I conspired against him every week. I don’t like the guy, he’s a pr***.”
It's safe to assume that Paul Heyman was speaking in-character, although he did insinuate that he was not keen on pushing Sami Zayn when he was the creative head of Monday Night RAW.
While Heyman is part of Roman Reigns' entourage on SmackDown, he has no creative powers and is just an on-screen character now.
Sami Zayn will participate in the upcoming Elimination Chamber match along with five other SmackDown Superstars. The winner will get a shot at facing Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at the same event.
Who do you think will win the Elimination Chamber match this Sunday? Let us know in the comments section below.
#4 Vince McMahon wanted SmackDown Superstar Rey Mysterio buried
SmackDown Superstar Rey Mysterio has risen to become one of the biggest names in WWE today. However, the former world champion and CEO of WWE, Vince McMahon, was not always a fan of Mysterio.
As per Dave Meltzer of WON, McMahon wanted to bury Rey Mysterio after he had won the World Heavyweight Championship in 2006. This was the reason that Mysterio's first reign as Champion was a lackluster one, and he was portrayed as a weak champion.
"Vince was adamant about Rey not being in the Mania main event, was going to lose a match even after winning the Rumble. Everyone on the writing team wanted to put the title on Rey. Finally, he went to Patterson and Patterson said to put it on Rey Vince very begrudgingly did, and then Rey was the only champion in history to lose TV squashes as champion.”
Even though the current SmackDown's star's first title reign was not a remarkable one, the master of 619 went on to win the World Championship on two more occasions in his WWE career.
#3 Vince McMahon not impressed with SmackDown Superstar Aleister Black
Dave Meltzer of WON has reported that Vince McMahon sees nothing in two former NXT Champions - Andrade and SmackDown Superstar Aleister Black. This could be why Black has not been featured on SmackDown since his feud with Kevin Owens ended.
Aleister Black was touted to become a major star after he joined the main roster. While he did receive a push on RAW when Paul Heyman was the creative head, Black has done nothing since joining SmackDown.
''And Vince does not see anything in Aleister Black, or Andrade, or any of those guys that when Heyman lost his position and I said the guys that are f**ked. The only one that ended up not being completely f**ked was Shayna because I guess they like the idea of Shayna and Nia Jax so she got brought back. But pretty much everybody else they're with Bo Dallas in catering."
Aleister Black's wife Zelina Vega was released from WWE last year and it was speculated that Black might follow suit. While Black is still under contract, it looks like WWE has chosen not to use him at all.
#2 Reason why Roman Reigns isn't a part of SmackDown's Elimination Chamber match
This Sunday, both RAW and SmackDown World Champions will be in action at the Elimination Chamber event. Drew McIntyre will defend the WWE Championship against five other Superstars inside the Elimination Chamber. However, SmackDown's world champion Roman Reigns, will not be doing the same.
The Universal Champion Roman Reigns will face the winner of SmackDown's Elimination Chamber match later on in the night. As per Dave Meltzer of WON, the reason for Reigns not being a part of the multi-man contest is because WWE wanted to get more heat on him.
“It’s a way to get heat on Reigns. Originally, Reigns was going to be in the chamber match. That was the original idea and then I guess they didn’t want to do it on both shows or something. Whatever…they wanted to tweak it, so they tweaked it.”
WWE official Adam Pearce had initially wanted Roman Reigns to defend the Universal Championship inside the Elimination Chamber. However, The Tribal Chief and Paul Heyman found a way to get out of the predicament.
#1 Original plans for The Mysterio family on SmackDown
SmackDown Superstar Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik Mysterio are currently embroiled in a feud with King Corbin. As per Dave Meltzer of WON, the original plan was to have Murphy as well as Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler also be part of the program.
The plan was to have the team of Murphy, Rey Mysterio, and Dominik Mysterio take on King Corbin and his two henchmen - Blake and Cutler. However, due to Steve Cutler being released from WWE, Blake and Murphy also had to lose their slots on SmackDown.
Originally it was going to be Corbin & Blake & Cutler vs. The Mysterios & Murphy. Then Cutler and The Mysterios all tested positive and it was put on hold. When they brought the Mysterios back, the decision was made to drop everyone else. Cutler was fired and I don’t know why given that dozens of wrestlers in WWE have had COVID and nobody was fired including major stars like McIntyre and Mysterio of late and other headliners.
Meltzer also mentioned that while Cutler was the only person fired, Murphy and Blake were not called back on SmackDown despite their availability.
