Top SmackDown Rumors: Major trouble with the rumored Rock vs Reigns match; 3-time Champion being sent back to NXT? AJ Styles' backstage equation with McMahon (3rd October)

Welcome to another edition of the top SmackDown backstage rumors that could have a major impact on WWE programming. SmackDown continues to be on a roll and this week gave the fans another stellar episode.

Roman Reigns' feud with Jey Uso isn't over yet as the cousins are set to face each other again. WWE also gave a clear indication of Alexa Bliss' pairing with The Fiend this week on SmackDown, with the two likely to feud with Kevin Owens in the coming weeks.

In today's edition, We will talk about what Hell in a Cell has in store for us and why The Rock's rumored match with Roman Reigns might not happen and much more!

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#5 Major problem with possible match between The Rock and SmackDown Superstar Roman Reigns at WrestleMania

There have been a lot of rumors circulating which indicate that The Rock could be returning for a match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37. The Brahma Bull and SmackDown Superstar Roman Reigns have done a tremendous job of teasing the match on social media as well.

However, as per Dave Meltzer of WON, the match may not happen due to multiple reasons. One of the reasons, he states, is that it is still not certain if the crowds will be back by WrestleMania next year. And there is no chance of The Rock returning if there is no crowd.

Meltzer noted that multiple plans for The Rock have had to be scraped over the years as he has a very busy schedule. Some of those plans included a match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania as well as teaming up with Ronda Rousey.

It was also noted that The Rock is involved in things that are far bigger than a WrestleMania PPV, which include the former WWE Champion's big-budget Hollywood projects. It would be hard for The Rock to do something physical for the WWE if there is a movie or project lined up for next year, due to insurance reasons. (h/t: Lennard Surrao of SportsKeeda)

#4 SmackDown Superstar Chad Gable heading to NXT or AEW?

Chad Gable has been stuck in the mid-card limbo on SmackDown. Even though he is a 3-time Tag Team Champion in WWE, his singles career on SmackDown has failed to take off.

Dave Meltzer of WON has speculated that Gable might be the mystery man set to return to NXT. There had been rumblings that Bo Dallas might be the one returning to NXT, but Meltzer believes it would make more sense if it was Gable. He also stated that Gable will be better off if he quits WWE and goes to AEW.

If Gable can keep his main roster contract and come here it would be a win across the board. If not, I’d say he needs to get out, but until after the pandemic, I’m not sure how aggressively AEW will be going for people who do have good contracts in WWE who aren’t proven like a Rey Mysterio.

Chad Gable has been featured regularly on SmackDown, so it's hard to see him moving to NXT. However, he would certainly be a good fit on the AEW roster if he decides to leave WWE.

#3 Which SmackDown match will happen inside Hell in a Cell?

Sasha Banks vs Bayley inside Hell in a Cell is the planned main event as of now for the 10/25 PPV event.

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) September 29, 2020

Sasha Banks and SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley have been embroiled in one of the biggest rivalries on the blue brand ever since Bayley brutally attacked The Boss a few weeks back.

The former Tag Team Champions are now arch enemies and the blow-off match between the two is expected to be spectacular. As per WrestleVotes, WWE plans to have the two women main-event HIAC inside the brutal structure.

Sasha Banks vs Bayley inside Hell in a Cell is the planned main event as of now for the 10/25 PPV event.

However, this week on SmackDown, WWE teased Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso inside the HIAC as well.

While the rematch between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso might be a good choice to take place inside Hell in a Cell, there is a higher chance that it will be the women who will be put inside the structure.

In terms of storytelling, Banks and Bayley have higher stakes and the match has been teased all summer with fans eagerly waiting for them to clash.

#2 SmackDown Superstar AJ Styles reveals why he was pushed

2-time WWE Champion and SmackDown Superstar AJ Styles recently spoke about why he was pushed in WWE while speaking on his Twitch channel. AJ Styles said that it was his work ethic that got him the chance to shine.

Styles also revealed that Vince McMahon believed AJ Styles' initial run was a fluke, but realized later how over the current SmackDown wrestler was with the fans.

''Now, don’t get me wrong, he thought my first one was kind of a fluke like ‘Ok, flash of the pan, Royal Rumble…..’ that kind of thing. But giving me a chance and telling me what he wanted to see – that’s all I needed to know. What do you want to see? The thing was, when I first got in WWE, I wasn’t the typical good guy but the more I was there and understood they just wanted me to be who I was in New Japan and everywhere else. Is he heel or babyface? No, we’ll just let the crowd decide and go that direction.”

#1 Reason for Roman Reigns destroying SmackDown Superstar Jey Uso at Clash of Champions

Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso at Clash of Champions surprised a lot of fans. What was expected to be a short squash match, turned out to be one of the best storytelling matches of recent times. The two SmackDown Superstars convincingly told the story of David and Goliath.

Dave Meltzer reported that the idea behind the match was to fully establish The Tribal Chief of SmackDown as the SmackDown's top heel by obliterating his own cousin.

In fact, the entire Reigns vs. Uso match was one-sided with the storyline that it wasn’t like Uso was ever going to win, but you hoped he would get out of there not being hurt badly. That said, in that case, it worked the way it played out because of the unique story of the big bad older cousin and the somewhat naive underdog younger cousin not in his league, but refusing to be humiliated and would rather take that beating even though it was only making things worse.