'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We welcome you all to another edition of Sportskeeda's daily WWE Rumor Roundup. The road to SummerSlam is well and truly heating up as WWE looks to get everything in place for the biggest show of the Summer.
We have many different stories to talk about today, and first is about another employee testing positive for COVID-19. A WWE Superstar also tested positive recently, which was the reason why he was taken off a big match.
Elsewhere, a talented Superatar's push may have been nixed by Vince McMahon, and the fans of the star won't be too happy about the same.
AJ Styles also addressed the possibility of going to AEW, and he made a few interesting comments about the potential jump to the WWE rivals.
It has also been revealed that MVP might have been responsible for putting over a talented Superstar backstage in WWE.
What happened to the SmackDown hacker storyline? We have an update on what led to a change in the angle.
#5. WWE employee tests positive for COVID-19
WWE employee, Cornell Gunter, took to Twitter and confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Here's Gunter's tweet, in which he noted the physical struggles of dealing with the virus:
Prince & I have tested positive for COVID. It's been the absolute worst for me. I've never felt this bad physically before. I would never wish these last 10+ days on anyone. Thankfully, Im a lot better now. Thankfully, Prince hasn't shown any symptoms. He's a G
Gunter works as part of WWE's Content Innovation Lab. He was in the production team that worked on the Boneyard match between The Undertaker and AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36.
Gunter also revealed that he didn't contract the virus at work, and thankfully, his son Prince has not shown symptoms of the illness.
Gunter's positive diagnosis comes after Apollo Crews reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. As revealed by Dave Meltzer, the reigning United States allegedly tested positive for the virus. WWE may have hoped that he'd be okay to compete at Extreme Rules; however, that wasn't the case, and he was pulled from the show despite being advertised.
#4. Reason why Vince McMahon doesn't want to push Aleister Black anymore in WWE
Aleister Black suffered a big loss to Seth Rollins on the most recent episode of WWE RAW, and there are growing concerns regarding the former NXT Superstar's standing on the roster.
Tom Colohue revealed on the latest edition of the Dropkick DiSKussions podcast that Vince McMahon reportedly thinks there is something missing about Aleister Black.
Black enjoyed a solid run on WWE RAW when Paul Heyman was in charge as the Superstar was a Heyman project. However, Heyman's removal as the Executive Director of WWE RAW may have affected Black's push.
Tom Colohue noted that Vince McMahon might view Black in the same vein as Cesaro and that isn't a good thing.
Here's what Colohue revealed:
"It was definitely a big defeat to take even though it was like to a big name like Seth Rollins. He was slightly protected because of the interference from Buddy Murphy. Things have really changed in the last couple of weeks for Aleister Black. Now Paul Heyman definitely loved him and Aleister Black was really the headline of the show for him. Every week, he would be having a half an hour match in the opening minutes."
"To my knowledge, it is Vince McMahon who has mixed opinions shall we say. Vince added that creek to the entrance when he leverages up and now he has removed the entrance all together. We haven't seen the Aleister Black entrance in a long time. To put it bluntly, Vince thinks that there's something missing about Aleister Black. It's similar to how he feels about Cesaro. Keep an eye on this one because we all know how that went. "
#3. AJ Styles comments on possibly leaving WWE for AEW
During his recent Twitch stream, AJ Styles opened up about the possibility of jumping ship to AEW.
The reigning Intercontinental Champion replied with the tried-and-tested adage, 'never say never'.
Styles, however, revealed that he hopes to work for WWE in some capacity once he wraps up his in-ring career. The Phenomenal One would like to be a recruiter or scout as he feels it would be a fun role for him. Styles would also have no problems going back to the indies.
Style explained that he likes what he is doing currently in the WWE. He doesn't see the need to go to AEW right now, but he didn't entirely shut the door on the signing either.
Here's what Styles said:
"As far as AEW is concerned, never say never, right? But, I think once my career is done, I'm hopefully just going to work for WWE in some capacity. What would I do? I'd like to be a recruiter, go scout some guys, I think that would be fun. I would have no problem going to the Indies." (H/T Fightful)
"A lot of my friends are there, guys I love, but I know what I'm doing in WWE. I know what's asked of me and I kind of like that. Change always, some change, sucks. You know how one thing is done and the other is not worth the hassle. I don't need, at least right now, to go anywhere else, so, why would I? But, again, never say never."
#2. MVP reportedly responsible for trying to put Mustafa Ali over backstage in WWE
MVP has grown from strength to strength ever since he was brought back as a surprise entrant at the Royal Rumble. The WWE veteran is now the leader of The Hurt Business faction, and he is also in talks with WWE regarding a long-term contract.
MVP is also trying to put over the right people backstage, and one of them is Mustafa Ali.
Tom Colohue revealed on the latest edition of the Dropkick DiSKussions podcast that MVP has a strong voice backstage and he may have used it to put over Mustafa Ali.
"When it comes to his (Ali) return, this comes as a result of availability. But I personally couldn't be happier for him. If there were more people there, I worry that he would not have got that chance. And he is someone who deserves to at least be on TV. He has had WWE Championship matches quite recently. He had so much momentum on SmackDown. On RAW, he took his chance and got something good out of it. Everyone else in that match wanted him to pick up that win. MVP has a strong voice backstage, and I think he is using it right to put people over."
#1. More details on the WWE SmackDown hacker storyline
The SmackDown hacker has mysteriously vanished from WWE TV. It was revealed that Mustafa Ali was originally scheduled to be unveiled as the hacker, but the storyline seems to have been dropped.
Ali recently returned to RAW, and most fans are asking the same question: what happened to the hacker angle?
Tom Colohue revealed on the Dropkick DiSKussions podcast that WWE essentially took the hacker storyline 'out of Ali's hands' as it became too convenient.
Ali may never be the hacker as originally intended following his move to RAW; however, there the WWE may still keep the angle alive if the Creative team can come up with a way to reignite the storyline.
Tom noted:
"Ali was the hacker, however, it became too convenient of a storyline and WWE essentially took it out of his hands. I also talked about the origins of GTV back in the day, who that was written for, and why it became its own entity instead of being a platform for the return of Superstar it was written for. Now, with Ali's move to RAW, it is extremely unlikely that we are ever going to see him as a hacker. However, as long as the Hacker storyline is something that the WWE writing team can use to write themselves out of corner, there will always be a SmackDown Hacker."
