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We're back with another massive edition of the WWE Rumor Roundup. A WWE executive has revealed several details of a failed Vince McMahon project and how officials felt the superstar was dangerous in the ring.
A recently released WWE superstar has already had talks with AEW, and a potential debut could be on the cards.
Keith Lee has been absent from WWE TV for a considerable amount of time, and there is reportedly some backstage secrecy being maintained within the company regarding his status.
Details of a nixed SmackDown debut have also been disclosed, and it's interesting to note that the booking witnessed multiple cancelations. The big debut wasn't the only angle pulled from the throwback SmackDown show as Vince McMahon also reportedly cut another entertaining segment.
We ended the roundup with Shawn Michaels' unfavorable opinion of a popular former IC Champion. On that note, here is the latest WWE Rumor Roundup:
#5 One of 'Vince McMahon's big projects' was considered dangerous by WWE
Bruce Prichard and Conrad Thompson focussed on the 'WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies' event on a recent edition of 'Something to Wrestle.'
The WWE In Your House 7 pay-per-view featured Ahmed Johnson, a star once tipped to be a leading talent in the WWE. Apart from a solitary Intercontinental Championship reign, Johnson had a largely forgettable run in WWE, which ended in 1998.
Ahmed Johnson was seen as one of Vince McMahon's biggest projects, and there could have been a possibility for him to even headline WrestleMania 13.
Conrad Thompson asked Bruce Prichard the following:
"We know that Ahmed Johnson was considered to be one of the next great big projects for Vince McMahon. If Ahmed would have progressed quickly, there could have been a chance where he's in the main event at WrestleMania 13?"
The current WWE Executive Director said that Ahmed Johnson had the look and charisma to become a WWE Champion. However, the company felt that Johnson was reckless in the ring, and his main event push never materialized.
"Absolutely. Ahmed was one of those guys that we looked at and said, 'This guy can be WWE Champion at some point.' He had all the charisma in the world. He had the personality. Unfortunately, he just didn't have that feel and was dangerous in the ring," Prichard stated. H/t WrestlingNews.co
Ahmed Johnson appeared on Sportskeeda Wrestling's UnSkripted with Dr. Chris Featherstone a couple of months back, and he cleared the air about backstage reputation, among various other topics.
#4 Former WWE Superstar Andrade has had talks with AEW
Andrade was handed his release from the WWE in March earlier this year, and the former United States champion has wasted absolutely no time getting his name out there on the wrestling circuit.
Andrade is scheduled for a massive match against Alberto Del Rio at the end of July, and El Idolo could even be in line for a potential AEW debut.
Dave Meltzer reported in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there have been talks between Andrade and AEW. Further details weren't provided, and at this point, there is confirmation of a deal being in place between both parties.
"There have been talks with Andrade, but not sure where they stand," noted Meltzer.
Andrade is expected to face Kenny Omega for the AAA Mega Heavyweight Championship at TripleMania. There is every possibility of seeing a similar match in an AEW ring.
Omega currently holds AEW, IMPACT, and AAA world titles, and his match with Andrade will surely be a show-stealer. However, could Andrade be the latest ex-WWE talent to join the AEW ranks?
AEW has some of the world's best Hispanic wrestlers on its roster, and Andrade's addition would only strengthen the entire division. As always, we'll keep you updated on the reported talks and if it leads to a potential contract.
#3 Backstage secrecy over Keith Lee's status, possible reason behind disappearance from WWE TV
Keith Lee has just vanished from WWE programming, and a lot has been said and written about the former NXT double champion over the past few months.
Why is Keith Lee not being used on TV? PWInsider's Mike Johnson provided some clarity on the Limitless One's WWE status during the recent edition of PWInsider Elite Audio.
Johnson admitted that he has found it hard to get all the details regarding Keith Lee's current WWE status. It was noted that Lee's absence comes down to a 'creative thing' and may not be related to an injury.
Information about Keith Lee is being 'kept close to the vest backstage' in WWE as sources who may have details of the situation are not opening up.
It seems like WWE officials just don't have anything for the superstar from a creative standpoint.
Here's what Johnson stated:
"I have never been able to get a full answer on what happened to him. I have been led to believe it's more of a creative thing than an injury thing, and they just for whatever reason; I don't know why I don't know what the full story is. Whether he just fell foul of Vince McMahon somehow, or there is something going on that they're keeping close to the vest, which is always possible. I can get a clear read on it, and whoever is close to him, who knows the deal, they're not talking," revealed Johnson. H/t HeelByNature
Keith Lee has been posting updates on social media during his WWE hiatus, and his underlying message to fans is to be patient. But can Keith Lee salvage his main roster career? Of course he can, but he would need some creative backing for it to happen.
#2 WWE's nixed plans for Throwback SmackDown; why Vince McMahon cut parody segment
The throwback episode of WWE SmackDown had some decent moments throughout the show, but it could have been a whole lot better had the original plans gone through.
Dave Meltzer has now revealed in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE canceled multiple pre-planned segments due to time constraints.
WWE had booked Mia Yim to make her SmackDown debut on the show, but the angle was pulled. Also nixed was an Aleister Black vignette.
Dave Meltzer added that Mia Yim's debut was tentatively rescheduled for the May 14th episode, but the plan didn't come to fruition again.
Pat McAfee's parody segment on Vince McMahon was also not aired on SmackDown as Vince McMahon felt that the spoof angle looked stupid and comical in the wrong way.
Here's what Meltzer noted:
Also on the Throwback show, there was a Pat McAfee taped segment where he would pretend to be a young Vince McMahon. It was cut out of the show. We were told the reason McMahon cut if from the show is that McAfee didn't look or sound like a young McMahon, and he thought it looked stupid, comical in the wrong way. He felt that instead of what he was looking for, a parody of himself, he felt it was a parody of a parody.
Last-minute changes in the WWE are pretty standard, but several superstars are missing TV time due to the oft-repeated backstage chaos. Mia Yim's SmackDown debut, however, should ideally happen soon.
#1 Carlito on his backstage heat with Shawn Michaels in WWE
Former WWE Superstar Carlito recently spoke to James Romero of Wrestling Shoot Interviews, and the Puerto Rican superstar opened up about his backstage relationship with Shawn Michaels when they worked with each other in the WWE during the early 2000s.
Shawn Michaels didn't like Carlito and HBK was honest enough to tell the superstar about his feelings.
Carlito respected Shawn Michaels' straightforwardness as the Hall of Famer didn't talk behind his back. The former US Champion said he developed immense respect for Shawn Michaels after their chat.
"I respected Shawn Michaels because he was one of the only ones that told me to my face that he didn't like me," Carlito said. "I can respect that. We had a talk, he told me whatever, and I can totally respect that. I don't pretend to be everybody's cup of tea. I like it that instead of telling me behind my back, he told me right to my face. After that, I had a lot of respect for Shawn Michaels."
Carlito added that Michaels wasn't a fan of his nonchalant attitude towards the wrestling business, a sentiment also shared by Jim Ross and many other wrestling personalities.
"I forgot what it was," Carlito added. "Same story as everybody else. [Shawn Michaels thought] I was too nonchalant, or I didn't care enough or whatever. I was too… [He thought] I had my mind on other things than wrestling. Stuff like that. I was like, 'Alright." H/t Danny Hart of Sportskeeda Wrestling
Carlito made a few special appearances for WWE earlier this year, and the 42-year-old star looked in phenomenal shape. Carlito is open to having another run in WWE, and it will be interesting to see if he pops up on TV anytime soon.
