WWE Rumor Roundup: Former Superstar returning after 14 years, original plans for Brock Lesnar revealed - 3rd November, 2019

#2. Original plans for Brock Lesnar

The Brock Lesnar storyline involving Rey Mysterio saw an unforeseen development this past week on SmackDown after the Beast Incarnate announced that he was quitting the Blue brand to go to RAW.

However, both Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar were never scheduled to be on SmackDown in the first place, as revealed by Dave Meltzer on the most recent Wrestling Observer Radio.

The segment about Lesnar leaving SmackDown was originally saved for WWE Backstage's premiere for Tuesday but it had to be moved up due to the situation in Saudi Arabia. The biggest selling point of WWE Backstage's grand first episode was said to be some 'huge news' from the first guest and it's easy to deduct that Lesnar announcing his departure from the Blue brand was exactly that.

However, WWE officials had to call an audible as many Superstars were stranded in Saudi Arabia after Crown Jewel and to have a solid SmackDown show, Heyman and his client were asked to appear on SmackDown.

WWE went ahead with the segment that was originally planned for Backstage on the most recent episode of SmackDown.

Lesnar successfully defended the WWE Championship against Cain Velasquez in a two-minute match at Crown Jewel. Despite getting attacked by Rey Mysterio with a chair after the match, Lesnar managed to overpower both Mysterio and Velasquez to stand tall in the end.

The Beast Incarnate wasn't done with Mysterio though as the WWE Champion went to Vince McMahon and asked for a match against the Master of the 619, who is now part of the RAW brand.

As per the reinforced rules of the brand split, Vince McMahon turned down Lesnar's request, which led to Lesnar quitting SmackDown to go after the masked legend on the Red brand.