WWE Rumor Roundup - Undertaker's friend returning after two decades at Survivor Series, Aalyah's marriage, Veterans released from company - 9th November 2020

It's time for another new edition of the daily WWE Rumor Roundup. The day that went by had a little bit of everything. We're talking about reports regarding releases, an unexpected return, and several possible storyline plans for the many unfolding angles on WWE TV.

As WWE gears up for The Undertaker's Final Farewell at Survivor Series, we have a report about a close friend of the Deadman being scheduled to attend the PPV.

WWE also executed another round of releases as several employees were unfortunately shown the door. A veteran ring announcer was also part of the list of releases.

Backstage news from the company regarding WWE's plans for Aalyah Mysterio and the reception to her on-screen performances have also been revealed.

Vince McMahon has also reportedly dropped his previous plan of giving a female Superstar a singles push on TV,

With that being said, let's jump right into the latest installment of the WWE Rumor Roundup:

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#5 Former WWE Superstar Savio Vega to appear at Survivor Series for The Undertaker's final farewell

As reported by Super Luchas, former WWE Superstar Savio Vega will be at the Amway Center for The Undertaker's final farewell at Survivor Series.

Savio Vega was one of the members of Bone Street Krew in the WWE and a close friend of The Undertaker when he was a part of the company from 1994 to 1999. BSK was a prominent backstage group in the WWE in the 90s similar to the infamous Kliq. BSK featured the likes of The Undertaker, Rikishi, Godfather, Paul Bearer, Mr. Fuji, Brian 'Crush' Adams, Yokozuna, and The Godwinns.

Savio Vega is expected to be one of the many special guests that have reportedly been invited to be at Survivor Series. There are currently no updates on if Vega is scheduled to make a televised appearance.

Super Luchas reported the following:

"The Puerto Rican Mayor, who participated in WWE as Kwang and Savio Vega is set to return to WWE to be present for the retirement of his great friend The Undertaker. Taker will end a great run exactly 30 years after his first [WWE] appearance at Survivor Series 1990."

There is also no word on whether The Undertaker will have a match at Survivor Series or set up a future bout at the PPV.

The Undertaker will officially draw curtains on his iconic career at Survivor Series on November 22nd, and the WWE is making sure the PPV feels like a special occasion. The appearances of the close acquaintances of The Undertaker will be a great way to cap off an emotional night for the fans and the Deadman himself.

#4 WWE's possible storyline plan for Aalyah and Murphy

The storyline between Aalyah Mysterio and Murphy took an unexpected turn on the last episode of WWE SmackDown. Murphy 'saw the light again' and accepted Seth Rollins to be his Messiah. The unforeseen development naturally left Aalyah fuming, but Murphy just told her to have some faith in his actions.

Dave Meltzer provided a potential spoiler in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter on how the storyline between Aalyah and Murphy could pan out in the weeks to follow.

Meltzer noted that the writing for the ongoing SmackDown angle has the same DNA as Konnan's WWC angle in Puerto Rico. Konnan married Stacy Colon, daughter of Carlon Colon and sister of Primo and Carlito. As part of the storyline, Konnan was eventually accepted by the family, only to be revealed later that he was manipulating the situation from the beginning.

Meltzer revealed that Mysterio expectedly has a lot of backstage input in his daughter's WWE storyline, and the WWE Legend is also close friends with Konnan. It's easy to put two and two together in this scenario; however, there is no guarantee that the story follows the same path as Konnan's WWC angle.

Meltzer noted the following:

I still see certain DNA in the writing of this angle because so much of it is reminiscent of a WWC angle where Konnan, the top heel, was going to marry Stacy Colon, the sister of Eddie (Primo) & Carly (Carlito) and daughter of Carlos that was a big deal one year in Puerto Rico. For what it's worth, at the end Konnan asked her to marry him and eventually the family started to accept him and then he turned on her and said he manipulated the situation from the start. Not to say that's how this turns out but I know Rey has much input in this angle.

Seth Rollins also offered to marry Murphy and Aalyah on SmackDown, and the wedding segment could be just around the corner in the WWE. How will the Mysterios react to the development? Will Murphy reveal his true intentions sooner rather than later, or is it all just a ploy to fool the Messiah?

#3 Several WWE employees released from the company

As reported by PWInsider, WWE released several staff members this past Friday, which mostly included backstage personnel and members from the logistical teams who worked at Stamford, Connecticut.

A WWE source told PWInsider that around 10-15 members were let go by the company. The most notable name from the list of releases includes Tony Chimel, a long-time announcer for WWE. Chimel started working for the WWE in 1991, and in recent years, took up a backstage role. Chimel worked as a production manager and assisted with supervising the ring crew of the company.

Chimel was a well-known announcer during his heyday as he was mainly known for introducing 'The Rated-R Superstar' Edge.

Amongst the list of releases, WWE's Director of Venue Merchandise Remote Operations Derek Casselman also lost his job. Casselman had been in the company since 1993.

Super Luchas also added that Jerry Soto, the third member of WWE's Spanish broadcast team, was also released on November 6th.

Soto began working for WWE in 2011 after he was brought in to replace the legendary Hugo Savinovich.

Jerry Soto issued the following statement following his release:

"Hi. Officially I don't have a job. I take a little of your time to tell you that I have been on temporary layoff (furlough) since April. Now, the time has come to get another job, preferably acting. I write it here so that you have me in mind with employment opportunities. Thanks for your time. "It is not the end, but another beginning. If you've lost your job too, patience, joy and strength, and everyone, a sanitized hug!"

The recent budget cuts mostly pertained to WWE's live event departments, and it's another reminder that the company has no plans of hitting the road anytime soon.

#2 Backstage perception of Aalyah Mysterio in WWE

We're back with another Aalyah story, but it can't be helped as Rey Mysterio's daughter is making waves with her performances in the WWE.

WrestlingNews.co first reported that Vince McMahon was high on Aalyah's work last month, and the fans shouldn't be surprised if she gets booked in multiple segments on TV moving forward. That has exactly what has happened as Aalyah has been prominently featured on TV.

In an update, WrestlingNews.co has added that Aalyah has received a lot of praise behind the scenes in the WWE. The feeling backstage is that Aalyah has already shown tremendous signs of improvement, which is said to be much better when compared to people who have the same TV experience as her. Aalyah was said to be ahead of the said people, and it was added that Vince McMahon was reportedly caught by surprise by the talents of Rey Mysterio's children.

Aalyah Mysterio has not signed a full-time WWE contract, but that could always change depending on how she fares on TV.

A WWE source revealed the following:

"Think about this. She hasn't trained at the PC, and she has no prior acting experience. We knew Dominik had the potential to be great, but I think Vince got caught by surprise because he was not expecting to see potential out of both of Rey's kids."

While Aalyah still has a long way to go, the 19-year-old has gotten better with each passing week, and her work is helping her get over backstage in the company.

#1 Vince McMahon has reportedly changed his mind about Peyton Royce's singles WWE push

Peyton Royce was destined to get a major push in the WWE following the split of The IIconics. Royce was pushed as a more serious competitor equipped with a new entrance theme song, and things were finally looking up for the Australian Superstar.

However, WWE put her back in an unlikely tag team with Lacey Evans, and her singles push, as of this writing, looks dead in the water.

Dave Meltzer revealed in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE is now trying to build up Evans and Royce's tag team. Vince McMahon broke up The IIconics to facilitate a push for Peyton Royce, but he then changed his mind.

Meltzer had the following to note in the WON:

They spent weeks trying to get Brooke & Rose over as a team, and they've got no other teams (they are trying to make Evans & Royce a team now after Vince breaking up Royce's other team so he could make Royce a single, pushing that for a few weeks and then changing his mind).

Peyton Royce has improved leaps and bounds over the past year, and the reported push was greeted with positive reactions. Vince McMahon, however, has put a hold on the plan, and we're not sure when Royce would get another shot at cementing herself as a singles Superstar in the WWE.