5 wrestling rumors we hope are true and 5 we hope aren't: Backstage plans to turn popular star heel, Vince McMahon canceled WrestleMania match between 2 WWE legends?

#4. Hope isn't true: Reason why Murphy has been absent from WWE TV

Murphy and Aalyah Mysterio on SmackDown.

Murphy has been relatively absent from WWE TV in the last couple of months, with his last match on SmackDown happening in early December. After his storyline with Aalyah Mysterio on SmackDown ended, WWE has kept him off TV.

It wasn't due to an injury either. According to Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Radio, Murphy has been kept off TV for two reasons. Firstly, there is nothing for him creatively at the moment, and Steve Cutler's WWE release is tied into this as well. Sportskeeda's Abhilash Mendhe wrote:

According to Meltzer, WWE doesn't have anything for Murphy at the moment, and that is why he hasn't been seen on TV lately. Steve Cutler's WWE release hampered WWE's plans for Murphy, as per Meltzer. Cutler was released by WWE this past week. He had attended a New Year's Eve party, before testing positive for COVID-19 and Vince McMahon was reportedly angry at the decision.

We hope this isn't true because Murphy needs to be utilized more. He was gaining momentum in 2020, and this seemed like a sudden, abrupt halt by WWE.