Things took a controversial turn on WWE SmackDown this week when a major star lost in only five seconds after his debut. Now, a report has stated that the reaction to the loss backstage is not all positive.
Giovanni Vinci is recognized as one of the top names within the company. He was paired with the formidable IMPERIUM until earlier this year. When he was kicked out of the group, though, he went to WWE SmackDown and then disappeared. In recent weeks, there have been videos hyping his debut on the blue brand.
When the debut came, though, it left much to be desired. In his first match, he wrestled Apollo Crews but didn't get any offense in. Crews pinned him from behind the moment the bell rang, ending the match before it even had a chance to begin.
While WWE is calling the loss a three-second one, the actual time is around five seconds. It remained exceptionally short and unexpected for a debut as awaited as Vinci's.
According to the report by WrestleVotes, this has not been received well, and some on the creative team hated the direction in which the 34-year-old was booked.
"I’m told there are a few “key” figures within creative that absolutely hated the direction on the Giovanni Vinci angle tonight. #SmackDown," the outlet reported.
His start may not have been good, but it remains to be seen what happens next on SmackDown.