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While the COVID-19 Pandemic engulfed the world, SmackDown is doing its best to provide the fans with entertaining content. On today's edition of the top backstage SmackDown rumors that could have a major impact, we will cover what the future holds for Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt, the reason for a major split and among other things.
Bray Wyatt returned to SmackDown last week after being out since he lost to Braun Strowman at MITB. What impact could his return have on Strowman's title reign and what does the future hold for The Fiend, let's take a look:
#5 Uncertainty over Bray Wyatt's future on SmackDown
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Bray Wyatt recently returned to SmackDown in order to confront the Universal Champion Braun Strowman. What was truly interesting was that while Bray Wyatt came back with another edition of the FireFly Funhouse, instead of bringing back his Fiend persona, he chose to 'resurrect' the cult-leader persona from his days as the leader of the Wyatt Family.
This fits into the storyline perfectly as Braun Strowman had started his career as a member of the Wyatt Family. Tom Colohue has reported that there is uncertainty over Braun Strowman remaining the Universal Champion. However, if he does retain then Bray Wyatt will be sent to Monday Night RAW.
As regards to Strowman, he was the right guy at the right time, but he lucked into this Championship. This was never the plan. Unfortunately for Braun, there is a lot of dissenting voices backstage that aren't necessarily in his corner. There is a lot of debate almost constantly to whether Strowman is the right guy, but the top-level on SmackDown is it's so bare at the moment. What I think we're going to see, is if the Fiend loses, then the Fiend is probably going back to RAW, whereas if The Fiend wins, Roman Reigns is probably returning soon. As regards to Strowman, I'm not sure, and I think that's a bad sign.
You can also check out the roundup of last week's biggest WWE news and rumors before moving to the next slide.
#4 Backstage Sympathy on SmackDown's Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake
The Forgotten Sons had debuted on SmackDown just a short-time back but it looks like Jackson Ryker's controversial Tweet praising Donald Trump has led to the faction being forgotten yet again.
While they were initially slated for a feud with The New Day, WWE has dropped all plans for the team for now by having them replaced with SmackDown Superstars Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura.
As per Fightful, there is a lot of backstage sympathy for Blake and Cutler who have nothing to do with Ryker's tweet and have even tried to distance themselves from it.
Based on what we heard, there is no real heat on Blake and Cutler, based on their partner's tweet. And actually, there is some sympathy on their behalf as Blake and Cutler were in NXT for a very, very long time before they ultimately got their call-up this year. Ryker not so long, but Blake and Cutler were there for years and years and years before they ended up getting the call. So there are some people that are not exactly keen on how all that unfolded.
#3 SmackDownn Tag-Team to get a new gimmick
Speaking of Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler, WrestlingNews.co has stated that the two SmackDown Superstars might be brought back to TV - this time without Jackson Ryker by their side. They have also reported that a new gimmick will be given to the two in case they return and it is possible that the faction 'Forgotten Sons' is done for good.
There has been talk of a new gimmick for Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake when they return to television. I don’t know when they will return to WWE TV but one person I spoke with says that their current gimmick won’t work now because of what is going on in the real world with the protests around the country.
They also spoke about backstage heat on Ryker for his comments praising Donald Trump while the BLM movement is in force.
SmackDown Superstar Steve Cutler had taken to Twitter to state that it pains him to see what is happening in the country that he had fought for.
I fought for the freedom of our country and ALL of the people who live here.
#2 Reason why Dolph Ziggler and Sonya Deville were split as a pair on SmackDown
Dolph Ziggler recently moved to RAW and challenged WWE Champion Drew McIntyre for a match at Extreme Rules. As per WWE logic, Dolph Ziggler and Bobby Roode have been traded to RAW in return for AJ Styles coming to SmackDown.
What is interesting is that before Ziggler went to RAW, he was in a team of sorts with Sonya Deville on SmackDown. Deville is now going solo and it looks like the feud between Otis/Mandy Rose and Dolph Ziggler/Sonya Deville on SmackDown will now be turned into a one-on-one program between Deville and Rose.
Here is what Tom Colohue had to say about why Sonya Deville and Ziggler's pairing was broken:
I did ask about this, and I was told quite simply, Deville doesn't need him. I think he did extremely well, but his role was becoming smaller and smaller. They had promos where Sonya Deville was doing all the talking, even though Dolph Ziggler was there and Dolph, to my knowledge, was supposed to do the talking, but he said to Sonya Deville, 'look, here are my lines, go for it.' He knows what talent she has and really, I feel they did need to move on. Otis seems to be moving towards Baron Corbin. Corbin now seems to be going to feud with Riddle and so Heavy Machinery will be feuding with Miz and Morrison. That will give us the option of a six-person tag, and it does mean that Deville has similar people to work with, but I don't think Rose and Deville will need that support at the moment. I think they have both really exceeded expectations.
#1 Some SmackDown Superstars could 'vanish' for a few weeks
With the ongoing COVID-19 situation, more and more Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT are getting worried about their health, and rightfully so.
As announced recently Renee Young and Kayla Braxton have both tested positive for the coronavirus and many other talent and personnel are reportedly also infected.
Superstars such as former WWE Champion Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have refused to come to work because of the pandemic and it looks like there are more Superstars who could follow suit.
Here is what Tom Colohue stated on Dropkick DiSKussions:
What I can say that someone did come to me about this, and when I asked them for more information, they essentially said that they wouldn't be losing anything and I quote here, "They're not using me anyway." There are a lot of wrestlers on RAW, SmackDown and NXT who aren't being used or aren't being used particularly well. Why should they even be there? Don't be surprised to see a few names quietly vanish for a couple of weeks.
