We are back with another interesting WWE News Roundup. Zelina Vega's recent SmackDown match was cut due to time constraints, and a former world champion wasn't happy about this development.
After losing in the main event of this year's SummerSlam pay-per-view, John Cena returned to the company not too long ago. Meanwhile, a top RAW Superstar said he wants Randy Orton to win a major upcoming match.
Edge vs. Seth Rollins on last week's SmackDown received critical acclaim. A former WWE manager has specifically highlighted why Rollins' post-match reaction was so effective. Additionally, Jeff Hardy recently spoke about his idea for a dream cinematic match that hasn't happened yet.
With that in mind, let's dive straight into the latest WWE News Roundup.
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#5 Mick Foley extends support for WWE Superstar Zelina Vega
The most recent SmackDown episode occurred a night before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Zelina Vega (real name - Thea Trinidad) lost her father 20 years ago as a result of the tragic events that unfolded in the World Trade Center.
She was scheduled for a tag team match on last week's SmackDown. However, it eventually got canceled by WWE due to time issues. Many fans were outraged over this development on social media, given how meaningful it would have been for Zelina Vega to perform in front of a live Madison Square Garden crowd.
Mick Foley was also unhappy regarding the same and expressed his support for Vega via Twitter:
The originally scheduled tag team match would have pitted her and Carmella against Toni Storm and Liv Morgan. Reports indicate that a segment featuring Kevin Owens was cut from the show as well.
What are your thoughts on Zelina Vega's match being canceled from the latest SmackDown episode? Let us know in the comments section below.
#4 John Cena wrestled a match after WWE SmackDown went off the air
John Cena lost to Roman Reigns in the main event of WWE SummerSlam 2021. Although Cena hasn't been part of any storyline since the pay-per-view, he appeared at Madison Square Garden following last week's two-hour SmackDown broadcast.
The 16-time world champion teamed up with Rey and Dominik Mysterio to wrestle The Bloodline - Roman Reigns, Jimmy, and Jey Uso.
The six-man tag team contest ended with Cena winning the match for his team. You can check out some footage from the bout below:
Ever since Cena returned to WWE for his latest stint, he has teamed up with The Mysterios to defeat The Bloodline in more than 10 untelevised matches. The Cenation leader's only televised bout this year took place at SummerSlam.
His latest match at Madison Square Garden could very well have been his last for the time being. After all, John Cena is a busy man in Hollywood these days.
Meanwhile, his recent rival, Roman Reigns, is simultaneously feuding with Finn Balor and Brock Lesnar on the Blue brand.
#3 Drew McIntyre wants Randy Orton to become the new WWE Champion
In the upcoming episode of Monday Night RAW, Bobby Lashley will defend his WWE Championship against Randy Orton.
Drew McIntyre, who is no stranger to feuding against Lashley and Orton, has picked the latter to win the match. The reasoning behind his pick is quite simple - McIntyre cannot technically challenge for the WWE title as long as The All Mighty remains champion. This development came as part of a stipulation when The Scottish Warrior lost to Bobby Lashley inside Hell in a Cell.
WWE's official Twitter account recently posted a video of Drew McIntyre making his prediction for Lashley's next title defense:
“Randy, very dangerous, one RKO, and the match is over. Lashley, dangerous, Hurt Lock is no joke. MVP will sc**w you over. I experienced it firsthand. I want Randy Orton to win, obviously. I can't fight for the WWE title until Lashley loses it. Randy is more than capable, all it’s gonna take is one RKO and the match is over. That’s my prediction!” said McIntyre.
If Randy Orton wins the WWE title in his upcoming match, he will become a 15-time world champion.
#2 Dutch Mantell praises Seth Rollins' reaction after defeating WWE Hall of Famer Edge
Edge and Seth Rollins put on an excellent match during last week's WWE SmackDown. Rollins emerged victoriously following a vicious stomp on the Hall of Famer.
The Messiah looked visibly shaken when Edge was taken away in an ambulance later backstage. Despite being a heel character, he said he didn't know how to feel about the win.
On the latest episode of Sportskeeda Wrestling's Smack Talk, Dutch Mantell stated that Seth Rollins' post-match expressions seemed quite effective as part of the storyline.
“I saw his backstage interview and that had my attention. I was thinking the same thing, ‘Wait a minute, is he sorry that he did it?’" said Mantell. "I don’t know what he was trying to portray like thinking about what he had done or if he is going nuts but it was effective. Whatever he did, he got my attention.”
Edge and Rollins previously faced each other at SummerSlam, and the two superstars received praise for that encounter as well.
Given how compatible they are in showcasing an excellent story together, should WWE book a third match between both men?
#1 Jeff Hardy wants to face The Usos in a cinematic WWE dream match
While Jeff Hardy isn't currently part of a notable storyline on WWE RAW, The Usos are tag team champions over on Friday Night SmackDown.
Speaking on Wrestling Inside the Ropes with James Stewart, Hardy recently highlighted how he wants a potential cinematic match against Jimmy and Jey Uso. He believes "The Uso Penitentiary" gimmick could serve as an excellent theme for this idea.
“I think, cinematically, one of my biggest dream matches was with The Usos because they got their penitentiary thing. Like, to go to an old, rundown prison that you can go tour for paranormal activity or whatever, but go and have a match with The Usos in a haunted old prison. I got that match in my hand, and I think I wrote a bunch of ideas down years ago. That’s still one of the things I would really love to do. I think that can be extremely cool,” said Jeff Hardy.
Jeff's brother and usual tag team partner, Matt Hardy, is part of the AEW roster right now.
So if The Charismatic Enigma's cinematic match idea ever came true in WWE, who do you think his partner should be against The Usos?