Welcome to the Grapevine! This section of Smark Henry is where we round up all the important founded and unfounded rumors floating around the pro wrestling scene that you may have missed over the past few days. Remember to take everything with a grain of salt!
Where was Carlito last Monday?
After being promoted on social media for the Legends Night special episode of RAW this week, Carlito ended up being absent from the show. It turns out that WWE never actually closed a deal to have Carlito appear on the show, but was still included in all advertising. WWE and Carlito have been in talks to have him back in the company, but could not agree on a deal. (Source: Wrestling Inc.)
We say: These things happen, and while Carlito's absence disappointed a lot of Ruthless Aggression-era fans, it didn't really hurt anyone. Carlito was also certainly spared from the lame treatment of the legends on their own special episode of RAW, so it's not a huge loss.
What happened in the women's tag match on RAW?
The finish of the Charlotte Flair and Asuka vs. Peyton Royce and Lacey Evans match on RAW, which saw Ric Flair trip his daughter, was apparently botched. The finish was supposed to see Ric trip Royce, but Royce was apparently not in position for the spot, but Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live said that the spot played out as intended. (Source: Wrestling Observer Live, WrestlingNews.co)
We say: Some of this reporting is conflicting and doesn't make sense. If Flair was supposed to trip Royce and the women in the ring were not in position, why did Charlotte get pinned for the loss anyway? Wouldn't they have had to run a different spot to get to their intended finish? It still somehow makes more sense that Lacey got to Ric and he was getting back at his daughter for spoiling his kiss-stealin' moment. Either way, whatever they were trying to get out of that match was straight-up bad.
What happened to the advertised Roman Reigns segment on SmackDown
A segment on last week's SmackDown involving a special request from Roman Reigns was cut from the show after being advertised on social media. Reigns and Paul Heyman, who have some creative control on their storylines, reportedly had a hand in changing the segment, but WWE's social media team did not know of the change. (Source: Ringside News)
We say: We've got a lot of trust in Reigns and Heyman directing their angles so it must've been for the better. Again, these misunderstandings happen and it didn't really take away from the show.
WWE not outright interested in Marty Scurll
An initial report from Wrestling Inc. stated that Dave Meltzer claimed WWE had interest in Marty Scurll, who was recently released by Ring of Honor. However, this report was erroneous as Meltzer actually meant that there was interest from WWE in January 2020, before Scurll signed with ROH. ROH had released him six months after pulling him from TV in light of the sexual assault allegations were made against him in the #MeToo movement last June. (Source: Wrestling Inc.)
Let us know what you think of today's news in the comments!
Photo from WWE
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