WWE Raw 30, WWE Smackdown Producers, Backstage News And Notes From Before Royal Rumble
Producers!
– Trial of Sami Zayn: Michael Hayes
– Usos vs. Judgment Day: Michael Hayes
– LA Knight, Undertaker, Bray Wyatt segment: Abyss
– Becky Lynch and Damage CTRL segment: TJ Wilson
– DX promo: Shane Helms
– Seth Rollins & Street Profits vs. Imperium: Shane Helms
– Charlotte promo: Petey Williams
– Bianca Belair vs. Sonya Deville: Petey Williams
– Miz in ring promo: Jason Jordan
– Bobby Lashley vs. Austin Theory: Adam Peace
Backstage News
– Undertaker’s coat and hat were sent to the show, even though it wasn’t used.
– Rikishi was ill, which is why the Acknowledgement Ceremony was canceled. It was known by Friday that it wouldn’t happen, and creative was changed for Smackdown.
– Afa and Sika did not end up appearing.
– Bella Twins and Tatanka were set for the show at one point, but didn’t end up going.
– Becky Lynch was not injured on the show. The Bloodline segment went over time, and time had to be cut from the planned Bayley vs. Becky Lynch match
– Dana Brooke vs. Nikki Cross and Bronson Reed vs. Akira Tozawa were filmed for Main Event. There weren’t NXT talent brought in for this show.
– For those asking about Giovani Vinci grabbing his knee, we’re told he’s fine.
– We’re told that people of influence within the company were very happy with how Raw turned out. Specifically, the viewership that emerged from it was big too.
Change to Raw 30
An audible had to be called during WWE Raw 30.
The originally planned Becky Lynch vs. Bayley steel cage match was very abrupt, leading many to wonder if it had changed. Fightful Select has confirmed that the match and entrances were supposed to get two segments. However, the opening segment with the Bloodline trial ended up going long and several segments needed trimmed.
We’re told this affected the Bayley vs. Becky Lynch cage match the most, and they either could work an angle to set up to a full on match, or end up doing a cage match that lasted a minute or two. The end result was the angle that we saw.
There were no injuries in the segment, as some had wondered. The angle is set to continue.
Smackdown
– Rey Mysterio vs. Karrion Kross: Adam Pearce
– Austin Theory, Lashley, New Day, Miz, Brock Lesnar segment: Michael Hayes
– Lacey Evans match: Shawn Daivari
– Viking Raiders/ Sheamus & Drew McIntyre segment: Jason Jordan
– Ricochet & Braun Strowman vs. Hit Row: Jason Jordan
– LA Knight Segment: Jason Jordan
– Imperium vs. Legado Del Fantasma: Jamie Noble
– Kevin Owens vs. Solo Sikoa: Michael Hayes
Backstage News
– Street Profits vs. Usos was the dark match main event. Jason Jordan produced it.
– Street Profits and Austin Theory were all in San Antonio doing Royal Rumble media Friday morning, then made the trip to Lubbock for Smackdown. Charlotte had as well.
– Jason Jordan ended up producing four segments Friday night between the broadcast and post-show
– Brock Lesnar’s appearance was not kept secret and was telegraphed on internal run sheets.
– Madcap Moss vs. Santos Escobar was the pre- show dark match, produced by Shawn Daivari.
– Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre and New Day were in San Antonio less than 12 hours later and doing media for a WWE 2K event.
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