From the WWE Rumor Mill: Conflicting reports on Neville's Status
What’s the story?
Rumors began circulating after Monday Night Raw that Neville walked on the WWE, but Mike Johnson of PWInsider says that report was incorrect and Neville was never with the company this week, to begin with.
In case you didn’t know...
Pro Wrestling Sheet broke the news that Neville may have quit the WWE and that he was originally planned to wrestle Enzo Amore for the Cruiserweight Championship, but left before the start of the show.
The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter corroborated the story and included information from a source close to the situation that said that “The King of the Cruiserweights” was done with the WWE.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Observer, the WWE’s official word on the Neville situation was that he was still with the company and that he had not quit.
The heart of the matter
PWInsider reports that Neville did not walk out before Raw because he was never there. Neville was reportedly absent from several house shows as well and had to be replaced by Mustafa Ali.
Neville was originally planned to face Enzo for the Cruiserweight Championship on Raw, but PWInsider says the title match was nixed when they were reminded of the rematch clause Neville broke by attacking Enzo.
Plans then shifted to a non-title match, but after finding out Neville wouldn’t be on Raw, the decision was made to put the title on Kalisto and tie his championship win to the birthday of the late Eddie Guerrero.
Though Neville walking out on WWE was contested by PWInsider’s report, their report indicated that the release request is true and that it may have been sparked by being left off the WrestleMania 33 DVD and not receiving royalties; similar to Austin Aries' complaints about the company prior to his departure.
What’s next?
Neville is still under contract and has not been released by the WWE, but he is said not to be factored into any current plans which adds more credence to the idea that he might not return to WWE programming.
Author’s Take
Though some of the details conflict other reports, the reports of Neville wanting out of the company seem to be true and that doesn’t help the case of 205 Live, especially after losing Aries months prior to this.