WWE Rumors: Injury allegedly forcing WWE to pull Superstar from Elimination Chamber match
What's the story?
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.Com has reported that rising SmackDown Live Superstar Mustafa Ali is likely to be removed from the WWE Title Elimination Chamber match set for the Elimination Chamber PPV after a number of injuries have caused WWE officials to be concerned for Ali's health.
In case you didn't know...
Mustafa Ali has been strapped to a rocket since being moved to SmackDown Live from 205 Live, having great matches with the likes of Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles. He's been so great that he earned himself a spot in the Men's Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Title alongside current champion Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton.
However, during a singles match against Randy Orton he sat up too quickly into a boot from Orton and busted his eye, causing a great deal of swelling. To Ali's credit, he finished the match and then would go on to take his second commentary table bump of the night later on during SmackDown.
The Heart of the Matter
According to Fightful.Com, the eye injury is one of many injuries that Ali is currently dealing with, and a recent house show match has exacerbated the injury so much that WWE officials may have no choice but to pull Ali from the Elimination Chamber PPV.
Ali had been working through an injured tailbone that got hurt again at WWE's Royal Rumble show. Last week on Smackdown live, Ali's eye was swollen shut after sitting up into Randy Orton's boot on the Garvin Stomp. We're told that an injury was accelerated on Sunday night's live event, and that he's likely not to be cleared for action all week long.
This would be awful news for Mustafa Ali as this would arguably be the biggest match of his career to date and now he might not be allowed to compete. Fightful have gone on to suggest that Ali is assuring WWE officials that he can compete and will be fine, but the WWE are unlikely to take any risks with his health despite those assurances.
What's next?
The current plan, according to Fightful, is for Ali to be written out of the match during this week's SmackDown Live, with Randy Orton taking credit for the injury to draw 'The Viper' more heat and build towards Ali's return.
As for who replaces Mustafa Ali in the Chamber match? That's currently unknown. However, I know that Bray Wyatt has been waiting to return for a while now...
Who do you think WWE should replace Mustafa Ali within the Elimination Chamber? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!