• Several WWE Creative Members Were Strongly Against Ongoing Storyline
The Gingerbread Man storyline began earlier this year when Trick Williams teamed up with rapper Lil Yachty to mock Sami Zayn’s red hair. The concept quickly grew with a diss track, costume appearances on TV, and became a key part of the build to WrestleMania 42, where Trick defeated Zayn to win the United States Championship.
After WrestleMania, Sami Zayn turned the tables. The angle reached a bizarre climax last week on SmackDown when Zayn violently destroyed the Gingerbread Man in the ring, leaving Trick Williams devastated.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, several members of the WWE creative team were pushing to tone down the importance of the Gingerbread Man storyline, with multiple people strongly opposed to the idea from the start.
WWE will hold a funeral for the Gingerbread Man on tomorrow’s episode of SmackDown, one night before Sami Zayn challenges Trick Williams for the United States Championship at Backlash in Tampa.
• Big Change Made To Brock Lesnar’s WWE Status
Brock Lesnar lost to Oba Femi in the opening match of WrestleMania 42 – Night 2 and then signaled his retirement by leaving his gloves and boots in the center of the ring.
In the weeks since WrestleMania, WWE has leaned heavily into the retirement narrative through social media posts as well as comments from Paul Heyman on TV and Triple H during media appearances.
A major update has now been made to Lesnar’s status. The Beast Incarnate has been moved from the active Superstars section to the Alumni section on WWE’s official website.
Below is a screenshot from the Alumni section:
The Alumni section typically features wrestlers who have either left the company or retired.
While this move strongly suggests WWE is acknowledging Lesnar’s retirement following WrestleMania, there is growing speculation that The Beast could still return for one final match against GUNTHER at SummerSlam this year, which is taking place in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
