Report: WWE Creative Has NOTHING For This SmackDown Star

If you're wondering why you haven't seen this WWE SmackDown wrestler lately...

by Andy H Murray
Lacey Evans WWE SmackDown
WWE

WWE creative has nothing for Aliyah at the moment.

This is why you haven't seen the former Women's Tag Team Champion on television lately. Dave Meltzer reports in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (confirming a prior report from Ringside News) that Aliyah has recovered from the injury that sidelined her recently, but there isn't a storyline available for her at the moment. As a result, Aliyah wasn't factored into plans for last month's Survivor Series 2022 premium live event.

Aliyah had been replaced by Shotzi on the babyface side of SmackDown's depth chart while injured. Shotzi wrestled Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series, falling in a failed attempt at capturing the SmackDown Women's Championship.

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Close to three months have now passed since Aliyah last stepped in the ring. The 28-year-old's latest match took place on the 12 September episode of Raw, where she and Raquel Rodriguez dropped the Women's Tag Team Championships to Damage CTRL's Dakota Kai and IYO SKY.

Rodriguez now appears set for her own Rousey match, with Ronda injuring her arm on a recent episode of SmackDown, seemingly to build to an eventual Royal Rumble 2023 showdown. WWE is yet to announce the bout, however.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.