The Real Reason Buddy Murphy 'Attacked' Roman Reigns

Where did the former Cruiserweight Champion's sudden ascension come from?

Buddy Murphy
WWE.com

Buddy Murphy has enjoyed increased screentime on WWE SmackDown recently, having become a significant part of the Roman Reigns whodunit saga.

WWE’s ‘Best Kept Secret’ was photographed walking away from the scene of the crime as Reigns was buried beneath tumbling scaffolding. One week later, Roman coerced Murphy into telling him he saw Rowan lurking around that night. This led to the former Bludgeon Brother attacking Buddy during a SummerSlam match with Apollo Crews, before Murphy faced Reigns in a firecracker TV bout two nights later, after which Rowan and Daniel Bryan beat him into admitting he had lied to ‘The Big Dog.’

A sudden ascension for the Australian after months of inactivity - and it sounds like it was unplanned.

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This is according to Bryan Alvarez, who, on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, claimed that WWE hadn’t originally intended to include Murphy in the storyline and only did so when eagle-eyed fans noticed him in the forklift video.

If true, the former Cruiserweight Champion has benefitted from a happy accident. Here’s hoping WWE roll with it, though: the Reigns match reminded that world that Murphy is a sublime in-ring talent when given an opportunity and he has sat on the sidelines for way too long.

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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.