Why WWE Pulled Rey Mysterio From SmackDown World Cup
Mustafa Ali was due to compete in WWE's World Cup tournament, until...
Rey Mysterio was not announced as one of WWE's World Cup participants on last Friday's SmackDown despite prior reporting linking him to the tournament.
PWInsider reported prior to SmackDown that Mysterio was due to compete in the competition. Raw's Mustafa Ali was seemingly booked in his place, facing Ricochet in a first-round match scheduled for next week's SmackDown.
The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer has since reported that Mysterio was pulled from the tournament due to an injury. Understood to be either a foot or ankle problem, Rey was backstage at Friday's show in Indianapolis, Indiana, wearing a protective boot. Though he isn't expected to be out of action for any longer than a few weeks, he wouldn't have been back in time to compete in the World Cup.
Mysterio is new to the SmackDown roster, having jumped ship from Raw in October, doing so in the wake of his son Dominik's heel turn at Clash At The Castle the previous month.
Rey has since wrapped a feud with Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, culminating in a well-received match on SmackDown's 4 November episode. The veteran earned this shot by felling Ricochet, Sheamus, and Solo Sikoa three weeks prior.