WWE: AJ Styles Return Plans Update, Main Roster Return Plans for Angel Garza & Hunberto Carrillo, McKenzie Mitchell

AJ Styles WWE Return Status Update

As noted before, WWE had planned for AJ Styles to make his return at last week’s SmackDown Tribute to the Troops 2023 show but this did not take place in the end. AJ Styles has been absent from WWE programming since the September 22nd SmackDown show due to a storyline injury suffered at the hands of The Bloodline.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that WWE officials currently have plans for Styles to make his return at tonight’s SmackDown show in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Johnson reported that WWE will be taping two episodes of SmackDown tonight, one for tonight’s live episode and one for the December 22nd SmackDown episode.

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Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo Reportedly Planned to Make Main Roster Return at Friday’s SmackDown Tapings

Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo have been absent from WWE’s RAW brand for some time due to their current stint in WWE’s NXT brand.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Garza and Carrillo are currently expected to make their main roster return at tonight’s SmackDown tapings in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Johnson reported that WWE officials have made some pitches for Garza and Carrillo to be involved with the Santos Escobar vs. Rey Mysterio & LWO feud for their main roster return.

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McKenzie Mitchell Comments on Her Time in WWE & Future of Her Career in Wrestling

As noted before, NXT backstage interviewer McKenzie Mitchell was released by WWE earlier this month.

RDP Promotions held a recent virtual fan signing event with Mitchell as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Mitchell’s thoughts about her enjoying her time in WWE working for their NXT brand.

“When you do what you love, you’re not working. That’s truly how it was in NXT. NXT is home for me. I love Shawn Michaels dearly and I love all of the talent there. Really excited to see what they do.”

Mitchell also gave her thoughts about the future of her career in wrestling.

“I can’t reveal all my secrets, right? (Mitchell responded when asked what’s next for her) I can’t tell you guys everything. I will say I have been talking about my jewelry business, Headline. I’m really excited to see where that goes and then next year, it’s only been six months of the business and it’s been really, really great. As far as wrestling goes, I don’t know exactly yet. Maybe I do. But I can’t tell you guys exactly what I’m thinking. It’s just a matter of time. I’m gonna give myself the holidays, I’m gonna do a couple of interviews. There is one that I’m doing exclusively on the 20th. But I don’t know yet. You’ll have to wait and see.”

Mitchell also stated that if her fans want her back in WWE, then they should express it on social media since that is the only way the company will notice.

“It’s been really nice to see all the love and support from you guys online. I guess I can say this. If you want me back in WWE, you better put it on Twitter because that’s the only way they’re gonna see it…”

Mitchell also gave her thoughts about her interactions with Wes Lee on camera in NXT.

“Well, if you’re a fan of NXT and you were watching weekly, you notice that Wes Lee and I always had a really great time. Truly. Wes and I have known each other for almost seven, eight years because we worked at IMPACT together and so what you would see on camera is genuine, truly. I would always wanna do that with all of the people I was working with backstage. I wanted to be a member of the NXT universe and how you guys were watching the show is how I genuinely wanted to give reactions and to respond and so I thought like you guys when I was doing the backstage interviews but Wes Lee, hands down (was my favorite NXT talent to interview).

Somebody pointed out to me, the last episode of NXT that I was on, the last time you see me, since the release, that I would be on NXT TV or WWE television, you know Wes Lee and I always did high fives. So the last time you’re seeing me on TV is Wes is giving me a high five and saying, ‘Good luck’ and I’m saying, ‘Good luck’ to him and that’s poetic. I think that’s really cool. That’s a great way to go out and we had such a fun time. So now, I wouldn’t wanna be yelled at by a heel so now this is really cool that that’s my last moment on WWE television is a high five from Wes Lee.”

Mitchell also gave praise to Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez in NXT.

“Cora Jade made a return (at NXT Deadline). Call I tell you — she’s a heel but I absolutely love Cora. She is fantastic. I see big things in the future for her and for Roxanne Perez. They are my girls. I will miss them dearly. We’d spend every Tuesday together so all the love for them.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com