Raw 25 Rewritten Three Hours Before Showtime Because A Celebrity Couldn’t Arrive On Time

This past Monday’s Raw 25 show was apparently rewritten three hours before going live, according to a report today by Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated.

According to Barrasso, there were plans for backstage segments with Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, including the segment introducing Raw General Managers from the past, but they were changed when Fallon couldn’t arrive to the show early enough in the day for the segments and pre-tapes. Those segments “ultimately became introductions and waves to the crowd.” This could be why WWE’s female legends didn’t have a role on the show beyond being introduced to the crowd.

Enzo Amore was backstage at Raw and scheduled to be a part of the show before rape allegations from a woman hit Twitter in the afternoon. Barrasso noted that in addition to facing Goldust from the Barclays Center, Enzo was supposed to take The Dudley Boyz signature headbutt to the groin. Heath Slater ended up taking the spot.

Fallon went to the show, but only appeared as an audience member at ringside. His appearance comes one week after he teamed with The New Day against Stephanie McMahon and Triple H in a WWE tag team-style lip sync-off to Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly,” and “How Far I’ll Go” from Disney’s Moana.