WWE’s Original Plan For Bobby Roode’s Open Challenge During The Royal Rumble Kickoff

Last night during the Royal Rumble Kickoff, Mojo Rawley answered the Glorious Open Challenge issued by United States Champion Bobby Roode, and the fired-up SmackDown LIVE Superstar was looking to get retribution after Roode defeated him in a tournament semifinal match en route to capturing the vacant title. However, it was not meant to be for Mojo, as Roode beat Rawley to retain his title during the Royal Rumble Kickoff.

According to PWInsider.com, Dolph Ziggler was originally scheduled to answer Roode’s Open Challenge during the Royal Rumble Kickoff. WWE changed course over the weekend and decided to insert Ziggler in the 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble Match as the final entrant.

It was Ziggler’s first WWE appearance since vacating the United States Championship on the Dec. 19 episode of SmackDown LIVE and doing an angle where he left the company. To sell the angle, he was removed from all WWE live events and television tapings.

PWInsider.com also noted that Ziggler will be at SmackDown LIVE tomorrow night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.