Luke Harper's Absence Described As A "Creative Decision"

[Prince Bálor]

His planned Hell in a Cell Kickoff show opponent, Randy Orton's missing recent show WWE events has been written off as being due to injury.

If a new report from PWInsider is correct, Luke Harper's situation may be more professionally damaging than a bad shoulder.

Mike Johnson confirmed that the Wyatt Family member worked the weekend shows in Mexico (where the already infamous "Luke Harper Fan Club" photo posted and deleted by Chris Jericho on Instagram was taken). But the reason he wasn't booked onRaw last night, even being replaced without explanation by Erick Rowan for the main event six-man tag, was a "creative decision".

What's more, Johnson's sources told him there are no plans to use the former Intercontinental champion at tonight's SmackDown tapings in Austin, Texas.

The conclusion most of us will jump to here is that Harper is being punished for the kayfabe-busting photo that showed pay-per-view (PPV) rivals Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns united in their support of Luke. The other potential target for any alleged Vince McMahon retribution, Chris Jericho, is gone from the company for a while as his band Fozzy tours.

It should be noted, though, that other sources are sticking with the report The Wrestling Observer mentioned in breaking the Orton shoulder injury news this morning - that Harper has a "personal issue" that kept him off television last night:

Source

So, Harper gets left out of RAW (and SmackDown and HIAC) and Rowan's put in as his replacement with no explanation whatsoever because it's a freakin' "creative decision".

LOLWWE for punishing Harper for kayfabe-busting photo, yet just last week they burned kayfabe to the ground by announcing Rusev and Lana are engaged in real life just to get out of Rusev/DZ/Summer angle.

 

[C.M. Shaddix]

Fuck... this means Harper is gonna be removed from TV totally, then released, and Wyatt family will just be 3 men again. I was looking forward to the Wyatts being a 4 man unit, Strowman has no knowledge of wrestling whatsoever while Harper and Rowan made great back up men for Bray. Gawd dammit WWE.

 

[Prince Bálor]

Fuck... this means Harper is gonna be removed from TV totally, then released, and Wyatt family will just be 3 men again. I was looking forward to the Wyatts being a 4 man unit, Strowman has no knowledge of wrestling whatsoever while Harper and Rowan made great back up men for Bray. Gawd dammit WWE.

I hardly doubt Harper will be released, he'll just miss HIAC. He'll remain with the family.

 

[C.M. Shaddix]

I hardly doubt Harper will be released, he'll just miss HIAC. He'll remain with the family.

Probably... I hope so...

 

[The GOAT]

I highly doubt that Harper is in any trouble for violating the strict principles of kayfabe in 2015.

 

[Majour]

Well, you did what the article said people would do and jumped to conclusions.

 

[Messiah1]

It's hard to take Justin LaBar seriously. I would believe Mike Johnson over him. Justin is the guy that started the rumor about Harper being punished due to a photo. He started denying it when not a damn person said that's why he wasn't on RAW.. WWE breaks kayfabe all the time now, they did it on NXT the last few months and no one was punished. It was just a photo, there's no way that's the reason.. Besides, Jericho is the guy that posted it.

 

[Prince Bálor]

We noted before that Luke Harper missed Monday's WWE RAW and the SmackDown tapings due to a personal family issue.

He is back on the road with WWE this weekend and is currently in California for Hell In a Cell, according to PWInsider. He's expected to return on Monday's RAW and be back with The Wyatt Family.

Source

:yeah:

 

[Mr. Roman Empire]

I don't see how Harper could be in that kind of hot water for breaking Kayfabe to the point to where he's written off TV, but Rusev and Lana end a whole storyline line and Rusev is in the kick off match tonight in place of where Harpers match was going to be.

 

[Prince Bálor]

I don't see how Harper could be in that kind of hot water for breaking Kayfabe to the point to where he's written off TV, but Rusev and Lana end a whole storyline line and Rusev is in the kick off match tonight in place of where Harpers match was going to be.

Because anything can happen in the WWE. :ambrose2:

 

[Prince Bálor]

The Wyatt Family is the most - hated family of mine in the world!

Sister Abigail, is that you?

 

[Leo C]

Then I'm sure they just took the Wyatt tag match off the card because they want to protect the Wyatts Actually a good decision.

 

[Prince Bálor]

Then I'm sure they just took the Wyatt tag match off the card because they want to protect the Wyatts Actually a good decision.

I'm positive Strowman and Harper would've defeated Orton and Ambrose, anyway