Fans have been voicing their frustration over WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley’s absence from television in recent months. Despite having him on their roster, WWE has not used Lashley on television since the May 12, 2023 episode of SmackDown. This has led to questions and speculation about his whereabouts and the reasons for his prolonged absence. Some rumors have surfaced that WWE is thinking about re-imagining his gimmick and bringing him back to SummerSlam in a new look.
During the World Heavyweight Championship tournament, Lashley suffered a brutal injury and was busted wide open in a Triple Threat match. However, he still advanced to the semifinals, but ultimately lost to AJ Styles. Since then, he has been conspicuously absent from WWE programming. Because he’s being used in live events, it’s not an injury situation. In fact, it was said that he was backstage at the Madison Square Garden show for SmackDown on Friday night. No, Lashley’s limited presence on television can be attributed to creative decisions and a lack of current plans for his character.
If he returns at SummerSlam, and on top of that, he comes back with a new gimmick, one has to wonder what WWE might be thinking. Is this something completely new? Or is this the revival of The Hurt Business? If so, who will be involved? Omos has also not been seen on WWE programming for quite some time.
Lashley’s most recent house show appearance was on June 25, 2023, when he defeated Baron Corbin at WWE Sunday Stunner. That was just two weeks ago. Clearly, he is ready and capable of acting.
Lashley is close, WWE just needs to find something for him
Lashley wasn’t the only person backstage on Friday. He, along with other superstars such as Rey Mysterio, Omos, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, The Street Profits, and Cameron Grimes, were present but did not appear on the show. As fans await updates on Lashley’s return and possible storyline developments, there is hope that WWE will address the concerns surrounding his absence and provide him with meaningful opportunities in the future.