Not that you thought he would be, but replacing the deposed King of the Cruiserweights in the opening video for the WWE Network show dedicated to the division, 205 Live, is the latest sign that Neville is not returning to work for Vince McMahon in the near future.
You can see the changes between the version which played last week (Oct. 17) and this week (Oct. 24) in this handy Twitter video:
Neville has been officially cut from the #205Live intro. pic.twitter.com/tChlvr5VvL
— Adrian #FireTJP (@AsianA3AN) October 25, 2017
That’s a Mustafa Ali 0-5-4 in place of the Red Arrow, Drew Gulak and a “NO CHANTS” sign instead of Neville’s scowling visage and Tony Nese’s abs rather than... well, Neville’s scowling visage.
Shortly after the former NXT and Cruiserweight champ’s exit, there were reports of Enzo Amore cutting promos on the house show circuit bragging about retiring Neville. Whether that was a way to keep his name out there for a return or just the kind of trash you talk about someone when the cameras aren’t rolling, that’s stopped, too.
With no news saying fences have been mended - or even that negotiations are ongoing - between Neville and WWE, the fact that they haven’t even bothered to explain his absence in kayfabe and now this new 205 Live open... it seems the next time we see The Man That Gravity Forgot will be for a different promotion.
When might that be? That’s allegedly up to a pissed off Vince McMahon, so don’t hold your breath.