Why Bobby Lashley Didn't Make His AEW Debut At WrestleDream

Following teases on TV between MVP and Prince Nana, many expected Bobby Lashley to make his All Elite Wrestling debut at Saturday night's WrestleDream pay-per-view and attack the returning Swerve Strickland.

The show came and went without Lashley, though, and Strickland's return instead saw him reject MVP and Shelton Benjamin and remain with Prince Nana.

Fightful Select has reported that Lashley was under consideration to debut at WrestleDream but AEW decided to scrap that idea. One of the reasons behind the change was Lashley's likely debut would have seen him attack Strickland and the belief within AEW was two hometown beatdowns would have affected the show-closing segment where Blackpool Combat Club took out Bryan Danielson.

Ibou of WrestlePurists further noted that AEW delayed Lashley's debut so it could stand out more, with the feeling being the promotion had enough big angles already planned for WrestleDream. The pay-per-view featured the end of Bryan Danielson's full-time career, as well as the returns of MJF and Adam Cole.

Bobby Lashley, Fightful noted, is still expected to debut in the coming weeks as part of the Hurt Syndicate with MVP and Shelton Benjamin. The former WWE Champion recently signed with All Elite Wrestling after exiting WWE in August.