Backstage news on Lars Sullivan’s absence from WWE TV

Lars Sullivan has been off WWE Friday Night SmackDown for more than a month and there’s been no indication that he will be back on TV soon as WWE hasn’t explained why he’s been absent.

Ringside News reported last week that Sullivan has not been backstage at SmackDown in recent weeks and there’s been nothing said about Sullivan from the top people in WWE management. It was also noted that his absence is not injury-related.

Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that since the top star on SmackDown is Universal Champion Roman Reigns and he is a heel, WWE does not want “another top heel they don’t want to beat on the same brand.”

Sullivan wasn’t featured on the same list of big wrestlers that were sent back to the WWE Performance Center to train such as Keith Lee, Otis, Dabba-Kato, Dio Maddin and Omos.

It’s been reported that Vince McMahon wanted these stars to improve on their in-ring work. Adam Pearce and Drew Gulak are conducting the training sessions.