In a turn of events that caught fans off-guard, Cedric Alexander, formerly only known from his performances on 205 Live, made a surprising appearance on the July 8, 2019, episode of WWE RAW. This wasn’t just any show; it was a night that saw Alexander stepping into the big leagues as he was chosen to be Roman Reigns’ mystery tag team partner against Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre.
The storyline twist was simple yet impactful—Alexander was disguised as a janitor named Gary Garbutt, complete with a mask to conceal his identity. The setup was a classic underdog scenario. Alexander recounted the experience in a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, revealing the backstage preparations. Shane McMahon himself pulled Alexander aside, detailing the night’s plans and his unexpected role.
As the match unfolded, Alexander, despite being the less heralded partner, took center stage with a dynamic flurry of moves. “I remember calling the match with Shane and Drew, and I’m calling the spots I’m gonna do. Then I called the back elbow, and Shane went, ‘So you think you can do my moves now?’” Alexander shared, reflecting on the in-ring banter that adds a layer of realism to the performance.
The climax of the match was as cinematic as it gets in wrestling. After receiving a brutal Claymore from McIntyre, Alexander’s moment to unmask came. Roman Reigns advised him to do it slowly, adding to the drama. Alexander’s reveal was met with mixed reactions, primarily because many RAW fans were unfamiliar with his work on 205 Live. Yet, this was his moment, marred slightly by a busted lip, yet significant. “Vince was like, ‘I want you to take it off and smile big like you just got one over on him,'” Alexander recalled, highlighting Vince McMahon’s vision for the moment.
WrestleMania 41: A Brewing Storm of Rivalries
Fast forward to the road to WrestleMania 41, where the WWE universe is buzzing with anticipation over potential matchups. Notably, a heated encounter on the March 10 episode of WWE RAW saw Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk escalate their rivalry during a steel cage match. This altercation set the stage for a triple-threat match that could headline WrestleMania.
However, not everyone is thrilled with the current direction. Disco Inferno, speaking on the Keepin’ It 100 podcast, expressed a preference for alternative matchups. “I’m not interested in [Seth] Rollins, [CM] Punk, and [Roman] Reigns. I’m interested in Rollins and Reigns, and Punk and Logan Paul,” he stated, suggesting that the most compelling storylines might be the ones not yet written.
As fans, the speculation and excitement build, the questions remain. Will WrestleMania 41 bring the unexpected, much like Alexander’s unmasking? Will the WWE listen to voices like Disco Inferno’s and pivot towards potentially more intriguing clashes?
The Unpredictable Nature of WWE Storytelling
What stands out in these narratives is the unpredictability of WWE’s storytelling arc—whether it’s Cedric Alexander’s surprising role on a regular Monday night RAW or the ever-evolving WrestleMania card.
It’s a reminder that in the world of professional wrestling, expectations are meant to be shattered, and often, the best moments come unscripted and barely concealed beneath a mask. As we look towards WrestleMania 41, one thing is certain: the WWE universe is in for surprises, comebacks, and maybe even a few unexpected smiles.
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