Following a six-woman tag team match on the November 12 episode of WWE SmackDown, Sonya Deville informed Aliyah that she would no longer be a member of Team SmackDown at WWE Survivor Series.
After Aliyah, Naomi, and Sasha Banks took down the trio of Natalya, Shayna Baszler, and Shotzi Blackheart when the SmackDown newcomer reversed a Sharpshooter into a pin, she was ecstatic. When Deville found Aliyah backstage, the young star was clearly excited about this victory; it marked quite an achievement for someone who had spent seven years in WWE developmental system.
Deville asked Aliyah how long she had known Naomi for, and the question confused her. The WWE official then changed topics by telling Aliyah that she had been removed from the Survivor Series team, leaving the newcomer shocked and on the verge of tears. Deville didn’t name a replacement for the team, so the spot is open as of this writing.
WHAT?!
"I've just been advised that you're no longer on the #SmackDown Women's #SurvivorSeries Team." – @SonyaDevilleWWE @WWE_Aliyah pic.twitter.com/SnULM83OE5
— WWE (@WWE) November 13, 2021
Later in the night, during a backstage segmen, Adam Pearce — who was surprisingly joined by NXT’s Von Wagner — declared that the loser of a bout between Sami Zayn and Jeff Hardy would get kicked off the men’s team for WWE Survivor Series.
In the match, Hardy emerged victorious, as he endured some underhanded tactics from Zayn. Desperate to win the match, the former WWE Intercontinental Champion tried to prop his feet up on the ropes to pin Hardy. While Zayn was busy arguing with the referee, Hardy turned Zayn around and hit the Twist of Fate for the win. As a result, Zayn lost his spot on the team. Like Deville, Pearce didn’t name a replacement, so there’s also an open spot on the men’s team.
.@SamiZayn has officially been REMOVED from the #SmackDown Men's #SurvivorSeries Team! pic.twitter.com/pSjwkBSxGu
— WWE (@WWE) November 13, 2021
RELATED: WWE SmackDown Results (11/12/21)
