Neither Rey Mysterio nor Santos Escobar will have their stablemates by their side for Friday's grudge match.
Mysterio and Escobar are set to face off on SmackDown this Friday night. Ahead of the match, SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis announced that the LWO and Legado del Fantasma will both be barred from ringside. Aldis said he wants Mysterio and Escobar to settle things one-on-one.
"The situation between the LWO and Legado del Fantasma, it's reached a boiling point. Now, some people have accused me of being old school at times. And I guess this is one of those times where you'll be right," Aldis said. "Because I believe in settling things one-on-one, mano a mano. So with that in mind, I'm declaring that the LWO and Legado del Fantasma are barred from ringside."
This is Mysterio's first time wrestling since undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus last November. In storyline, Mysterio's knee injury was blamed on an attack by Escobar. Escobar betrayed Mysterio and split off from the LWO.
The LWO consists of Mysterio, Zelina Vega, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, and Carlito. Escobar, Elektra Lopez, Angel, and Humberto are in Legado del Fantasma.
SmackDown is taking place from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee this Friday. Aldis underwent surgery for a ruptured biceps this week but is continuing to fulfill all of his obligations as SmackDown GM.
WWE SmackDown (Friday, March 22) --
- Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes go face-to-face
- WrestleMania qualifying tournament match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
- WrestleMania qualifying tournament match: The Street Profits vs. Authors of Pain
- Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar (the LWO and Legado del Fantasma are barred from ringside)
- IYO SKY vs. Naomi
More must-reads: