R.J. City, now an integral part of All Elite Wrestling, recently dropped some behind-the-scenes tea about a canceled WWE project. Speaking during a Highspots Sign-It-Live session, City shared details of a planned SummerSlam After Dark comedy special that never made it to production, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
City previously hosted WrestleMania After Dark in 2021, a comedic digital special that aired between nights one and two of WrestleMania, right after rain delays disrupted the live event. The show was well-received, and plans were immediately set in motion for a follow-up at SummerSlam. However, City explained that two weeks before production was set to begin, WWEs digital department was hit with budget cuts, effectively killing the project.
We had written SummerSlam After Dark, City revealed. Two weeks before we were going to begin production on it, they gutted the whole digital department. These [notes I drafted] are all the bits that were planned and submitted for SummerSlam After Dark, including a phone call with James Adomian as Jesse Ventura. I was gonna have Tugboat on the show. See what you missed out on? I was gonna have Shayna Baszler on. I was gonna have Asuka on the show and play my favorite game, Is Andr the Giant hot? We just bring up a photo and we discuss.
City described the scrapped plans with a mix of humor and disappointment, giving fans a glimpse of what could have been a unique, must-watch special.
Now thriving in AEW, City has carved out a multifaceted role for himself. He hosts the popular Hey! (EW) series on AEWs YouTube channel and co-hosts pre-show and post-show events with Renee Paquette. Additionally, City lends his creative touch backstage, even coining the term insult consultant to describe his knack for crafting sharp-witted promos.
I know how to hurt people. Not physically. A lot of times, people will come and say, I need a zinger. Or theyll say, Heres an insult. Can you finesse it? City explained. His backstage contributions were recently credited by AEW President Tony Khan and wrestler Mariah May for their work in the Timeless Toni Storm storyline.
While R.J. City has moved on from WWE, the canceled SummerSlam After Dark special stands as a what-if moment for fans who enjoyed his comedic take on wrestling entertainment. Could a future collaboration with WWE be back on the table someday? Only time will tell.
Would you have tuned in for SummerSlam After Dark? Share your thoughts and what youd want to see in a future R.J. City special in the comments below!
