As noted, WWE is still figuring out the best way to re-brand Elias after the vignettes that aired this past August. WrestleVotes noted on Twitter that, at one point, there was a plan to re-debut him with bright colored gear but Vince McMahon nixed that idea because the gear combined with his beard made him look too much like “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
In an update, Ringside News is reporting that Elias was seen backstage a few weeks ago with no beard and cropped hair. It’s still unclear what the creative direction is for his return and there is no word on a return date but it looks like he will be ditching the guitar part of his act.
During the vignettes that aired a few months ago, it was made clear that he would start to focus more on his in-ring work rather than the music gimmick. Before he was pulled off TV, Elias and Jaxson Ryker split up and feuded against each other. Ryker has since been released.
