Late Change Sees WWE Scrap Angle From SmackDown — Report

WWE reportedly scrapped a planned angle from last week’s SmackDown.

The February 6 broadcast of SmackDown in Charlotte, North Carolina, featured a backstage segment involving WWE United States Champion Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, and The Miz. The A-Lister squared off against Melo in a non-title match later in the show.

According to WrestleVotes Radio (via Fightful Select), WWE had originally planned for The Miz to attack Ilja Dragunov to set up a future singles match but decided not to move forward with the creative pitch.

“WrestleVotes Radio reports that a planned angle where The Miz would attack Ilja Dragunov was removed from Smackdown. The angle made it into some very late drafts of the show, but didn’t end up happening. This would have eventually led to a match between the two down the line.”

As of this writing, it is unconfirmed whether the angle was simply delayed or completely canceled. The Miz previously faced Ilja Dragunov in a singles match on SmackDown, with The Czar earning the win on the January 30, 2026, episode of the blue brand.

Ilja Dragunov has been chasing the United States Championship since dropping the title to Carmelo Hayes on the December 19 SmackDown taping, which aired on tape delay the day after Christmas.

WrestleZone provides live coverage of WWE SmackDown on Fridays.

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