Last week’s episode of WWE SmackDown featured one of the company’s strangest story developments in recent memory. Now, a new report has revealed who produced the heavily discussed “Death of the Gingerbread Man” segment involving Sami Zayn and Trick Williams.
According to Fightful Select, the bizarre segment — which ended with WWE airing an “In Memoriam” graphic for the Gingerbread Man mascot — was produced by WWE Hall of Famer Molly Holly.
The reveal comes as reports continue to surface about mixed reactions backstage regarding the unusual storyline. Safe to say, this feud has crumbled into something fans weren’t expecting.
Molly Holly produced WWE’s ‘death of the Gingerbread Man’ segment
Fightful Select reported that Molly Holly was officially listed internally as the producer for the segment on the May 1 episode of SmackDown. The angle stemmed from weeks of Trick Williams and Lil Yachty mocking Sami Zayn. The duo referred to the former US Champion as the “Gingerbread Man.”
The rivalry escalated when Zayn snapped on SmackDown. He destroyed a mascot dressed in a gingerbread costume before later “dismembering” a mannequin version backstage.
In one of the segment’s more surreal moments, Williams threw up the “X” sign for medical assistance. Afterward, viewers got to know that the Gingerbread Man “didn’t make it.”
WWE doubled down on the storyline later in the show. They aired a memorial graphic and announced a funeral segment for the May 8 edition of SmackDown ahead of Backlash weekend.
Despite the television focus, the angle reportedly faced notable pushback behind the scenes. According to WrestleVotes Radio via Fightful Select, several WWE creative members viewed the storyline as “hokey and archaic.” Concerns surfaced that it weakened the intensity of the United States Championship feud between Williams and Zayn.
The story has already divided audiences, particularly after Zayn replaced Carmelo Hayes in the title picture earlier this year. While fans have increasingly booed Zayn in recent weeks, the former champion reportedly does not believe he has fully turned heel.
Zayn and Williams clash at WWE Backlash on May 9. Whether the Gingerbread Man saga becomes a forgotten footnote or an everlasting piece of WWE lore may depend on what happens once the feud finally reaches its breaking point in the ring.
Read More: The New Day’s WWE Contracts Were Set To Run Until 2030 — REPORT
