Reigning WWE Intercontinental champion wasn't part of WWE Raw this week despite an earlier report from PWInsider that he would be finally making a return and possibly in time for WWE SummerSlam.

Ryback has been out of commission since WWE Battleground due to a staph infection. But with the layoff, it is believed that the infection may have likely subsided, allowing the champ to be on hand when he defends his title at the WWE pay-per-view scheduled for August 23, 2015, Sunday.

There was strong indication that Ryback would be making a return. In the last edition of WWE Smackdown, the Big Show did have a segment mocking Ryback. It was also at the same show where the world's largest athlete plugged in a promo for the Triple Threat match at WWE SummerSlam involving him, Ryback and the Miz.

Ryback was reportedly at the Xfinity Center in Everett, Washington prior to WWE Raw but as everyone perhaps knows by now, the champion never showed up.

 All is not lost however and Ryback could make an appearance on WWE Smackdown before the PPV which will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Ryback won the title at the WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, defeating five other WWE stars. The Intercontinental Title was vacant at that time after previous champion, Daniel Bryan, was forced to vacate the IC title due to a concussion injury. His status remains unknown for now.

Ryback has been on a roll as of late and the untimely injury becomes a stumbling block to his rise in the WWE. For now it remains if the Feed Me More machine will be at the pay-per-view though all that could be cleared up as early as WWE Smackdown this coming Thursday to find out the real score on whether the Triple Threat match for the IC title will indeed take place as planned on Sunday.