5 WWE Superstars who disappeared without explanation before their release

A WWE Superstar's release is usually a big deal. When a top WWE Superstar parts ways with the promotion, or is let go, it becomes a major topic of discussion among wrestling fans on social media. Throughout WWE's storied history, the company has signed and released some of the biggest Superstars in the industry.

When one thinks about a WWE release that was heavily publicized, one name that immediately comes to mind is that of current AEW star, Jon Moxley. He knew by early 2019 that he was not going to renew his contract, and WWE went on to give fans a bunch of Shield reunions before his release. On the other hand, there have been several WWE releases over the years which came out of the blue, with the Superstar not being on WWE TV for a long time before the release.

In the following list, we will be taking a look at five WWE Superstars who disappeared from WWE TV without explanation, and were then released from the company.

#5 Lars Sullivan is let go by WWE following a controversial career

Lars Sullivan recently made news after it was revealed that he had been let go by WWE around a month ago. Sullivan's WWE career was marred with controversy, and his issues with anxiety only made things worse for him as a Superstar. After being on the sidelines for almost a year due to an injury, Lars Sullivan was brought back to WWE TV in late 2020, on the SmackDown brand.

Lars Sullivan's WWE career left a lot to be desired

Lars Sullivan got a monster push on the Blue brand, similar to the one that WWE gave him in mid-2019. He took out Superstars such as Jeff Hardy and Riddle, and later had a couple of sit-down interviews with WWE announcers, Michael Cole and Corey Graves. Sullivan explained in the interviews how he used to regularly get bullied when he was a kid, and how he worked on his physique at a young age and then got back at the ones who used to bully him. He was then taken off WWE TV without any explanation.

Sullivan recently opened up on his WWE release, and it seems like he is done with pro wrestling for good.

#4 Stacy Keibler is released after a months-long absence

Stacy Keibler was one of the most popular WWE Divas during her peak. She was a mainstay on WWE TV for years on end, following the WCW buyout. Stacy Keibler was dubbed Miss Hancock in WCW. She made her way to WWE during the Alliance angle in 2001. Later, Keibler kicked off a run with her then real-life boyfriend, Test. The duo was involved in a storyline with Scott Steiner on WWE RAW, which saw Keibler leaving Test for the former WCW World Champion.

Stacy Keibler was one of the most searched WWE Divas at the time

Keibler unfortunately never won a Women's title during her WWE stint. She had a memorable run with The Hurricane and Rosey during her final years in WWE. In late 2005, Stacy wrestled her final WWE match on a Velocity taping, and registered a loss against Jillian Hall.

Keibler then took some time off to appear on Dancing With The Stars, with her profile quietly being moved from SmackDown to RAW around this time. Stacy Keibler never wrestled another match though, and finally parted ways with WWE in July 2006.

#3 Rusev disappears from WWE TV following a Tag Team match on RAW, and later released

Rusev's WWE run came to a bitter end in mid-2020, as he was one of several Superstars who were released by the company due to budget issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rusev kicked off a feud with Bobby Lashley and Lana in late 2019. The angle was bashed by fans from the very beginning, with many fearing that Rusev would come out of it looking like a complete loser.

Rusev never won a World title in WWE

The WWE Universe's fear came to fruition, as the storyline progressed further. Rusev lost most of his matches against Bobby Lashley, and fans were unhappy over WWE destroying Rusev's character for the sake of a storyline that didn't even get a proper closure.

On an episode of RAW in February, Rusev and Humberto Carrillo lost a Tag Team match to Lashley and Angel Garza, following which Rusev disappeared from WWE TV. He would not appear again on WWE TV, and was finally let go by the company in April. Rusev is currently working in All Elite Wrestling, and goes by the moniker of Miro.

#2 Zack Ryder is released after being out of action for weeks on end

Zack Ryder will always be remembered as the one who utilized the power of social media to get over with the WWE fans. Years before Becky Lynch was effectively using social media to throw insults at her opponents and get over with the fans, Ryder was wowing the WWE Universe with his YouTube series, "Z! True Long Island Story". Ryder got a push soon after, and won the US title, but the run didn't last long and he was soon back to being a lower-card act.

Zack Ryder never got a main event run in WWE, even though fans were collectively behind him at one point

Zack Ryder's biggest achievement came at WrestleMania 32, where he won the Intercontinental title in a multi-man Ladder match. He lost the belt the next night on RAW, and was back to square one again. In March 2020, Ryder lost a singles match to Bobby Lashley, and was quietly taken off WWE TV. A little over a month later, he was released by the company, thus putting an end to his 15-year WWE run.

#1 Cain Velasquez's underwhelming WWE run comes to an end

Cain Velasquez made his debut in WWE at the FOX premiere of SmackDown in late 2019. He attacked Brock Lesnar immediately after Lesnar's WWE title win over Kofi Kingston, thus kicking off their feud on the road to WWE Crown Jewel 2019. At the event, Brock Lesnar retained his WWE title by defeating Velasquez, thus exacting revenge for the loss that he had suffered against Velasquez in UFC, around a decade ago.

Cain Velasquez wrestled mere two matches in WWE

Velasquez competed in a live event soon after. He teamed up with Humberto Carrillo in a winning effort against Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. This was it for Velasquez in regards to a wrestling career. He then disappeared from WWE for good, and it was revealed in April 2020 that WWE had released him.

When Velasquez had come to WWE, many believed that he would be a mainstay in the promotion for years, and his fans were looking forward to seeing him have a match at WrestleMania 36. Nothing of this sort happened though, and Cain Velasquez parted ways with the company after an incredibly underwhelming run.

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