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The world of professional wrestling is a very different place than what it was a couple of years ago. While WWE is still the largest and most popular wrestling promotion across the globe, they no longer have the monopoly in the business, thanks to the arrival of All Elite Wrestling and the re-emergence of IMPACT Wrestling with some amazing shows.
2020 has seen WWE release several of its Superstars due to multiple reasons. No one can forget the mass release of dozens of Superstars in April as cost-cutting measures. While that was surely a hard time, it did make the world of professional wrestling more interesting. Several of those released WWE Superstars have since joined the likes of AEW, IMPACT Wrestling, NJPW, or other promotions. One can't stop but wonder whether WWE regrets letting those talents go.
Interestingly, WWE might face a similar situation once again as multiple of its top Superstars' contracts are set to expire in 2021. Ideally, WWE would not want any of them to leave and join a rival promotion but we've seen some shocking things in this business this year. Let's take a look at five WWE Superstars whose contracts reportedly expires in 2021.
#5 Jerry 'The King' Lawler
WWE Hall of Famer and occasional commentator of Monday Night RAW, Jerry 'The King' Lawler has won several championships across multiple wrestling promotions all over the world. Jerry Lawler himself revealed in 2019 that he re-signed with WWE for a two-year deal in January.
"My contract is up every year on January 10. On the 8th, I hadn’t heard a word. I sent a text to Kevin Dunn and said, ‘My contract is up the day after tomorrow. I just want to know where we stood.’ The very next day, I got a new contract in the mail. Not only one year, but a two-year deal. With a raise!”
There has been no update yet on whether the two parties have come to an agreement on renewing Lawler's contract.
#4 Daniel Bryan
One of the best in-ring workers of the current era, Daniel Bryan has seen many ups and downs throughout his WWE career. From main-eventing WrestleMania XXX to being forced to retire from in-ring competition to defying all odds and returning again, his WWE journey has been aspiring.
Currently part of the Friday Night SmackDown roster, Daniel Bryan has been working towards establishing new stars for WWE. He recently confirmed on Talking Smack that his current run will be his last as a full-time Superstar.
"As I'm doing this last run, my thing isn't, 'I gotta prove to everybody that I'm the best.' When I'm out there, I'm proving things to myself and I want things better for the younger talent."
According to Fightful, Daniel Bryan's WWE contract will be expiring in September 2021. Daniel Bryan has two kids with former WWE Divas Champion Brie Bella and would want to give more time to his family. In that case, it would be interesting to see whether WWE offers him a part-time contract with fewer working dates or not.
Daniel Bryan will reportedly be challenging the Universal Champion Roman Reigns for his title soon, possibly at WWE Royal Rumble 2021.
#3 Sami Zayn
Former NXT Champion and the current Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn signed with WWE in 2013 after getting massive success in other promotions like Ring of Honor as El Generico. While he was one of the biggest stars of NXT, his main roster career hasn't been that impressive.
It was earlier this year at WWE Elimination Chamber 2020 when Sami Zayn won his first championship on the main roster when he defeated Braun Strowman in a three-on-one handicap match to win the Intercontinental title. He then went on a hiatus due to COVID-19 and was stripped of the title, only to return and reclaim the IC title at WWE Clash of Champions 2019.
In 2019, Sami Zayn confirmed his contract status with WWE in an interview with TVA Sports, revealing that he signed a three-year contract with WWE in the summer of 2018. His contract was extended due to his injury and will reportedly expire in the fall of 2021. In case Sami Zayn doesn't re-sign with WWE, other promotions like AEW and IMPACT Wrestling would love to have him be a part of their roster.
Recently, Sami Zayn lost his 'Champion vs. Champion' match at WWE Survivor Series 2020 against United States Champion Bobby Lashley. He is currently in a feud with Big E on SmackDown.
#2 The Big Show
The Big Show is one of those top Superstars who will surely go into the WWE Hall of Fame very soon. A former two-time WWE/F Champion and two-time World Heavyweight Champion in the company, Big Show has had a storied career with the company.
During his appearance on Stone Cold Steve Austin's podcast, the Big Show revealed that he signed a three-year contract with WWE in 2018. As per that, his contract is set to expire in the spring of 2021.
"I spent some time with the big man himself. We talked. Hunter and I talked because we were concerned about my hip. We were concerned about a lot of things. And they put together a nice three-year deal for me, so I'm there another three years. I can do a lot more work with things that I'm passionate about, Special Olympics and being a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics. I get a chance to have a bit more free time now. I'm not in the trenches for five days a week like I was for 20 years at every house show and TV. I was probably on TV too much as a giant when I should have been an attraction. Instead, I was in there working all the time." (h/t WrestlingInc)
The Big Show has been appearing on WWE TV on Monday Night RAW as a part-time Superstar, helping put young talents over. One of his major appearances this year was in a match after WrestleMania 36 where he challenged the newly-crowned WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, which he lost.
#1 Ronda Rousey
UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey shook the world when she made her WWE debut at Royal Rumble 2018. She went on to make her in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34, impressing fans and critiques. Soon, she won the RAW Women's Championship from Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam 2018. She held the title all the way till WrestleMania 35, where she dropped it to Becky Lynch in the main event of the pay-per-view. That was also her last appearance for WWE to date.
Speaking on the Wild Ride! w/ Steve-O podcast, Ronda Rousey made it clear that she won't be coming back for a full-time run again.
“No, I’m never gonna be full-time again over two-hundred days a year on the road like that ever again because it’s just, it was I needed to do it in order to learn and get immersed into it and really understand what was going on, but it’s just not the lifestyle for me.” [H/T Wrestling News Co]
Ronda Rousey's WWE contract is set to expire on April 10, 2021, a few days after WrestleMania 37. If recent reports are to be believed, Vince McMahon is expecting her to return for the pay-per-view and possibly face Becky Lynch. Fans have also speculated her to be one of the surprise entrants for the 2021 women's Royal Rumble match.
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