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WWE made a bold decision earlier this year of letting go of a raft of Superstars. Fans and several in the pro wrestling industry criticised the move, as many felt that WWE's financial clout should have not resulted in such a move, especially during a global pandemic.
But, a lot of these released WWE Superstars found a new home, joining either IMPACT Wrestling or AEW, or independent promotions.
But, a few of those that were released are still without a promotion currently. Here, we take a look at 7 released WWE Superstars who are still free agents and where they could go next:
#7 Erick Rowan
Erick Rowan, who was a part of the Wyatt Family and later the Bludgeon Brothers in WWE, was let go by the company earlier this year, bringing an end to his nine-year run with the company. Unlike his former Bludgeon Brother, Harper, Rowan has yet to find a new promotion to wrestle in.
Harper, who goes by the ring name Brodie Lee in AEW, has already found some success in the company and has won the AEW TNT Championship already. And in a recent interview, he revealed that he would like to see Rowan in AEW:
"I'm great friends with Erick Rowan. I know he just had a pretty, pretty sweet acting gig coming off the release. I haven't discussed what his professional wrestling plans are. I think he's a man who's tailor-made for Japan. He's a terrifying, scary monster. It's all legit. I would never want to be caught in an alley with that man. As for AEW, again, that's above my pay rate, my pay grade, but if they came to me and said, 'do you want Erick Rowan here,' I could never say no. I love him. He's a brother. We do good business together."
In an interview with Sportskeeda's Stephanie Chase, Rowan revealed that he is currently taking a break and being home with his family following his WWE release.
He said that he doesn't want to sign a contract that will lock him down "and not be able to do other things". So, we could potentially see him have a part-time deal with a company like AEW, while also wrestling in Japan, and also having acting roles.
#6 Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez started his WWE career with a bang, reigniting an old feud with Brock Lesnar. Velasquez and Lesnar had fought in the UFC, and WWE used that story to recreate an angle, this time with the help of Rey Mysterio.
But, Velasquez's WWE career was short-lived, as he was released after just one match in WWE, which came against The Beast. The former UFC star's friend and MMA legend Daniel Cormier, spoke about Velasquez's WWE stint:
"It makes me sad for Cain, I know how much he enjoys wrestling. I know that he’s going to land on his feet. There is no person in the world I am more confident that will come out of whatever situation in a positive light than Cain Velasquez.”
Before Velasquez signed with WWE last year, AEW's Cody Rhodes expressed his desire to sign the UFC star, having wrestled alongside him in Mexico earlier. Rhodes had said he was "blown away" by Velasquez's in-ring ability and that he's "something very special".
With Cody and Velasquez having had an actual working relationship, we could potentially see the former UFC star join AEW, as the top of the card in the company needs a few more big men.
#5 Sarah Logan
Sarah Logan was let go by WWE, while the two other Riott Squad members, Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan, stayed on with the company. After her release from the company, Logan revealed that she would be stepping away from the pro wrestling industry.
And a few days after that announcement, she revealed that she was pregnant. After her announcement, Logan said that she won't be retiring from the ring and that she will return to the ring one day, perhaps even in WWE.
With her pregnancy, it will probably mean that we won't see Sarah Logan in a pro wrestling ring for a few years.
#4 Maria Kanellis
Maria Kanellis, like Sarah Logan, was also released by WWE, along with her real life husband, Mike, who is all set to face NWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis on September 15. Maria, though, hasn't been signed up with any pro wrestling company.
She could possibly join her husband if he returns to IMPACT Wrestling, where both of them have previously wrestled.
#3 Curtis Axel
Curtis Axel was one of many long-term WWE Superstars who was released by the company earlier this year. Axel, the song of the legendary Curt Hennig, joined WWE in 2007 and rose up through the ranks to make it to the main roster.
While Axel was released, his B-Team partner Bo Dallas has remained with the company. Heath Slater, who was also released earlier this year and is now part of IMPACT Wrestling, recently revealed that he has spoken to Axel about joining the promotion:
“I would like to see him come over to IMPACT. I've talked to him, but he is doing his thing right now and enjoying life. I don't blame him."
With several released Superstars in IMPACT, we could very well see Axel too join the company in the near future.
#2 Aiden English
Aiden English had a good run as Rusev's mouthpiece in WWE, and then transitioned into a commentary role following the end of Rusev Day. English has yet to join a new promotion.
He recently revealed in an interview with WrestlingInc that he is ready to do anything, be it commentary or wrestling. In the same interview, he also said that he has spoken to Rusev about reforming and going on a "'Rusev Day independent world tour". This was before Rusev joined AEW.
With the Bulgarian Brute now in AEW, could we potentially see English join forces with the man now known as Miro, as a mouthpiece once again? That could be a possibility since Rusev Day was a big hit with the fans in WWE.
#1 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle's release by WWE earlier this year was quite a surprise, considering how well respected he is, and how he could have had an influential role backstage. Following his release, Angle was, in fact, offered a new role with WWE, as a manager of Matt Riddle.
But the WWE Hall of Famer revealed that he rejected the role for "different reasons".
"WWE has offered me a job to manage him. Unfortunately, I turned it down due to a few different reasons, but I would have loved to manage him. It just wasn't the right time."
There were other reports that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon did not want Angle to join AEW, which is why they offered him the role.
Angle was asked about joining AEW in a recent interview with WrestlingInc, but he said that he is not keen to join the company at the moment. He is currently working on his supplement company which is keeping him busy. He said that he is happy being where he is.
He was complimentary of WWE and Vince McMahon and how they treated him when he returned to the company. Angle doesn't have any intentions of getting back to pro wrestling, and he has ruled out a return to in-ring action. WWE could be the only destination if he decides to get back into the pro wrestling world again.
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