8 WWE Superstars who were released in 2019

There's no denying that WWE is still the dream destination for most independent wrestlers, even with the advent of AEW and the increasing population of New Japan Pro Wrestling, and WWE have certainly wasted no time in bringing in new faces.

WWE's roster has continued to expand in 2019 with their most recent talent signings including Santana Garrett and Austin Theory Not to mention that ACH, Shane Strickland, Kushida, Trevor Lee, Rachel Ellering, Jonah Rock, Karen Q, and Humberto Garza are amongst names that have also joined WWE this year.

But as is always inevitable when it comes to bringing a lot of new people in, Superstars are going to go the other way. Even with RAW, SmackDown, NXT, NXT UK and 205 LIVE, there isn't room for everyone!

So, let's take a look at who left WWE in 2019, why they left and where they ended up!

#8 Dean Ambrose

We'll start with the highest-profile name to leave the company this year so far, Dean Ambrose, who left on April 30th, 2019.

Ambrose was a former WWE world champion, a member of one of WWE's biggest and most successful stable The Shield and generally well-liked and considered one of the company's top stars.

This was why it came as a surprise when WWE announced that Ambrose would not be resigning a new contract after his existing one had expired and would, therefore, be leaving the company.

It was reported that WWE were told that Ambrose just needed a break after returning from injury so his wishes were respected and they even threw on a WWE Network Special based on his departure from the company.

Shortly afterward, however, Ambrose shocked the world when he turned up at AEW's show 'Double or Nothing' and attacked Kenny Omega after the latter's match that night. Ambrose also joined New Japan Pro Wrestling and had an impressive showing at the G1 Climax.

#7 TJP

TJP was supposed to achieve big things in WWE after winning the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic tournament, but for whatever reason things didn't come together for him following his big tournament win.

He was eventually released on February 22nd, 2019 after being used sparingly on 205 Live. His last match was against Humberto Carillo just three days before his release, and he was also used in the Worlds Collide tournament but otherwise, his 2019 in WWE was uneventful.

But, now TJP has returned to Impact Wrestling where he rose to fame as the masked character Suicide and has appeared for New Japan Pro Wrestling taking part in the Super J Cup and losing to the eventual winner El Phantasmo.

Sportskeeda's very own Gary Cassidy managed to catch up with TJP following his release from WWE and he spoke about his frustrations, Vince McMahon and representing the Philippines. You can check out that interview here

#6 Hideo Itami

Hideo Itami, or KENTA, was a huge signing for NXT in its earlier days and many thought it wouldn't be long until he was a top star in the company. It certainly seemed like that was the plan with the way he was introduced and his early booking.

However, several injuries derailed Itami's push completely and he ended up floundering in NXT whilst everyone else around him had been called up to the main roster and was finding success.

Eventually, Itami was moved to 205 Live where he had a series of great matches before he requested his release and was given it on February 22nd, 2019.

Many assumed that Itami was going to go back to Pro Wrestling NOAH where he made his name as Kenta on the independent circuit, but he surprised everyone by joining New Japan Pro Wrestling.

He had a great showing in the G1 Climax, but his actions afterward where he joined the Bullet Club and turned on his friend Shibata were more memorable. He has since gone on to beat Ishii for the Never Openweight Title at Royal Quest.

#5 Stacey Ervin Jr

Promising high flyer Stacey Ervin Jr left WWE this year

Stacey Ervin Jr was one of NXT's more promising talents, a 25-year-old veteran gymnast who was receiving rave reviews from NXT professionals, performance centre personnel and just about everyone in WWE.

Despite having no wrestling experience it didn't take long for Ervin Jr to make his NXT television debut, however, his career would be cut short as he would pick up concussion problems that would force him to quit WWE and retire from professional wrestling altogether.

Although he never really got the chance to show what he could do, it's clear this was a big loss for WWE as a whole, and particularly it's developmental side who would've had him to point at as someone they've trained to be a wrestler.

Stacey Ervin Jr now works to help promote good physical and mental wellness and has released his own home-fit workout guide. Although I doubt you'll be hitting Moonsaults like he did.

#4 Dustin Rhodes (Goldust)

Dustin Rhodes Vs. Cody Rhodes at AEW Double or Nothing

Goldust's release from the company was only a matter of time really, given how little he was being used by WWE and how looming his brother, Cody Rhodes' company AEW was around the corner.

After a long sequence of video teases, Dustin Rhodes was announced as Cody Rhodes' opponent for Double or Nothing and shortly afterwards, he was added to the alumni section of the WWE website.

Since then Dustin Rhodes was announced as a full-time member of the AEW roster and has teamed with his brother Cody against the Young Bucks in another AEW show, Fight for the Fallen.

Given that he'd only wrestled 12 times in WWE this year his move to 2019 is a good thing for fans of Dustin Rhodes, and, despite his lengthy WWE career, not a great loss for WWE. So mostly a positive thing all-round!

#3 Tye Dillinger

Tye Dillinger in WWE was always someone that fans used to point to and ask 'he's really over with his gimmick, but they don't use him, how come?' so it's no surprise at all that he chose to leave WWE and venture elsewhere.

There's certainly no denying that Dillinger had gotten over with the WWE Universe thanks to his Perfect 10 gimmick, even leading to him getting a huge pop when he came out at number 10 in the Royal Rumble once.

But since leaving WWE Dillinger, now known as Shawn Spears, has received a much bigger spotlight in AEW and recently wrestled against Cody Rhodes with Tully Blanchard in his corner.

It remains to be seen if Dillinger can reach the heights that many thought he should've been reaching in WWE, but it seems that he does have the backing of AEW management and will be given a fair shot to do so!

#2 Rhyno

Rhyno's latest spell with WWE was certainly a weird one - he became the first ever SmackDown Live Tag-Team Champions alongside Heath Slater and then, well, and then he lost almost every match he was in.

His last WWE appearance was the Battle Royale at WrestleMania and he wasn't seen after that, leading to many people wondering what had happened to the ECW original and why he wasn't being used.

Around that time he was quietly moved to the alumni section and then appeared for Impact Wrestling in August a few months later. He has since been with Impact Wrestling and most recently took part in a eight-man tag with fellow ECW Original Tommy Dreamer, Rob Van Dam and Tessa Blanchard.

Like Dustin Rhodes, Rhyno isn't the greatest loss to WWE given the amount of talent they have waiting for an opportunity, so it's much better he's at Impact where he can be given things to do and help talent like Tessa Blanchard get over!

#1 Kacy Catanzaro

Another promising star leaves WWE too soon

Just like Stacey Ervin Jr, Kacy Catanzaro is sadly another tragic case of one of NXT's most promising Superstars having to quit WWE and retire from wrestling in general due to injuries forcing her to stop.

Like Ervin Jr, Catanzaro wasn't a wrestler when she was signed, having been the first women to qualify for the finals of American Ninja Warrior. She was touted as being extremely gifted in the wrestling ring, was picking up the ropes extremely quickly and was destined for big things.

However this week the news broke that Catanzaro had handed in her resignation on the basis that he had picked up a spinal injury and cannot continue to wrestle anymore. This hasn't been confirmed by Catanzaro herself, or WWE, but it was broken by Casey Michael of Squared Circle Sirens whose track record for scoops is exemplary.

It's unclear what Catanzaro will be doing next!