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Each year WWE goes through a purging or sorts. They typically start sometime around spring, at which time they will release a certain number of Superstars and sometimes wait a month or so and make a few more cuts. The initial phase of releases each year, has been commonly dubbed as WWE's Black Friday.
In most instances, the company gets it right, in regards to letting people go. While no one likes to see anyone lose a job, it is a necessary evil aspect of practically any business. Essentially, it's simply a cost-cutting measure. It's also a means used to trim the fat, so to speak.
It's a time WWE creative officials answer the difficult question of who's serving a purpose and who's not. Everyone, including fans, know it’s coming, yet it still seems to be a shocking event each year.
There are also those cuts made that shocks everyone and that no one really saw coming. Case in point- Damien Sandow. That brings us to the purpose of this particular article today. As fans, we often wonder what happens after WWE for some of those who were released. Where did they go? Are they still in the business?
These are common questions we have of many former WWE Superstars. Today we will focus on 10 of the former WWE Superstars that were released in 2016.
#10 Hornswoggle
Hornswoggle is someone who, for all intents and purposes, defied every single odd placed before him. Being a person of his size and stature; a career in professional wrestling with the top company in the industry is not something that is necessarily planned in his favour.
Hornswoggle found a purpose for someone with his abilities and he went with it, giving it 100% each and every night out knowing it could be his last. The WeeLC match was probably the most memorable moment in his career and quite frankly, one of the best matches of 2014.
Along with several others, Hornswoggle was released in May. However, once he was released, his services were in high demand and his schedule began to fill up rather quickly. The only difference you'll notice about him now is the name. As WWE own the rights to the name Hornswoggle, he decided to simply shorten his ring name to Swoggle.
He has been booked by numerous indie promotions, but most recently, Swoggle made an appearance on Impact Wrestling's Total Nonstop Deletion.
#9 Alberto Del Rio
It's really unfortunate that Alberto Del Rio and the WWE powers that be could not ever get on the same page for this run. Once Paige came into the picture, things got even worse.
There was hope initially, once Del Rio defeated Cena and captured the United States title, but the decision to turn him heel immediately just added to the plethora of problems that would follow.
In early September, WWE officials would come to terms with Del Rio, regarding his desire to be released from the company. Since then, Del Rio has been booked pretty significantly, by promotions all over the world. He is also serving as the president of Combat Americas MMA.
As far as his relationship with Paige, the couple is apparently engaged and doing well, despite reports of a dispute several months back.
#8 Santino Marella
Santino shocked the world when he came from the crowd to make his WWE debut and defeat Umaga in 2007 to win the Intercontinental Championship. However, his run after that would not be quite as substantial. Santino has been used more for comedic purposes over the years, rather than the more serious role he portrayed when he debuted.
Nevertheless, Santino was always a fan favourite and could be extremely entertaining.
In 2014, Santino announced he was retiring from in-ring action, but was not officially released until May, along with the other group of cuts. Since leaving the company, Santino has put most of his focus into his business, Battle Arts Academy in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
The academy trains prospective clients in the arts of Judo, Muay Thai and professional wrestling, just to name a few.
#7 Bull Dempsey
Bull Dempsey started his NXT career with a lot of promise and potential. With his monstrous presence and independent experience, many thought he would do well, once he adapted to the WWE. Unfortunately, he was never able to get over the creative hump, if you will. In fact, many people just didn't take him seriously.
Bull was released in February. Since leaving NXT, Bull has been able to secure plenty of indie dates and seems to be doing quite well as one of the more commonly booked indie stars on the market. He's also changed his ring name to Bull James since WWE owns the rights to the Dempsey name.
Bull has made it clear that he wants to improve his skills, in hopes that WWE officials may consider giving him another shot in the future.
#6 ZZ Loupe
With the conclusion of Tough Enough, WWE officials really had no interest in signing ZZ. He was not very athletic and seemed to have trouble with the slightest of physical activities. However, the fans of the show and the WWE Universe embraced ZZ, making him by far, the favourite of the show.
ZZ made it all the way to the finals but did not come out as the winner. However, he was still given a developmental contract. This was due to the massive response from the viewers.
NXT coaches and trainers worked extensively with ZZ, hoping to get him in proper shape to where he could sustain the physical demands of even working a single match. Unfortunately, they felt ZZ did not improve quickly enough and lacked the discipline needed to drop the weight he so badly needed to lose.
ZZ was let go in July, at which time he returned home to his rural Southeast Louisiana town of Bayou Bluff. In October, ZZ started training with Wildkat Sports & Entertainment, which happens to be one of the Pelican States top indie promotions.
In fact, there have been some very positive reviews for ZZ since arriving at Wildkat and they say they're happy with his progress thus far.
#5 El Torito
Once Los Matadores was repackaged to The Shining Stars, there simply wasn't much of a need for El Torito. On a positive note, his "WeeLC" match against Hornswoggle was highly praised as one of the best WWE matches of 2014. But, there still wasn't a huge demand for El Torito, so he was part of the massive releases in May.
Since departing WWE, El Torito returned to Mexico and went back to AAA Wrestling, under the name Mascarita Dorada. He has done quite well since his return to Mexico, even winning the AAA Mascot Tag Team Championships with his brother Mascarita Sagrada.
One thing WWE fans may not realise is that El Torito has always been highly regarded and respected in Mexico as a tremendous wrestler.
#4 Adam Rose
If you recall, there was a falling out of sorts, between Rose and WWE officials towards the end of his tenure. He was suspended for 60 days for violating the company's Talent Wellness Policy, but according to Adam, the drugs that were found in his system were actually prescribed to him by a doctor.
From there, Adam had a personal issue with his wife that was also brought up and things just never recovered. Adam Rose was also released in May as well.
These days, Adam keeps a full schedule, accepting bookings all over the world as Aldo Rose, the non-PG alternate version of Adam Rose. As he explains, Aldo is a darker version of Adam and is capable of being a far more relentless performer, one that he says fits his personality more than his former WWE persona.
#3 Ryback
Ryback's demise is the product of what happens when two party's get so far apart that any potential outcome seems grim. Ryback was sent home in May, after a contractual dispute and then was a no-show for a show in which he was advertised to be at.
He then posted on social media that he made the decision to go home because of the ongoing battle between Ryback and WWE officials over what he claims was issues on a lack of equal pay for Superstars, as well as creative disagreements.
Ryback was a hot commodity on the indie scene when he left the WWE. He actually legally changed his name from Ryan to Ryback, so he wouldn't have to have a dispute with WWE over the name. Once he began accepting bookings, Ryback became notorious for his extremely high booking fees.
There are reports of Ryback charging as much as $5,500.00 per appearance, based on the credibility of the prospective promotion. Despite his outrageous demands, Ryback continues to be one of the most demanded stars on the indie scene.
#2 Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes was one of those guys everyone expected to be a lifer with the WWE. Unfortunately, things went south when WWE's creative staff refused to consider Cody’s request to end the Stardust gimmick. Cody says he pleaded with the company for over six months to try something different.
In fact, Cody says he presented multiple character and story ideas, which apparently fell on deaf ears. Eventually, after growing exceedingly frustrated, Cody would ask for his release on May 21st.
Once he parted ways with the WWE, Cody made a list of some of the world's top independent talent, suggesting that these were the names he wanted to face. Since then, he has indeed checked several names off of that list, having matches against Kurt Angle and several others from the list.
He has since had to drop the Rhodes name and perform simply as Cody. In the latest news regarding Cody, he appeared in a vignette for New Japan Pro Wrestling, conforming that he is the newest member of the Bullet Club, where he will be known as 'The American Nightmare' Cody.
He's expected to make his debut at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 11 in January 2017. Cody has also competed for Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling, where he is the current Nex*Gen Champion.
#1 Damien Sandow
Of all the releases made this year, Damien Sandow was the biggest shocker of them all. He too was released in May, much to the surprise of wrestling fans everywhere. Sandow had performed flawlessly in the angle with The Miz, where he worked the role of the stunt double and had become one of the most popular Superstars amongst fans worldwide.
It seemed that Sandow was nearing a potential big push, but WWE officials obviously had other plans.
As one can imagine, Sandow immediately became the hottest free agent on the market. That's why it came as no surprise when TNA signed Sandow to a contract in August. He is currently performing as Aron Rex and has already had some success, becoming the inaugural Impact Grand Champion.
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