Predicting the next move of 6 recently released WWE stars

WWE released more performers on 4th November 2021. WWE has done so twice this year, releasing several stars in April and June.

Names like Bray Wyatt and Andrade were also let go separately from the rounds of mass releases. Main-roster stars typically have 90-day non-compete clauses in their contracts. For NXT performers, it's 30 days.

Wyatt and Braun Strowman are yet to join one of the bigger promotions. Wyatt's non-compete clause expired on October 31st, meaning he could show up in IMPACT or AEW any day.

With only two months to go for 2022, the free-agent market is filled with talent. When the year changes, it'll get even more names looking for work. Here are the predicted moves for six WWE stars released on November 4th.

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#6. Ember Moon's injury-plagued WWE career will set her up for a run in AEW

AEW's women's division still needs big names. Ember Moon could've been a major player in WWE, but injuries and a lack of a push derailed her chances.

Moon was a star in NXT and had the potential to maintain that on RAW or SmackDown. She challenged Bayley for the SmackDown Women's Championship at SummerSlam in 2019. Unfortunately, she suffered an injury that kept her out of action for almost a year.

Moon suffered another major injury before returning to NXT. She teamed up with Shotzi Blackheart and briefly held the NXT Women's Tag Team titles. Blackheart was then promoted to SmackDown while they were still a team. Moon took the news of her release in stride.

During one of her last appearances in NXT, she stated that something needed to change. Unfortunately, WWE made that decision for her. Now she'll be able to dictate the next move of her career.

Moon would be perfect for AEW. She has the big-league experience and is a popular name. Ruby Soho is an example of someone released by WWE that has done well in AEW. Moon has more potential as a champion, so a move to AEW could certainly be in her future.

#5. After some time in both IMPACT and WWE, Franky Monet will go to AEW

Franky Monet didn't make it to the main roster in WWE but was positioned as a top star in NXT. With the shift to NXT 2.0, the emphasis has also been put on younger men and women as opposed to stars of all ages.

Monet is 38 but is one of the best examples of understanding character. She was hilarious and obnoxious in IMPACT. Monet was working on getting her persona into the same realm in NXT after forming a partnership with Robert Stone. Her last match before her release was a roll-up loss to Cora Jade a few weeks ago.

WWE has similar character traits for most of its women. Some stars (Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Zelina Vega) think they are better than everyone. They're also used to be those who were more interested in their looks (Eva Marie, Mandy Rose), but only Carmella remains on the main roster.

This isn't to say that all of the female performers in WWE fall into one of those two categories. It's just that very few women in WWE have a defined character that is unique to itself. Alexa Bliss and Mei Ying come to mind as two distinct characters in WWE and NXT respectively.

Monet might've had shades of the type of persona that thinks she is better than others. However, she was able to brilliantly blend humor and serious moments with that character. Now that she has been released from WWE, her next move could be to another new home.

As Taya Valkyrie, Monet was one of the most prominent Knockouts Champions in IMPACT history. She worked as both a heel and a face and took part in great matches/angles with Rosemary, Jordynne Grace, Tessa Blanchard, and others.

Since AEW still needs help in its women's division, Monet will join Tony Khan's company. Going back to IMPACT would be a lateral move, and she has a lot of fresh match-ups if she goes to AEW.

#4. Karrion Kross & #3 Scarlett Bourdeaux will go to AEW together after working together in WWE

WWE made a big play to sign Kross two years ago. Kross chose WWE over AEW and was made a big deal in NXT. He was a two-time NXT Champion and only really lost one singles match in his time in NXT. He dropped his title to Samoa Joe so that he could be an important part of RAW.

Kross made a confusing debut on RAW after losing to Jeff Hardy. He would get his win back and go on an impressive run of beating established WWE stars. WWE invested in using him on the main roster as he was given a new look to stand out.

That look was then altered following the 2021 WWE Draft. WWE allegedly wanted him to be a "cool, calm psychopath" in a suit. Kross has made that character work before in IMPACT and NXT, so it made sense to do it again.

Kross might not have fit the star mold of the old NXT, but he would have been perfect for NXT 2.0 or the main roster. Instead, he now finds himself looking for work outside of WWE.

He could find work once his non-compete clause expires, but he might choose to get married and take some time off instead. Kross and Scarlett announced their engagement in September.

IMPACT won't be an option for Kross due to how his tenure ended with the company. He wanted to be released but was only let go after more than a year of asking for his release.

Because of that, Kross could go one of two ways. He would instantly be a huge star for MLW as that promotion gains steam in its rebranding. Kross would fit well into the lore behind Azteca Underground in MLW. Scarlett could also join him. She was vital to his presentation in NXT but never joined him on RAW.

If they want to remain a huge deal, then Kross and Scarlett will both go to AEW. His character might be a little toned down, but he could still tangle with Cody Rhodes and the other faces in AEW

#2. After WWE, IMPACT seems like the best home for Nia Jax

WWE loves to push second or third-generation stars. It has done that with Charlotte Flair, Roman Reigns, the Rock, The Usos, and Bray Wyatt while he was with WWE.

Jax enjoyed the same on both NXT and RAW. A former RAW Women's Champion, Jax wasn't pushed towards another individual title run for a couple of years. Instead, she was the focal point of the Women's tag division for almost a year alongside Shayna Baszler.

The team finally went their separate ways after Baszler stomped on Jax's elbow. It was a way to write Jax off of TV for a bit. However, that was Jax's last appearance for the company as she was released on November 4th.

Jax is different than the rest of the women released by WWE in 2021. She is much bigger and is a different type of performer. She relies on her size and strength to bully almost every opponent. Jax also isn't known as the most technical of wrestlers.

While Jax was a unique star, she would be better suited for IMPACT. AEW is more known for in-ring talent as opposed to character work. Almost all of the stars in AEW are solid in-ring workers.

For that reason, Jax should go to IMPACT. She could resume being a monster heel while tangling with Jordynne Grace, Rosemary, Havok, and Chelsea Green. Jax also has a brief history with current Knockouts Champion Mickie James.

IMPACT has picked up a lot of previously released WWE stars like James, Green, Brian Myers, Matt Cardona, Brandi Lauren, Deonna Purrazzo, and Heath. They also signed Rich Swann, Steve Maclin, Tenille, and the IInspiration. IMPACT seems like a better fit for Jax.

#1. Keith Lee should have been huge in WWE but will be in AEW

WWE initially treated Keith Lee like a big deal. He was the last person eliminated by Roman Reigns at Survivor Series in 2019. Lee also had a huge moment in the 2020 Royal Rumble match with Brock Lesnar.

The Limitless One is the only person to simultaneously hold both the NXT and NXT North American Championships. In his first main-roster PPV match, he beat Randy Orton.

Things took a turn for the worse in 2021 as Lee had a difficult battle with COVID. He returned in August but went through a brief repackaging. WWE wanted to use the nickname "Bearcat" for Lee, but it seemed forced.

After one match as Keith "Bearcat" Lee, the former NXT Champion was released among a wave of Superstars. WWE has struggled to consistently book and maintain main-event stars.

The likes of Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, and Seth Rollins are always in the main event scene. A roster needs more than four people in the main event to make things new and fresh.

Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman were main-eventers, but both runs were unceremoniously ended. Drew McIntyre joined the main-event level in WWE last year while Big E is doing it in 2021. More than one person a year should ascend to main-event status.

For things to be maintained, someone like Lee or Kross would have made sense as one of the next names to join the main event scene in WWE.

Both men are big, physical, and unique. With the release of both men, WWE finds itself in the usual spot of looking for viable challengers for its major titles. Lee is too good for IMPACT and will join AEW.

AEW may not book its monster heels the best as Brian Cage, Lance Archer, Wardlow, and Powerhouse Hobbs have all lost their biggest matches. Lee is a different animal and bigger than most of those men. He'll make WWE regret releasing him by breaking out in AEW.