Unexpected debuts are as pivotal as five-star spectacles for a wrestling promotion to thrive. To think that WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment went 14 years without a five-star match, between 1997 and 2011, a timeframe that encompasses the critically-acclaimed Attitude Era tells you that unexpected debuts and other big moments are more important than the five-star matches.
Given the fact that WWE now has more main-event stars than it’s ever had, you may think that they are incapable of producing huge unexpected debuts at least until the turn of the decade. However, there are wrestlers on the indies and contracted to ROH Wrestling, NJPW and Impact Wrestling who will likely have a significant amount of impact should WWE decide to bring them on board. Plus, the influx of big names such as The Undisputed Era, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre and even the returning Jeff Hardy now means that quite a few wrestlers will soon be deemed surplus to requirement.
The following article looks at eight stars whom we expect the least to sign on the dotted lines for WWE at this juncture and seven WWE wrestlers whose departure is already in the pipeline. Some of whom we expect to be released surely are more talented than the recent signings and potential signings. However, unfortunately, pro wrestling isn’t quite convivial to the wrestlers, is it?
If you think there will be more releases in the coming months, you can mention their names as comments either on the website or on any of TheSportster’s social media handles.
15 Sign: Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle has maintained that his recreational habits have kept WWE from opening discussions with him. In a recent interview with Vice Sports, however, the Evolve Champion said, “If the money was right with [WWE] and they said you have to quit smoking, I’d quit smoking.” Even though he hasn’t racked up numerous world titles, he’s considered one of the best indie talents out there.
He’d surely be a valuable addition to NXT and, with Triple H said to be one of his biggest admirers, everything is set in stone for him to become an NXT wrestler in the future.
However, what stands in the way is his already making six figures on the indies. Should WWE be willing to hand him a contract that will see him make more than what he already makes touring the world, we'll see him make a surprise appearance at one of the NXT TakeOvers.
14 Release: Dolph Ziggler
Everybody believed that WWE's making Dolph Ziggler relinquish his United States Championship, imitate other wrestlers and come out to no theme music was the start of a storyline that sees him become a huge sensation again. WWE only ended up swerving both the wrestler and WWE Universe, however, as he looks absolutely directionless at this moment. The last time something like this happened to someone at WWE, Emma ended up being released. Credible wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer even stated in a Wrestling Observer Newsletter edition that Vince McMahon was looking at pushing Drew McIntyre and not The Showoff when they eventually split. Given his talent and starpower, though, ROH Wrestling, Impact Wrestling and NJPW won't mind making him one of their highest paid contractual employees should he become available.
13 Sign: Garza Jr.
Since leaving Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide in 2017, Garza Jr. has worked predominantly in the United States, specifically for Impact Wrestling. Although he hasn’t won any title with both Impact Wrestling and AAA, the 25-year-old Mexico-born wrestler’s talent is quite evident from his matches against Eli Drake, LAX and Crazzy Steve.
Recent rumors suggest that his impressive performances have caught the attention of WWE, who are now looking to sign him now that his one-year contract with Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC has expired.
Veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer and the local press in Mexico have both claimed that he’s already had his medical with WWE, with only the official announcement from Triple H and co. pending. He won’t be coming alone though, for he’ll be bringing with him his older cousin Laredo Kid.
12 Release: Titus Worldwide
WWE now has more main-event attractions than it’s done in a long time. More than half the roster can main event a PPV so, inevitably, Vince McMahon will be forced to send the deadwood packing in the coming weeks. While Titus Worldwide are an entertaining bunch, paying three wrestlers for the modicum of entertainment value they offer isn’t what you expect a smart businessman like The Evil Genius to do. Perhaps, he’ll keep Apollo Crews around to see if he can get over with the crowd; however, with Bobby Lashley, who’s more popular and legitimate than him on the Raw roster now, his days with the company is numbered as well.
Additionally, with three of The Four Horsewomen themselves now relegated to the second tier with the arrival of Ronda Rousey and Asuka, Dana Brooke will surely find hanging on to her job difficult as well. Akira Tozawa, on the other hand, will survive thanks to his doing a program with Hideo Itami in 205 Live.
11 Sign: Eli Drake
Eli Drake has been a model professional, talking about Impact Wrestling in as positive a tone as he could and encouraging the fans to watch the show and buy the PPVs at every opportunity he gets. However, much like most other pro wrestlers on the planet, he may have to call time on his Impact Wrestling career in the event that a company of WWE’s size come calling. WWE has been on a signing spree in the recent times, and it’s likely that Triple H and co. are closely monitoring the former Impact World Champion, who hasn’t just improved in the ring but has also been crazy good on the microphone of late.
With his revealing that his current Impact Wrestling contract expires in two months, WWE may look to sign him for NXT, where his close pal EC3 has been on fire since leaving Impact Wrestling.
10 Release: The Ascension
Alongside Breezango, The Ascension were drafted to Raw in the post-WrestleMania Superstar Shake-up but, by the looks of things, the two former SmackDown Live jobber teams are going their separate ways. The split will surely help Breezango, as they’re super entertaining in their own right. Konnor and Viktor, on the other hand, will only be used sparingly to put over other tag teams, especially with Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt, The Authors of Pain, The Revival and Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel on the upswing as of late. The Ascension’s dismissal is likely in the pipeline; however, the former NXT Champions needn’t fret as Impact Wrestling, who clearly are giving NJPW and Lucha Underground a run for their money in the recent times, will likely welcome them with open arms.
9 Sign: Matt Sydal
In the recent times, Impact Wrestling officials have helped WWE rejects Bobby Lashley, EC3 and Drew McIntyre claw their way back to WWE while also getting the best out of them to improve the promotion itself. Joining the long list of WWE rejects-turned-Impact-Wrestling-stars to be signed up by WWE will be Matt Sydal, who wrestled for WWE under ring name Evan Bourne between 2007 and 2014, even winning the Tag Team Championship with Kofi Kingston once.
The 35-year-old high-flyer has since racked up high-quality experience, winning six championships with Impact Wrestling, ROH Wrestling and NJPW, including three tag-team titles with new NXT acquisition Ricochet.
Should he promise to keep his recreational habits under the rug, he may well team up with Ricochet in NXT in the coming weeks.
8 Release: Neville
Everybody expected Neville to be a surprise entrant at Royal Rumble. It didn’t happen. Most wrestling fans were convinced that he had ⅓ chance of being Braun Strowman’s surprise tag-team partner at WrestleMania. We know what happened in New Orleans. As talented a wrestler as Neville is, there can be no reason for WWE to delay his return any longer. With Cody recently proving that there’s life outside of WWE, the Newcastle-born wrestler has been known to be keen on trying his luck on the indies for some time now.
Why WWE seems willing to let him sit out his contract, sipping his tea in England is unknown, but it’s certain that Vince McMahon’s patience will wear thin soon.
A Neville match or even an appearance at All In will cause the atmosphere at Sears Centre Arena to go through the roof, but we’ll ask you to hold your horses as his no-compete clause will remain intact until then even if he’s released today.
7 Sign: Toni Storm
Mae Young Classic helped WWE not only unearth top-class indie talents but also introduce them to WWE Universe. Sarah Logan, Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Dakota, Kairi Sane and Taynara Conti are just a few success stories. With WWE set to hold another Mae Young Classic tournament, 22-year-old Australian wrestling sensation Toni Storm’s participating in it is a given. However, she, a semi-finalist in the inaugural tournament, won’t just be in the tournament to go back to the indies once the winner is crowned, for Triple H and co. will likely hand her an NXT contract.
What will make her signing shocking is the fact that the women’s rosters on all three WWE brands are super stacked as of now. However, given how Vince McMahon and co. have gotten into hoarding in the recent times, it’s likely that they’ve already opened the first stage of contact with her.
6 Release: The Colons
The Colons might have had a chance to revive what has been a forgettable WWE career thus far had they been drafted to Raw, but they now find themselves wrestling with the likes of The Bar, The New Day, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Rusev and Aiden English, SAnitY, The Usos, and The Bludgeon Brothers for relevance and air time. With the next Superstar Shake-Up at least months away, their short-term future in the company is doomed. Additionally, with Puerto Rican attractions Reby Hardy, Zelina Vega and Lince Dorado now performing for WWE, the McMahons now don’t need Primo Colon and Epico Colon.
A release is now only a matter of time but, given their marketability and prowess, companies such as Lucha Underground, Impact Wrestling and NJPW would love to have them on their roster.
5 Sign: Chuck Taylor
No one expects WWE to sign Chuck Taylor at this point in his career despite his being in the industry for over 17 years now. The two-time PWG Champion has only recently begun working with ROH Wrestling and NJPW, so perhaps, it will take him at least an year or two before he becomes a Full Sail University regular. However, with many NXT wrestlers being called up to the main roster in the recent weeks and Aleister Black and Velveteen Dream rumored to be on their way up, WWE may look to bring in a few additions.
Bringing him on board won’t be easy, with his recently signing a new ROH Wrestling contract and becoming the newest CHAOS member.
However, should they be able to convince him to become an NXT talent, he, an excellent promo and a charismatic in-ring talent, will become arguably one of their best signings in the recent months.
4 Release: Sin Cara
Gone are the days when Rey Mysterio and Kane were the only masked wrestlers in WWE. Even The Hurricane and Ultimo Dragon didn’t stay with the company very long. However, WWE today has four masked luchadors besides the Finn Balors, The Ascensions and Jeff Hardys, who wear face paint to the ring. Kalisto, Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik perform predominantly for 205 Live, while Sin Cara finds himself lost in the SmackDown Live undercard.
While he, real name Jorge Arias, adds a little to the Paige-managed brand, his future looks bleak, especially given the negativity surrounding the character he portrays. Perhaps, he’ll be given a chance to prove himself with a second unmasking storyline. Hunico should have never put the Sin Cara mask, which some believe is holding him back.
3 Sign: Jay Lethal
Jay Lethal is the Christopher Daniels of his generation. While being superiorly talented, he still hasn’t caught the attention of WWE. While The Fallen Angel’s chances of ever becoming a full-time main-roster talent is low, age is on The Franchise of ROH Wrestling’s side.
Having turned 33 only on April 29, he will look forward to wrestling at the highest level for at least one more decade.
When WWE eventually signs him, they won’t just be signing a super-talented indie wrestler, for they’ll be signing an industry veteran who doesn’t only have 17 years of top-level experience under his belt but is also a teacher of the art form who’s now training Rey Mysterio’s son, among many others in his Tampa Bay wrestling academy.
Nobody expects him to sign for WWE now, especially since his ROH Wrestling career seems to be on an upward swing again, but we all know Vince McMahon and co. love pulling off the unexpected.
2 Release: Big Cass
How Vince McMahon trusted Big Cass to be Daniel Bryan’s first feud after his returning from a long-term injury is mind-boggling. While he hasn’t ever been a dangerous worker, he may kill the momentum D-Bry has been building since being attacked by Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. That said, it’s unlikely that he’ll stay with the company for a long time after the culmination of his current feud as, he, as Enzo Amore pointed out in a fiery promo last year, is just a seven-foot catchphrase The Certified G created.
With WWE now boasting super-talented big names such as Braun Strowman, Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Donovan Dijak, Big Cass may find holding on to his WWE job difficult despite his recent push of sorts.
1 Sign: Keith Lee
WWE seems to have rediscovered their penchant for big men. However, they seem to be signing the right big men in the recent times, with Karl Anderson, Donovan Dijak and Samoa Joe all proving that they can go in the ring. Joining the long list of super-talented big men will be 332-pound Keith Lee, who’s won PWG World Championship and WWN Championship in his relatively short career as a professional wrestler. He even recently earned a WrestleMania Axxess appearance, in which he defended his WWN Championship against Kassius Ohno on April 6. Although he’s rubbished rumours linking him with a move to WWE, all signs point to his becoming one of the newest NXT acquisitions, alongside 310-pound fellow former PWG World Champion WALTER. Here’s hoping WWE books them right.