By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE announced the following talent cuts on Wednesday. Read the official announcement at WWE.com. We will continue to update this list as additional cuts are announced.
-Drake Maverick (James Curtin)
-Karl Anderson (Chad Allegra)
-Luke Gallows (Drew Hankinson)
-Lio Rush (Lionel Green)
-EC3 (Michael Hutter)
-Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers)
-Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz)
-Heath Slater (Heath Miller)
-Kurt Angle
-Aiden English (Matthew Rehwoldt)
-Sarah Logan (Sarah Rowe)
-Referee Mike Chioda
-Primo (Edwin Colon)
-Epico (Orlando Colon Nieves)
-Rowan (Joseph Ruud)
-Mike Kanellis (Mike Bennett)
-Maria Kanellis
-Zack Ryder (Matthew Cardona)
-No Way Jose (Levis Valenzuela Jr.)
-Rusev (Miroslav Barnyashev)
Powell’s POV: There are some very talented people who were let go by the company today and we obviously wish them all the best. WWE announced “reduction of talent expenses” as part of the business restructuring caused by the pandemic, so the talent cuts are not surprising. WWE also cut or furloughed nine producers on Wednesday.
Remember, Vince is guy who is going to help the US economy. Hopefully, most of them go to AEW. Vince has gone mad.
Unless aew launch another flagship show after the pandemic, I can’t honestly see them picking up much more talent. As good as these guys are, I just don’t see them having room in the current format.
Most of their current talent is crap that doesn’t belong on some of the better indies, much less TV. Dump the losers like Nakazawa, Janella, Chuck Taylor, and a few others and replace them with Anderson, Gallows, and EC3.
I’d pay money just to see a promo war between MJF and EC3.
Vince is not alone in making cuts in the business world. These are tough economic times. Unfortunately, I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that WWE will not be the only pro wrestling company that has to scale back.
Yeah, thats the problem. No one else is gonna make major moves untio the dust finally settles. The only bright side is they have their 90 days clauses
Lol yea cause I’m sure this pandemic has given aew plenty of money on hand…
Primo, Epico, Rowan, Kanellis (both), Sarah Logan. “Bloody Wednesday” indeed.
Let’s hope it stays at this number not only for the rest of the talents’ sake but also because we can then call this group of cuts the COVID-19.
Okay, if AEW is serious, they need to dump all the goofy losers on the roster and fill in some gaps with actual talent. Gallows, Anderson, EC3, and Rusev could all play important full time roles while guys like Hawkins, Slater, Ryder, and Young could be good as part timers.
Rowan to Dark Order???? Lets go
Nah. Rowan isn’t good enough and would just make the Bray ripoff comments have more weight.
Oh please, shut it. You don’t like AEW? Don’t watch it. You prefer the guys above? Fine, watch it on the network.
NOBODY likes AEW right now. Their best TV ratings are abysmal, and they’re losing viewers with crap like Broken Midcarder and Brodie Jabroni taking up air time.
They need real workers who can also go in the ring.
C’mon, let’s not pretend ratings aren’t down for wrestling across the board. You’re twisting the facts to suit your argument. AEW has been doing some good stuff.
NXT ratings are UP, Queen.
Man. I hate it for the talent. Those are some huge cuts. AEW could capitalize if it weren’t hurting them as well. I personally wonder about the long term potential of AEW if this goes on much longer. Yes, the Khan’s could afford to keep it going, but the question is, will they?
Hoping this works out good for the ones released. It could potentially be a blessing in disguise. Talent like Gallows and Anderson, Rusev, EC3, and Sarah Logan could really thrive for other companies. Mike Bennett could turn out to be another Drew McIntyre in rebuilding his brand after WWE tanked it. I’d love to see Spud be given some better chances too. Lio Rush would work great in AEW I think. Zack Ryder could work good showing up on BTE. Good opportunities could show up for them.
McIntyre has actually been good elsewhere and is the size of a grown adult. Bennett is a tiny guy with no personality and not enough in the ring to be more than a midcard jobber.
You’re wrong about Mike Bennett. Ever see his Impact work? He was really, really good. He was also pretty entertaining in ROH as part of the Kingdom.
WWE just inexplicably buried him. He could’ve been a solid midcard heel or face for them.
He’s a midget. He’s listed at 5’11” 200 and there’s no way he’s that big. He’s just another interchangeable little guy whose biggest attribute is his wife’s ass.
I’m guessing they will rush through the lana and lashley split and then also release her. With all due respect to her, it would make no sense to cut the actually talented member of the pair and keep her.
I’m suprised Lana was not let go. but I heared she signed a 5 year contract recently. so unless Vince changes his mind she is stuck in WWE for 5 years.
Sad. Mike Chioda has been there forever. I think since 1989. Hope everyone finds work.
Man, you’d think being “essential” and all, they’d keep some people. Some good names on this list.
I think Gallows and Anderson will go back to NJPW.
I hope AEW picks up Rusev, EC3, Bennett, Kannelis and Logan.
EY should go back to Impact.
I want them all to find work but people are being a little unrealistic thinking that AEW or other promotions are just going to throw money at these wrestlers. That is what is asd about it – If they were just a part of a normal “cleaning of the house”, they would instantly find work. But it isn’t – the whole industry is suffering with the pandemic and not-so-great ratings before the pandemic. It is going to be hard to justify spending on talent in this climate.