Lance Anoa’i talks WWE release, The Bloodline at independent events
Lance Anoa’i says injuries led to a “missed opportunity” at WWE.
WWE announced it had signed Anoa’i in November 2024 but he was released in October after having never wrestled a match while under contract. During a recent interview with Muscle Man Malcolm, Anoa’i said that back-to-back injuries led to him being released with two years left on his contract.
“I still had another two years on my contract. I found out… I forget the day cause from that moment on, I knew it was right back to the grind,” Anoa’i said on the show.
“I was blessed to be there. I was happy to be there. I learned a lot. Unfortunately, injuries weren’t on my side.”
Anoa’i explained that he suffered a sports hernia his first week at the WWE Performance Center. Then he tore his shoulder just three weeks after being cleared to return. He was cleared again in September but the company released him the following month.
“I think just the injuries is what cost me everything. I cost the company more money than what I was making them. I was one of the older ones there. Back-to-back injuries.“
“I had a sports hernia my first week in the PC. I know I read on the internet that I was hurt going in. No, I got hurt in the Performance Center.”
“Then I got cleared for three weeks and then tore my shoulder right after that. And then I got cleared the end of September and then released in October.”
Anoa’i continued to say that his family, including his father Samu, was upset when they learned he’d been released from his contract.
“My family was very upset, especially my dad. But honestly, it was they knew I didn’t get the opportunity. They knew I could have I could have been up there. I could have been one of the top guys. I could have been with Solo. I could have been with Roman. I could have been wherever. You just put me in that spot. I could have ran with it.”
He continued by saying he plans on carrying on The Bloodline on the independent scene with others from his family.
“I’m just going to keep going and carry the Bloodline on the independent scene. We got Zilla, Journey Fatu, we’re all right there. Now I get to actually be in the same building and run with the boys.”
Anoa’i wrestled his first matches in over 15 months recently. He worked back-to-back nights in New Jersey for Titan Championship Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Junkie on November 15 and 16.
His full interview with Muscle Man Malcolm is available below:
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.