Where will the released WWE stars go next? | Opinion
A lot of free agents have just hit the free market.
WWE released a bunch of main roster and NXT wrestlers only a few days after WrestleMania 42. With their 90 days now up, let’s take a look at those involved and where they best fit in a world outside of WWE. Of course, this is all my thinking and I could be totally wrong. Some may go elsewhere, some could just exit wrestling altogether.
Motor City Machine Guns
I wouldn’t be surprised if Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley end up in AEW. They’ve been TNA mainstays forever, but they would be fresh faces in AEW’s tag team division, and it’s perfect timing as after All In, there will be a need for fresh teams in that title scene. Sabin & Shelley can still go, and while AEW’s roster is bloated with talent, picking up MCMG makes all the sense in the world.
Kairi
It was very surprising when WWE chose to cut Kairi right in the middle of a long storyline involving herself, IYO SKY, and Asuka, so she does have some momentum coming off of her run in WWE. AEW is definitely an option and so is Stardom. Considering the two promotions have a working relationship, she could probably end up being in both.
Alba Fyre
Fyre was called up from NXT with Isla Dawn, but the two never really got going as a team on the main roster and after Dawn was cut, Fyre was primarily used as a backup character for Chelsea Green. She’s a pretty good worker and enjoyed her time in NXT, so I think she should be given another shot somewhere. AEW would be a good destination, and so would TNA.
Hijo del Fantasma/Santos Escobar
Fantasma’s case is rather interesting. He has kept a social media presence since his release, even calling out “Nick and Paul” in one of his messages. On Friday he revealed his new name going forward, Romeo Malverde.
I am not sure how he would do in AEW, as I could see him being just another face in the crowd; it’s incredibly easy to get lost with such a full roster. CMLL might be a possible landing spot, but they have a history of shunning people who jump to AAA. They also seem to be focusing on younger talent at the moment and it’s not a given that they would want someone who is 42.
Still, Escobar is very talented and got lost in the shuffle in WWE. The question isn’t if he can land somewhere, but where will he ultimately go?
Aleister Black
Many will quickly say that Black burned his bridge with AEW. There were reports about his reputation backstage, and it was well known that he had tried to leave AEW before ultimately leaving the company for a WWE return. Still, I wouldn’t immediately dismiss the idea of a return. Andrade El Idolo did, after all, and no bridge is permanently burned in pro wrestling. If AEW wants a House of Black reunion, it could certainly happen now, especially since Buddy Matthews seems to be on the mend.
Zelina Vega
The former Vega has made some moves in the last couple of days, revealing her post-WWE name (Xelina). But I don’t know where she would be a good fit as a singles wrestler. I always thought she was better served as a manager, and her strongest role was when she was with Idolo. Still, she could always return to TNA, or if Black heads back to AEW, she could be associated with him.
Wyatt Sicks (Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Bo Dallas)
I don’t know where Rowan would fit, and the same goes for Bo Dallas. In the latter case, he pretty much vanished from wrestling after his first release, and it may be what he does again.
Gacy will likely get looks elsewhere but I don’t know if there’s any specific place that could use him. Same for Nikki Cross – both will likely end up on the independent scene (Cross already has, having her first match back at OTT Wrestling)
I could see Dexter Lumis returning to TNA to reunite with Indi Hartwell, playing off their NXT romance from long ago. They did have some chemistry together, strangely.
Zoey Serrano (Zoey Stark)
I think out of all the talent listed above, AEW should go out of their way to grab Serrano. The former Stark is very good and did well in NXT. But her run on the main roster never really got going, and recovering from an injury while cuts are going on is never a good thing. But she is a good worker, only 32 years old, and may be better suited in AEW where she can prove herself in a steadily growing division.
Of course, there are other promotions out there. Some could wind up in NJPW, others may give MLW or another smaller promotion a chance. Or maybe someone will go the independent route like Matt Cardona! The choices are endless, but it’s always fun to guess where someone will end up.
Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.